Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of La Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum versus Cetaphil Gentle Salicylic Acid Acne Serum .
Published on January 12, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 4 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain niacinamide
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, parabens, silicones or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Facial Treatment
Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.
Serum
Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.
Price
Ingredient Info
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum 20 ingredients
Cetaphil Gentle Salicylic Acid Acne Serum 16 ingredients
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum 20 ingredients
Cetaphil Gentle Salicylic Acid Acne Serum 16 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum 20 ingredients
Cetaphil Gentle Salicylic Acid Acne Serum 16 ingredients
Water • Alcohol Denat. • Propanediol • Glycolic Acid • Niacinamide • Dimethyl Isosorbide • Pentylene Glycol • Sodium Hydroxide • Ppg-26-Buteth-26 • Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid • Citric Acid • Peg-30 Glyceryl Cocoate • Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil • Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil • Capryloyl Salicylic Acid • Biosaccharide Gum-1 • Maltodextrin • Phytic Acid • Polyquaternium-10 • Parfum
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterLa Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Cetaphil Gentle Salicylic Acid Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
Propanediol helps absorb ingredients into your skin, boosting their benefits. It can act as an emollient, making your skin softer. Propanediol can help products last longer by boosting the properties of preservatives within the formulation.
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use.
It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolLa Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
Cetaphil Gentle Salicylic Acid Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.
Niacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.
It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.
Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.
The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.
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.
Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.
Learn more about NiacinamideLa Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.
Cetaphil Gentle Salicylic Acid Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.
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 HydroxideLa Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.
Cetaphil Gentle Salicylic Acid Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum 20 ingredients
Cetaphil Gentle Salicylic Acid Acne Serum 16 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum 20 ingredients
Cetaphil Gentle Salicylic Acid Acne Serum 16 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 16 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to La Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum.
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