Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links. Read our full disclosure policy.

SLMD
AHA/BHA Swipes

Versus

La Roche-Posay
Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum

Product category and function

AHA/BHA Swipes

Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum

Leave-on Chemical Exfoliants	Leave-on Chemical Exfoliants
Formulations with exfoliating ingredients to gently dissolve dead skin cells. Once applied, these...	Formulations with exfoliating ingredients to gently dissolve dead skin cells. Once applied, these...
----	----

Ingredient highlights

AHA/BHA Swipes

Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum

Ingredient info	Ingredient info
Alcohol-free Paraben-free SLS-free Mica-free Fragrance-free cruelty-free	Alcohol-free Paraben-free SLS-free Mica-free Fragrance-free

Full ingredient list

AHA/BHA Swipes

Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum

No. of common ingredients = 0
Salicylic acid (2%), water, sodium hydroxide, lactic acid, glycolic acid, phytic acid, polysorbate 20, propanediol, glycerin, carica papaya (papaya) fruit extract, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) bark/leaf/twig extract, heterotheca inuloides flower extract, ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, decyl glucoside, coco-glucoside, polyglyceryl-10 caprylate/caprate, arbutin, azelaic acid, dipotassium glycyrrhizate, gluconic acid, glutathione, glyceryl oleate, kojic acid, maltodextrin, niacinamide, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin, sodium benzoate 8	Salicylic acid (1.5%), water, alcohol denat, propanediol, glycolic acid, niacinamide, dimethyl isosorbide, pentylene glycol, sodium hydroxide, ppg-26-buteth-26, hydroxyethylpiperazine ethane sulfonic acid, citric acid, peg-30 glyceryl cocoate, peg-40 hydrogenated castor oil, peg-60 hydrogenated castor oil, capryloyl salicylic acid, biosaccharide gum-1, maltodextrin, phytic acid, polyquaternium-10, fragrance.

No. of common ingredients = 0

Total Number of ingredients = 29

Total Number of ingredients = 21

Salicylic acid (2%), water, sodium hydroxide, lactic acid, glycolic acid, phytic acid, polysorbate 20, propanediol, glycerin, carica papaya (papaya) fruit extract, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) bark/leaf/twig extract, heterotheca inuloides flower extract, ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, decyl glucoside, coco-glucoside, polyglyceryl-10 caprylate/caprate, arbutin, azelaic acid, dipotassium glycyrrhizate, gluconic acid, glutathione, glyceryl oleate, kojic acid, maltodextrin, niacinamide, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin, sodium benzoate

Salicylic acid (1.5%), water, alcohol denat, propanediol, glycolic acid, niacinamide, dimethyl isosorbide, pentylene glycol, sodium hydroxide, ppg-26-buteth-26, hydroxyethylpiperazine ethane sulfonic acid, citric acid, peg-30 glyceryl cocoate, peg-40 hydrogenated castor oil, peg-60 hydrogenated castor oil, capryloyl salicylic acid, biosaccharide gum-1, maltodextrin, phytic acid, polyquaternium-10, fragrance.

Notable ingredients

AHA/BHA Swipes

Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum

Anti-acne: Niacinamide, Azelaic acid, Salicylic acid (2%)

Soothing: Niacinamide, Chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract, Azelaic acid

Skin brightening: Niacinamide, Azelaic acid

Anti-acne: Niacinamide, Salicylic acid (1.5%)

Soothing: Niacinamide

Skin brightening: Niacinamide

Load all

Ingredients with their functions

AHA/BHA Swipes

Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum

Salicylic acid (2%)

Function: Anti-acne, Skin conditioning, Preservative, Keratolytic, Exfoliant

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Water

Also-called: Aqua, Aqua/Water, Water/Aqua/Eau, Aqua/Water/Eau | Function: Skin conditioning, Solvent

Water serves as a fundamental component in skincare products, often listed as the first ingredient, which means it's the most abundant. It acts as a solvent, helping to dissolve other ingredients and facilitate the application and absorption of products.

Sodium hydroxide

Function: Buffering

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Lactic acid

Function: Skin conditioning, Humectant/Moisturizer, Buffering, Exfoliant

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Glycolic acid

Function: Buffering, Exfoliant

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Phytic acid

Function: Chelating

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Polysorbate 20

Function: Surfactant/Cleansing

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Propanediol

Also-called: Zemea | Function: Viscosity controlling, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Glycerin

Also-called: Glycerol | Function: Skin-identical ingredient, Viscosity controlling, Skin protecting, Skin conditioning, Humectant/Moisturizer, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Carica papaya (papaya) fruit extract

Also-called: Papaya Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Extract | Function: Skin conditioning

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract

Also-called: Matricaria Recutita Flower Extract | Function: Soothing, Skin conditioning, Antioxidant

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) bark/leaf/twig extract

Function: Skin conditioning

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Heterotheca inuloides flower extract

Function: Masking

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Ricinus communis (castor) seed oil

Also-called: Castor Oil, Castor Seed Oil | Function: Emollient/Moisturizer, Skin conditioning

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Decyl glucoside

Function: Surfactant/Cleansing, Emulsion stabilizing

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Coco-glucoside

Also-called: Coco glucoside | Function: Surfactant/Cleansing

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Polyglyceryl-10 caprylate/caprate

Function: Surfactant/Cleansing, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Arbutin

Also-called: Beta-Arbutin | Function: Skin conditioning, Antioxidant

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Azelaic acid

Function: Anti-acne, Soothing, Buffering, Skin brightening, Antioxidant

Azelaic acid is a naturally occurring acid found in fungi and certain grains. It offers several benefits for the skin, including reducing inflammation, decreasing redness, killing acne-causing bacteria, fading dark spots, improving skin texture, protecting against free radicals, and reducing sensitivity over time. It can be easily incorporated into skincare routines and works well with other ingredients.

For acne, azelaic acid prevents the thickening of the top layer of dead skin cells, which can clog pores and lead to breakouts. It also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, making it effective for treating inflammatory acne.

Dipotassium glycyrrhizate

Also-called: Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate | Function: Skin conditioning, Humectant/Moisturizer

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Gluconic acid

Function: Chelating

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Glutathione

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Glyceryl oleate

Function: Emollient/Moisturizer, Surfactant/Cleansing, Skin conditioning

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Kojic acid

Function: Antioxidant

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Maltodextrin

Function: Film forming, Skin conditioning, Emulsion stabilizing, Absorbent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Niacinamide

Also-called: Nicotinamide, Vitamin B3 | Function: Anti-acne, Soothing, Skin brightening, Cell-signaling ingredient

Niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, is a potent skincare ingredient renowned for its wide-ranging benefits.

It helps to strengthen the skin's barrier function, improve skin texture, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It's also effective in managing acne and reducing redness and inflammation.

Furthermore, it inhibits melanin production, thereby assisting in fading hyperpigmentation and evening out skin tone. Safe for almost all skin types, niacinamide is a versatile ingredient found in various skincare products.

Phenoxyethanol

Function: Preservative, Anti-microbial

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Ethylhexylglycerin

Function: Skin conditioning, Preservative, Deodorant

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Sodium benzoate

Function: Preservative

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Salicylic acid (1.5%)

Function: Anti-acne, Skin conditioning, Preservative, Keratolytic, Exfoliant