La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo [+] SPF 30 - UK Versus La Roche-Posay Mela B3 UV SPF 30
Updated on January 30, 2025
Overview
Cool Features
They both contain exfoliants, niacinamide and SPF
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, oils or parabens
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances
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
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo [+] SPF 30 34 ingredients
La Roche-Posay Mela B3 UV SPF 30 32 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo [+] SPF 30 34 ingredients
La Roche-Posay Mela B3 UV SPF 30 32 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientPEG-20
HumectantPEG-8 Laurate
Emulsifying
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningOleamide
2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingCarnosine
Skin ConditioningPoloxamer 338
EmulsifyingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Sucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingT-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
BHT
Antioxidant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Water, Octocrylene, Glycerin, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Alcohol Denat., Niacinamide, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Stearate, Silica, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, PEG-20, PEG-8 Laurate, Zinc PCA, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Oleamide, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Carnosine, Poloxamer 338, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Disodium EDTA, Sucrose Cocoate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, T-Butyl Alcohol, BHT, Salicylic Acid, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningC15-19 Alkane
SolventNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
2-Mercaptonicotinoyl Glycine
Skin ConditioningSodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantSodium Thiosulfate
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPoly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic Colorant
Parfum
Masking
Water, C15-19 Alkane, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Silica, Titanium Dioxide, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tin Oxide, Potassium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Arachidyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, 2-Mercaptonicotinoyl Glycine, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Sodium Thiosulfate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 14700, Mica, Parfum
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
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.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideSilica is a mineral naturally found in our skin. It helps to thicken and smooth the texture of a product. It also acts as an agent for other ingredients by increasing the absorption of other ingredients into the skin.
Silica is often used for absorption and can help reduce shine when products are applied. Silica occurs in naturally in materials like clay and sandstone, and it can also be produced synthetically.
Silica is present naturally within the skin during collagen production and when reducing inflammation.
Learn more about SilicaCapryloyl Salicylic Acid comes from salicylic acid, the famous acne-fighting BHA.
It usually goes by a more common name of LHA, or lipohydroxy acid.
Like salicylic acid, this ingredient is a chemical exfoliant that can help break down the oil in your pores and reduce inflammation.
Though studies for LHA do show it to be less effective than salicylic acid. To be fair, salicylic acid is the reigning monarch of acne treatments.
However, a study from 2009 found LHA to be comparable to BPO, making it a good alternative for people with sensitive skin. Another study of 14 patients found a significant decrease in comedones after using LHA.
Another pro of LHA? It is less irritating than salicylic acid due to its large molecule size.
Large molecules cannot penetrate skin as well, so they are gentler on the skin. LHA is much less penetrative than salicylic acid.
An in-vitro study (not done on a living organism) found only 6% of LHA penetrated past the statum corneum compared to 58% of salicylic acid. An in-vivo (done on a living organism) analysis revealed ~17% of LHA was still present in the top layer of skin after 4 days, versus ~9% of salicylic acid.
Interestingly, a study from 2008 found LHA comparable to another famous acid, glycolic acid.
This study found about 10% of LHA is as effective as 20-50% of glycolic acid in treating hyperpigmentation and fine-lines.
Hydroxy acids have been found to stimulate skin protein, lipids, and thermal thickening. This may have anti-aging benefits.
Learn more about Capryloyl Salicylic AcidXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient 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.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or '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 by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
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 ParfumIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo [+] SPF 30 34 ingredients
La Roche-Posay Mela B3 UV SPF 30 32 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo [+] SPF 30 34 ingredients
Great product but not great moisturizer
I used this product for a month. It has done great job for my acne prone skin and caused no break outs. However, it is not a great moisturizer itself. I mostly used it before my actuall moisturizer. Plus, it has spf.
