Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Garnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum versus La Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum .
Published on June 10, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both vegan and reef safe . They have a total of 9 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA and niacinamide
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols and fragrances
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Serum
Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.
Facial Treatment
Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.
Price
Ingredient Info
Garnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum 23 ingredients
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum 20 ingredients
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Garnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum 23 ingredients
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum 20 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Garnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum 23 ingredients
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum 20 ingredients
Water • Alcohol Denat. • Niacinamide • Glycerin • Propanediol • Sodium Hydroxide • Charcoal Powder • Hydroxyacetophenone • Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid • Hydroxypropyl Guar • Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside • Citric Acid • Lactic Acid • Phytic Acid • Polyglycerin-10 • Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate • Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate • Sodium Dehydroacetate • Salicylic Acid • CI 17200 • CI 19140 • CI 42090 • Parfum
Water • Alcohol Denat. • Propanediol • Glycolic Acid • Niacinamide • Dimethyl Isosorbide • Pentylene Glycol • Sodium Hydroxide • Ppg-26-Buteth-26 • Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid • Citric Acid • Peg-30 Glyceryl Cocoate • Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil • Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil • Capryloyl Salicylic Acid • Biosaccharide Gum-1 • Maltodextrin • Phytic Acid • Polyquaternium-10 • Parfum
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterGarnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol and other additives. It has a low molecular weight and will evaporate quickly. This helps other ingredients become better absorbed and dry once applied.
Alcohol Denat. is volatile and may cause irritation. It helps draw out natural oils in skin and dry out your skin.
One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased irritation.
Alcohol is antibacterial by nature. This can help preserve products and increase their shelf life.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Garnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
Niacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.
It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.
Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.
The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.
Learn more about NiacinamideGarnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.
Propanediol helps absorb ingredients into your skin, boosting their benefits. It can act as an emollient, making your skin softer. Propanediol can help products last longer by boosting the properties of preservatives within the formulation.
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use.
It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolGarnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideGarnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.
We don't have a description for Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid.
Garnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.
Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGarnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum contains this as ingredient number 11.
Phytic Acid is a gentle AHA and antioxidant. The chemical makeup makes it classified as an AHA, such as lactic acid.
AHAs are chemical exfoliants that help remove dead skin cells. Phytic Acid has a slight exfoliating effect. Phytic Acid has been shown to help calm irritation. In some cases, it is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water, helping to stabilize the ingredients in a product.
As an antioxidant, phytic acid may help with the signs of aging. Antioxidants help neutralize free-radical molecules. These molecules may damage your skin cells.
An interesting fact about phytic acid is that it is considered an antinutrient. People do not have the enzyme needed to properly breakdown and digest phytic acid. When ingested, phytic acid binds to minerals and prevents them from being absorbed.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Phytic AcidGarnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum contains this as ingredient number 18.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "Parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumGarnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum contains this as ingredient number 23.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum contains this as ingredient number 20.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Garnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum 23 ingredients
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum 20 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Garnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum 23 ingredients
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum 20 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 42 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Garnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum.
See 42 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 16 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to La Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum.
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