Versus

PCA Skin Clearskin Versus La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat Daily Face Moisturizer For Oily Skin

General Moisturizer
General Moisturizer
American Brand United States
French Brand France

Updated on March 25, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 3 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin, oily skin and reducing pores

Free From

They both do not contain any common allergens, parabens 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 needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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 Water
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.
  • It has mild preservative properties.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

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

When to use

26 Routines
54% use in am
46% use in pm
92% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
330 Routines
66% use in am
34% use in pm
94% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

PCA Skin Clearskin 22 ingredients

Clearskin hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat Daily Face Moisturizer For Oily Skin 27 ingredients

2.4 /5
from 5 ratings
Doesn't Work (3) Pilling (3) Irritating (3)
robertodesiderio's avatar

Roberto Desiderio

5 months ago
Review

I tried to use it when I was suffering of acne to control oil production but it ended up worsening the situation. Tried again when healed from acne and still didn’t like it. There are valid alternatives from Korean brands that do the job way better.

#drying
#broke me out
#irritating
#absorbs well
cherryberrystrawberry's avatar

cherry >.<

11 months ago
Review

piles up so badly, irritated my skin and feels terrible on the skin

#drying
#irritating
#pilling
#light scent