Effaclar Duo (US Version)

7 Reviews

1. 

   dearBoa9

   Reply

   I wrote a whole long review but deleted it. I don’t have cystic acne like some people, but I would occasionally get some, plus infected whiteheads I messed with. So I hoped products like this would cut the infection rate. Basically I hated BP treatments since using Kate Somerville Anti Bac Clearing lotion. It made my skin taught, shiny, flakey and raw while I still had breakouts. It was a mess. Because I’m more dry than oily, these types of treatments tend to be disastrous.

   Eventually I tenatively tried this and thought it was working better, but after some time I felt the same. Oddly, I use Clean and Clear 10% BP as well as Equate’s version and those are fine. But every time I pull this out, it does the same. I tried enough times to give it another chance until I just chucked it. So maybe it works for some, but it messes my skin up badly.

2. 

   lazyGnu1

   Reply

   I wanted to try this after seeing it in skincare articles, but alas, another dud. Same Benzoyl Peroxide ingredient and the acne remains after several tubes. I get redness from this product. Don’t waste your money. It’s not that cheap.

3. 

   peskyChile0

   Reply

   I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue using this product, as I didn’t see much of a difference on my closed comedones. However, I tried it last night on a whitehead that appeared around my lower lip. I dabbed it on as soon as I noticed it(which is important)and I left in on overnight. In the morning, it was gone!Keep in mind, I’m also on a few different acne products from my dermatologist, which is what I recommend to everyone who has developed acne. Get to a professional as soon as possible, and ask around about which derms other people recommend. Not all specialists are created equal! I’ll keep this product on hand to zap whiteheads, and I just dabbed it on a couple of different spots on my forehead.
   *Many people don’t know this, but different TYPES of acne require different treatment. For example, effaclar works on my whiteheads, but I need a retina for my closed comedones, and cysts need special treatment, etc.
   Try combining products to get the best results, and of course, run everything by your doctor first.

4. 

   giddyCurlew0

   Reply

   This literally makes my pimples disappear overnight. At first I didn’t like it, I don’t know why? But then a couple months later I started using it again and I fell in love with it. It can be a little drying or irritating but just make sure you use it on your spots and then it’s nothing a little moisturizer can’t fix.

   Oh yeah this sh*t is pricey. I got a sample at Walgreen’s.

5. 

   ferventCockatoo6

   Reply

   I’ve had really random breakouts lately so I was happy to stumble upon sample packets of this product at Walgreens. Used as a spot treatment, it’s very good at drying out monster zits. Almost immediately afterwards, you can see the skin on the blemish flaking off because it’s become super dry, which could be too intense for sensitive skin. I only use this sparingly for this reason, but I do think its pretty effective if your skin can tolerate it. This is a bit pricey for what it is though, so I’m not sure that I’d buy the full size when I run out of my samples.

6. 

   fondPonie0

   Reply

   I am so glad someone started a US version category for LRP’s Effaclar Duo, because all of the existing reviews for both the US and the European version are all under the same category, and they shouldn’t be, because the US version could not be more different. In fact, I really think LRP should call the US version a different name.

   The US version has both LHA, which is an exfoliating acid, and 5.5% strength benzoyl peroxide, a strong antibacterial which also has drying and exfoliating action. It is unscented. The European version, on the other hand, contains NO BP at all, is quite fragranced, and contains only a low concentration of salicylic acid.

   The only similarities are the name, which is very confusing, because the products are SO different, and the price, which at $36 is very pricey for active ingredients found in many inexpensive drugstore acne products.

   I have VERY oily, acne-prone skin that is also sensitive to random products. My skin responds very well to a mild, low-dose BP product like the 2.5% BP cream Walgreen’s and Walmart makes. With both the LHA and the fairly high dose of 5.5% BP, this LRP US version of Effaclar Duo was way too strong for me . After only 2 days of consecutive use, I ended up w/ a mild chemical burn – with that reddish-yellow-brown-very-irritated- scorched-skin look.

   On the other hand, the European version of the LRP Effaclar Duo contains only a wimpy amt of BHA and is quite annoyingly fragranced. It had no effect on my skin, either good or bad – the scent just annoyed me.

   So, if you are looking for a BP product that does not burn your face off, save your $$ and buy the Walmart/Walgreen product. If you’re looking for a BHA product, again, save your $$ – Neutrogena makes a better and more effective one, and there are other BHA products out there w/ no or less fragrance.

   I love LRP ss’s, but both of LRP’s very different Effaclar Duo products were overpriced and were either way too strong or ineffective. I can’t understand why LRP would use the same name for both products, use both a fairly strong dose of BP AND an LHA in one resulting in major overkill, and use nothing but a minimal dose of BHA and a lot of fragrance in the other.

7. 

   gutturalViper4

   Reply

   I thought I would add the US Version on here to distinguish between the two products. That way we can get a better idea of what the true ratings are. My skin is photosensitive when I use benzoyl peroxide so this US version will not work for me.