La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser Versus Merle Norman Acne Defense Foaming Cleanser
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 3 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin and brightening skin
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, oils or parabens
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 Medicated Gel Cleanser 16 ingredients
Merle Norman Acne Defense Foaming Cleanser 43 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser 16 ingredients
Merle Norman Acne Defense Foaming Cleanser 43 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Coco-Betaine
CleansingPEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
Emulsifying
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium EDTA
Polyquaternium-47
Skin ConditioningMenthol
Masking
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Citric Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid 2%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingAcacia Concinna Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Gypsophila Paniculata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningChrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientSea Whip Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract
AstringentGardenia Taitensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHibiscus Abelmoschus Seed Extract
Masking
Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHedychium Spicatum Extract
Skin ConditioningJasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract
Masking
Plumeria Rubra Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
PEG-9 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantLactic Acid
Buffering
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Balanites Aegyptiaca Fruit Extract
Bisabolol
Masking
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Salicylic Acid 2%, Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Acacia Concinna Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Gypsophila Paniculata Root Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Sea Whip Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Hibiscus Abelmoschus Seed Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Hedychium Spicatum Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract, Plumeria Rubra Flower Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, PEG-9 Dimethicone, Phospholipids, Glucose, Lactic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Balanites Aegyptiaca Fruit Extract, Bisabolol, Ethoxydiglycol, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA
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 WaterDecyl Glucoside is a glucose-based surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Surfactants help clean the skin by trapping oil, sebum, and dirt to be washed away. As an emulsion stabilizer, it stabilizes the ingredients in a product by preventing them from separating.
This ingredient is biodegradable and non-toxic. This ingredient is commonly found in baby shampoos.
Decyl Glucoside is sometimes used to stabilize the UV filter Tinosorb.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosideGlycerin 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 GlycerinIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser 16 ingredients
Merle Norman Acne Defense Foaming Cleanser 43 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser 16 ingredients
om the stronger side but works well for my oily acne probe skin. feels like it's really clearing out my sebum. would make sure to pair it with a Hydrating routine
Drying. Made my skin produce more oil to make up for the dryness, and made more breakouts.
