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La Roche-Posay Effaclar Adapalene Gel 0.1% Topical Retinoid For Acne Versus COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner

Facial Treatment
Toner
French Brand France
Korean Brand South Korea

Updated on June 07, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both fungal acne (malassezia) safe . They have a total of 1 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, silicones or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

Free from

Safety & Ethics

French Brand

Brand country of origin

Free from

Safety & Ethics

Korean Brand

Brand country of origin

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Ingredients, at a glance

What's in this product, and how it might affect your skin.

Notable Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients, at a glance

What's in this product, and how it might affect your skin.

Notable Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Effaclar Adapalene Gel 0.1% Topical Retinoid For Acne
Adapalene
Retinoid IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconHelps fight Acne IconMay cause irritation IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Adapalene is a type of retinoid and common acne treatment.

Liked by users
RetinoidRetinoid Icon2 Benefits2 Concerns
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Carbomer Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming
1 / 0

Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create gel consistency within products.

1 Com. / 0 Irr.
Disliked by users
Learn more
Disodium EDTA

Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.

Disliked by users
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Methylparaben Preservative
0 / 0 Preservative IconParaben IconNon-Reef-Safe IconMay worsen Eczema Icon

Methylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.

0 Com. / 0 Irr.
Very disliked
PreservativePreservative IconParabenParaben Icon2 Concerns
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Poloxamer 182 Emulsifying

We don't have a description for Poloxamer 182 yet.

Not enough ratings
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Propylene Glycol Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
0 / 0 May worsen Eczema Icon

Propylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.

0 Com. / 0 Irr.
Very disliked
May worsen EczemaMay worsen Eczema Icon
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Water Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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.

Loved by users
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Sodium Hydroxide Buffering

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.

Mixed reviews
Learn more
AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner
Water Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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.

Loved by users
Learn more
Salix Alba Bark Water Astringent, Skin Conditioning, Soothing

Salix Alba Bark Water is created by distilling parts from the white willow tree. The white willow tree is native to Europe and Central Asia.

Liked by users
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Pyrus Malus Fruit Water Masking

Pyrus Malus Fruit Water is created by distilling parts of the apple.

Liked by users
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Butylene Glycol Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning
1 / 0

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

1 Com. / 0 Irr.
Mixed reviews
Learn more
1,2-Hexanediol Skin Conditioning, Solvent

1,2-Hexanediol is a multi-tasker ingredient. It acts as a preservative to increase shelf-life and can aid other preservatives in preventing microbe growth. 1,2-Hexanediol also helps the skin retain moisture as a humectant.

Mixed reviews
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Sodium Lactate Buffering, Humectant

Sodium Lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid, an AHA. It is a humectant and used to adjust the pH of a product.

Liked by users
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Glycolic Acid Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay cause irritation IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Glycolic Acid is arguably the most famous AHA with a ton of research to back up its benefits.

Loved by users
AHAAHA Icon7 Benefits2 Concerns
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Betaine Salicylate Antimicrobial
BHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Betaine Salicylate is considered a salicylic acid alternative.

Liked by users
BHABHA Icon2 BenefitsMay worsen RosaceaMay worsen Rosacea Icon
Learn more
Allantoin Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing
0 / 0 Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Allantoin plays a role in soothing and moisturizing the skin. Because of this, it is often added to products with strong active ingredients.

0 Com. / 0 Irr.
Loved by users
3 Benefits
Learn more
Panthenol Skin Conditioning
0 / 0 Helps reduce irritation Icon

Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It can be found naturally in our skin and hair.

0 Com. / 0 Irr.
Loved by users
Helps reduce irritationHelps reduce irritation Icon
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Ethyl Hexanediol Solvent

Ethyl Hexanediol is an aliphatic alcohol. It is a solvent.

Mixed reviews
Learn more

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Loved

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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

When to use

322 Routines
5% use in am
95% use in pm
67% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
3,032 Routines
36% use in am
64% use in pm
81% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Adapalene Gel 0.1% Topical Retinoid For Acne 8 ingredients

4.5 /5
from 6 ratings
Drying (1) Irritating (1) No Scent (1)
Petrichoria's avatar

Petrichoria

1 year ago · Oily Skin
Review

Tremendously helped me control my acne due to PCOS and is fungal-acne safe. It caused a bit of a purge in the first few weeks as my skin...

Tremendously helped me control my acne due to PCOS and is fungal-acne safe. It caused a bit of a purge in the first few weeks as my skin acclimated, but it definitely calmed any active acne down, as well controlled my oily skin. 100/10.

SaqerAlAli_616's avatar

SaqerAlAli_616

1 year ago · Oily Skin
Review

Literally saved my acne.

COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner 11 ingredients

3.8 /5
from 63 ratings
Light (20) Works Well (18) Absorbs Well (18)
solitaire_'s avatar

solitaire_

3 months ago · Combination Skin
Review

It feels nice on my skin, very gentle and hydrating. I like how it doesn't have fragrance. It does have a subtly medicine smell but I think that's...

It feels nice on my skin, very gentle and hydrating. I like how it doesn't have fragrance. It does have a subtly medicine smell but I think that's because of the ingredients, it's soothing and not too overpowering. This toner leaves my skin glowy the next morning whenever I use it the night before. I use this everyday since my skin got accustomed to it, used to only use it once a week, every week, to every other three days a week. I'm on my second bottle now and I'm still loving it. This will probably a staple on my skincare routine.

jojoswrld_'s avatar

johari 🪽

11 months ago · Unsure Skin
Review

When I first used this, it made my skin tingle ever-so-slightly before revealing the smoothest skin ever. The ever-present texture (closed...

When I first used this, it made my skin tingle ever-so-slightly before revealing the smoothest skin ever. The ever-present texture (closed comedones) on my forehead and cheeks have diminished greatly because of this. I only use it at night because AHA can cause sensitivity to sunlight!