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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Face Cleanser for Oily Skin versus La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Face Cleanser .

Last updated on October 24, 2023. Published on February 27, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne

Free From

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

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

Face Cleanser French Brand France
Face Cleanser French Brand France

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Price

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
ph level
5.5
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Benefits

Scar Healing
Acne Fighting

Concerns

Drying (2)
Acne Trigger
Rosacea (2)
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Niacinamide
Ceramides

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (2)
Reduces Irritation
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging
Dark Spots
Acne Fighting
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying
Acne Trigger
Rosacea
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Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: 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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Face Cleanser for Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 1.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Face Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Cleansing, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Coco-Betaine is the natural version of Cocamidopropyl Betaine. It is often derived from coconuts.

Coco-Betaine is a surfactant, meaning it helps remove dirt and oil from the skin.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Face Cleanser for Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 4.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Face Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 3.

3
What it does: Masking
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt.

This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.

You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.

There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.

The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.

Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.

Learn more about Sodium Chloride

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Face Cleanser for Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 6.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Face Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 7.

4
What it does: Emulsifying
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate is used to improve texture and stability of a product. It is sugar based and helps thicken a product.

Once applied, it also creates a thin film to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.

This ingredient is the polyethylene glycol ether of the diester of oleic acid and methylglucose. The 120 represents an average of 120 moles of ethylene oxide.

There is limited research on this ingredient, although it is considered safe to use in skincare products.

Learn more about Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Face Cleanser for Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 7.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Face Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 6.

5
What it does: Buffering
Community Rating: Mixed

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 Hydroxide

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Face Cleanser for Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 9.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Face Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 8.

6
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

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 Acid

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Face Cleanser for Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 10.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Face Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 9.

7
What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.

It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.

Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.

This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.

Learn more about Caprylyl Glycol

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Face Cleanser for Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 13.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Face Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 14.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

21% are loved or liked
7% have mixed ratings
71% are disliked or very disliked
0% have no rating yet
40% are loved or liked
20% have mixed ratings
40% are disliked or very disliked
0% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Face Cleanser for Oily Skin 14 ingredients

2.8 /5
from 12 ratings
Expensive (2) Light Scent (2) Drying (1) Broke Me Out (1) Hydrating (1) Irritating (1)
SamWheeler_339's avatar

SamWheeler_339

12 months ago · Normal Skin
Review

Got by accident, didnt like
Swapped from cerave salicylic acid cleanser to this one, I meant to buy the effaclar with salicylic acid in it, got a...

Got by accident, didnt like
Swapped from cerave salicylic acid cleanser to this one, I meant to buy the effaclar with salicylic acid in it, got a lot more breakouts after using and skin was quite red, wouldnt recommend for acne prone skin, just get effaclar with salicylic acid in it.

ksjsj's avatar

ksjsj

4 months ago · Sensitive Skin
Review

Tried this before I realised my skin was dry, when I thought having acne = oily skin. Despite that, I don't think any cleanser should be this...

Tried this before I realised my skin was dry, when I thought having acne = oily skin. Despite that, I don't think any cleanser should be this drying and irritating.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Face Cleanser 15 ingredients

4.4 /5
from 16 ratings
Great Value (1) Hydrating (1) No Scent (1) Works Well (1)
Albertorizzo006's avatar

Albertorizzo006

3 years ago · Combination Skin
Review

Leaves your skin...
I have been using this product for a week and I am really happy.
After the use you can feel your skin soft and deeply...

Leaves your skin...
I have been using this product for a week and I am really happy.
After the use you can feel your skin soft and deeply cleansed, it has fragrance but being a wash off treatment I don't see it as a problem and it leaves with a really fresh smell. Most cleanser has around 6.7 ounces of product, but this has 13.5 ounces.
I would raccomend this for people on a budget with combination/oily skin

LJ1's avatar

LJ1

26 days ago · Oily Skin
Review

I love this cleanser so much! I have oily, acne-prone skin and this helps clean any oil and dirt on my face without breaking me out. My skin always...

I love this cleanser so much! I have oily, acne-prone skin and this helps clean any oil and dirt on my face without breaking me out. My skin always feels nice and clean. I've tried many other cleansers and nothing has worked as great as this does. I have been using this for years and this will always be my go-to. If you have dry skin, do not use this as it may be too drying/stripping.

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Face Cleanser for Oily Skin.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Face Cleanser.

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