Pharmaceris T Puri-Sebostatic Deeply Cleansing Face Foam Versus La Roche-Posay Effaclar Gel Facial Wash For Oily Skin
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingBetaine
HumectantDisodium Ricinoleamido Mea-Sulfosuccinate
CleansingMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDisodium EDTA
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingTriethanolamine
BufferingSodium Salicylate
PreservativeButylene Glycol
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingZinc PCA
HumectantTamarindus Indica Extract
SmoothingArctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCalcium Gluconate
HumectantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Betaine, Disodium Ricinoleamido Mea-Sulfosuccinate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Hydroxyethylcellulose, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Glycerin, Disodium EDTA, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Triethanolamine, Sodium Salicylate, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Zinc PCA, Tamarindus Indica Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Calcium Gluconate, Biotin, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingPEG-8
HumectantCoco-Betaine
CleansingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingPunica Granatum Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningZinc PCA
HumectantPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Maltodextrin
AbsorbentPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEG-8, Coco-Betaine, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract, Zinc PCA, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Maltodextrin, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient 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.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or '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 by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
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 ParfumSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterZinc PCA is a clever two-in-one molecule: the zinc salt of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid (PCA).
Think of it as two useful things bonded together; the PCA half is one of your skin's own natural moisturizing factors (NMF) so it helps hold water in the upper layers. On the other hand, the zinc half does the heavy lifting on oil and bacteria.
The zinc part slows down an enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT, the hormone that tells your oil glands to pump out more sebum. Less of that signal means less oil. It also gently fights acne-causing bacteria and soothes redness/irritation.
This is why Zinc PCA often shows up in products for oily, breakout-prone skin and greasy scalps.
One lab study also hinted it might have a small anti-aging perk because it seemed to protect collagen from UVA damage and even helped the skin make a bit more of it. That last bit is still early research done in a dish and not real skin, so take it as a nice bonus rather than a promise for now.
As for scar healing, the picture is more "maybe" than a firm yes. Zinc itself plays a real role in wound repair because it is a cofactor for the enzymes involved in collagen building, calming inflammation, and helping new skin cells cover a wound. Lower zinc levels are also linked to slower healing.
Most of the scar healing research is on zinc oxide or oral zinc rather than zinc PCA specifically, with a focus on healing fresh wounds instead of scars that are already there.
Direct evidence that zinc PCA improves the look of established scars is still limited at this time. Though it would be fair to say zinc PCA supports the general skin-repair environment thanks to its zinc content .
This ingredient is water-soluble and plays nicely with other actives like niacinamide and salicylic acid. It works best at mildly acidic formulas (~4-6 pH) and is effective at low levels. Around 0.1% is enough to be active and finished products commonly use it anywhere up to 4%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-drama multitasker that suits oily and acne-prone skin.
Learn more about Zinc PCA