La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser Review
The Insider Score
Acne cleansersA clearly labelled salicylic acid wash for the bathroom sink.
Effaclar is our pick when a 2% salicylic acid treatment belongs in the cleansing step. The $18.99 tube makes the most sense when you’ve chosen that active for a reason.
I like Effaclar when I want salicylic acid in a cleanser.
Insider Beauty tester- Acne-cleansing formula
- 4.3/5
- Wash and rinse
- 4.3/5
- Value per wash
- 4.3/5
How the score adds up
Our editors awarded 86 of 100 available points across these six criteria. Divide by 20 for the five-point rating.
- Acne-cleansing formula
- 26 / 30 pts
- The US formula uses 2% salicylic acid in a rinse-off acne treatment.
- Wash and rinse
- 17 / 20 pts
- The tube dispenses a lathering wash. Wet the face, massage while avoiding the eyes and rinse well.
- Value per wash
- 17 / 20 pts
- The $18.99 price covers 200 ml of medicated cleanser, about $2.81 per fluid ounce.
- Support for product claims
- 14 / 15 pts
- The US Drug Facts label identifies the active concentration, purpose, directions and combination-use warning.
- What sets it apart
- 7 / 10 pts
- A labelled acne active in a wash gives it a different role from the brand’s gentle Toleriane cleanser.
- Active ingredient and directions
- 5 / 5 pts
- The active and inactive ingredients are published, including menthol in the cleansing base.
What the US Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser contains, how to use the 200 ml tube and how its active differs from PanOxyl.
- Rank
- Not ranked
- Current price
- $18.99
- Listed size
- 6.76 oz
- Updated
Reviewed byInsider BeautyEditorial team ·
Editor’s cut
At a glance
Check the tube for Medicated Gel Cleanser and 2% salicylic acid.
The US directions specify washing and rinsing, with no leave-on step.
Compare the active with any acne product you already use.
Which Effaclar belongs at the sink?
I’d choose the US Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser when I want salicylic acid in the wash itself. Its Drug Facts panel names 2% salicylic acid as the active ingredient. That detail is more useful than the blue square on the front. La Roche-Posay sells several Effaclar cleansers in similar packaging, and picking up a different tube can change the treatment you’re bringing home.
The reason I like this format is that it gives an acne treatment a specific place in the routine. You wash, rinse, then decide what moisturizer your skin needs. There’s no extra leave-on liquid to fit between cleansing and face cream. If you already have an acne treatment you like, that same feature may be a reason to choose a plain cleanser instead.
What to do with the gel
The US label directs twice-daily use. Wet your face, work the product into a lather, massage it over the skin while avoiding the eyes, and rinse well. Follow the directions on your own tube. There’s no need to leave a layer behind or rub more vigorously over a blemish. A gel wash works best as a repeatable step, rather than something you keep adding to whenever a spot appears.
The ingredient list also includes menthol. If you already know you dislike a cooling sensation in a face wash, read the panel before committing to the full size. Using another topical acne medication at the same time can increase dryness or irritation. That’s particularly relevant when the bottle beside it is another medicated wash and you’re deciding which one to use.
Where the $18.99 goes
The 200 ml tube costs $18.99 at Target. I’d spend that on Effaclar for the clearly labelled active and convenient rinse-off format. For a milky wash whose main job is keeping dry skin comfortable, the brand’s Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser is the better fit.
PanOxyl’s 10% wash is another acne product, but it uses benzoyl peroxide. The numbers on those two tubes aren’t a scale from mild to powerful. Start the comparison by choosing the active you mean to use.
Useful details
Frequently asked questions
Does Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser contain benzoyl peroxide?
The active in this US cleanser is 2% salicylic acid. PanOxyl’s 10% Acne Foaming Wash is a benzoyl peroxide product.
What size is the full-size tube reviewed here?
The reviewed size is 200 ml, labelled 6.76 fl oz in the US.