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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of La Roche-Posay Micellar Water Ultra versus La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micellar Water For Oily Skin .

Last updated on July 25, 2023. Published on August 26, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe makeup removers. They have a total of 10 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin

Free From

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

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances

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

Makeup Remover French Brand France
Makeup Remover French Brand France

Makeup Remover

Makeup removers work to remove makeup from the skin.

Makeup Remover

Makeup removers work to remove makeup from the skin.

Price

Shop

Buy Micellar Water Ultra

Starts at $17.99
Shop

Buy Effaclar Micellar Water For Oily Skin

Starts at $15.99

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
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

Hydrating
Brightening

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin
Rosacea
Eczema

Benefits

Hydrating
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting
Brightening

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin
Rosacea
Eczema
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Ingredients Side-by-side

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

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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 Micellar Water Ultra contains this as ingredient number 1.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micellar Water For Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Emulsifying

We don't have a description for Peg-7 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides.

La Roche-Posay Micellar Water Ultra contains this as ingredient number 2.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micellar Water For Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 2.

3
What it does: Emulsifying

We don't have a description for Poloxamer 124.

La Roche-Posay Micellar Water Ultra contains this as ingredient number 3.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micellar Water For Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 3.

4
What it does: Emulsifying
Community Rating: Disliked

We don't have a description for Poloxamer 184.

La Roche-Posay Micellar Water Ultra contains this as ingredient number 4.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micellar Water For Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 4.

5
What it does: Emulsifying
Community Rating: Very Disliked

This ingredient is derived from caprylic and capric acids. It is an emulsifier with emollient properties.

According to the manufacturer, it is hydrophilic and soluble in aqueous solutions (water). They also state this ingredient is stable in a medium pH range (~5 - 8).

As an emulsifier, it helps make oils and oil-soluble ingredients more soluble in water.

Learn more about Peg-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides

La Roche-Posay Micellar Water Ultra contains this as ingredient number 5.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micellar Water For Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 5.

6
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin 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 Glycerin

La Roche-Posay Micellar Water Ultra contains this as ingredient number 6.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micellar Water For Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 6.

7
What it does: Emulsifying
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Polysorbate 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 80

La Roche-Posay Micellar Water Ultra contains this as ingredient number 7.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micellar Water For Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 7.

8
What it does:
Community Rating: Disliked

Disodium 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 EDTA

La Roche-Posay Micellar Water Ultra contains this as ingredient number 8.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micellar Water For Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 10.

9
What it does: Preservative

Myrtrimonium Bromide is a preservative and a quaternary ammonium salt.

Quaternary ammonium salt is the salt of quaternary ammonium cations, or quats for short. Quats are used in products for their antimicrobial properties.

Myrtrimonium Bromide was determined to be safe in cosmetics and has low chance of irritation. It is not water soluble.

Learn more about Myrtrimonium Bromide

La Roche-Posay Micellar Water Ultra contains this as ingredient number 10.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micellar Water For Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 12.

10
What it does: Masking, Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, 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.

In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term '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. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.

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 Parfum

La Roche-Posay Micellar Water Ultra contains this as ingredient number 11.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micellar Water For Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 13.

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

27% are loved or liked
0% have mixed ratings
45% are disliked or very disliked
27% have no rating yet
23% are loved or liked
8% have mixed ratings
46% are disliked or very disliked
23% have no rating yet

Usage

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

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

La Roche-Posay Micellar Water Ultra 11 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 1 rating

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micellar Water For Oily Skin 13 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 2 ratings
GabriellaTsoukalas's avatar

GabriellaTsoukalas

9 months ago · Oily Skin
Review

It's okay
I still use it. It's nothing special. After that I use a mild cleanser. I mostly use it when I am wearing make up and I need something...

It's okay
I still use it. It's nothing special. After that I use a mild cleanser. I mostly use it when I am wearing make up and I need something "harsh" to take it off.

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