La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo[+] Unifiant Versus La Roche-Posay Substiane
Overview
What they are
These products are both general moisturizers. They have a total of 11 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances and silicones
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[+] Unifiant 38 ingredients
La Roche-Posay Substiane 38 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo[+] Unifiant 38 ingredients
La Roche-Posay Substiane 38 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isocetyl Stearate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingOleic Acid
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Silica Silylate
EmollientPoloxamer 338
EmulsifyingNylon-12
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Isohexadecane
EmollientOleamide
Octanediol
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientPiroctone Olamine
Preservative
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingBHT
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic Colorant
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Isocetyl Stearate, Niacinamide, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, T-Butyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Oleic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Silica Silylate, Poloxamer 338, Nylon-12, Polysorbate 80, Zinc PCA, Linoleic Acid, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Isohexadecane, Oleamide, Octanediol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Piroctone Olamine, Myristyl Myristate, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Parfum, Sorbitan Oleate, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, BHT, Glyceryl Stearate Se, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, Mica
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isocetyl Stearate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cera Alba
Emollient
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
PEG-12 Carnauba
Emulsion StabilisingCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Cera Microcristallina
Emulsion Stabilising
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion Stabilising
Paraffin
Perfuming
Sorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingArginine PCA
HumectantSerine
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates Copolymer
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Water, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Isocetyl Stearate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cera Alba, Beeswax, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-12 Carnauba, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Cera Microcristallina, Microcrystalline Wax, Paraffin, Sorbitan Tristearate, Dimethiconol, Isohexadecane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Arginine PCA, Serine, Disodium EDTA, Propylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 80, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Acrylates Copolymer, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, 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 GlycerinDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeIsocetyl Stearate is an ester of isocetyl alcohol and stearic acid.
Stearate esters are low in viscosity and are oily by nature. Once applied, these stearate esters create a film on your skin. As an emollient, Isocetyl Stearate helps soften and smooth your skin.
One study found Isocetyl Stearate is non-irritating to human skin. However, another study found Isocetyl Stearate to be pore-clogging or comedogenic.
Learn more about Isocetyl StearateSodium 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 HydroxidePolysorbate 80 is a surfactant and emulsifier. It is used to keep ingredients together, and prevent oils and waters from separating.
It is made from polyethoxylated sorbitan and oleic acid. This ingredient can be found in cosmetics, foods, and medicine. It is water-soluble.
Polysorbate 80 may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 80Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate (long name, huh?) is a synthetic antioxidant.
It is used to help stabilize other antioxidants or prevent the color from changing in a product.
As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Thus, antioxidants may reduce the signs of aging.
This ingredient is oil-soluble.
Learn more about Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl HydroxyhydrocinnamateIsohexadecane is added to enhance texture, emulsify, and to help cleanse. It is an isoparrafin. It is a component of petrolatum.
Due to its large size, Isohexadecane is not absorbed by the skin. Instead, it sits on top and acts as an emollient. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by trapping moisture within.
Isohexadecane is often used in products designed to help oily skin. It is lightweight and non-greasy while helping to moisturize. When mixed with silicones, it gives a product a silky feel.
Learn more about IsohexadecaneWe don't have a description for Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer yet.
Parfum 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 ParfumDisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAIngredient Ratings
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When to use
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo[+] Unifiant 38 ingredients
La Roche-Posay Substiane 38 ingredients
