Today I have a skincare product I have been using for the past month/2 months. It is the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo. I had pretty high hopes for this product from all the rave reviews around the beauty blogosphere - claiming it works miracles! Keep reading to see if it lived up to my expectations!
Right off the bat I just want to mention that there are two versions of this product, the one sold in Europe and here in Australia are able to be used all over the face as a moisturiser and the one sold in America is more of a spot treatment with higher levels of benzoyl peroxide. Just check which version you have before using it willy nilly! I have the European version.
It is marketed towards skin with severe imperfections and claims to reduce the appearance of imperfections and unclog sebum-blocked pores. It contains Niacinamide and Piroctone Olamine to help purify the skin and protect against breakouts developing. It also contains LHA/Linoleic Acid to help unclog pores by eliminating dead cells clogging the pores. These ingredients are combined with thermal spring water to soothe the skin.
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During my first month of use, I used the product twice daily (morning and evening). I've since switched to using it only at night as I noticed such good results from using it twice daily. It did break me out a little bit in the first few days, but they cleared up quite quickly. I'm not sure if my skin was adjusting to it or if it was one of those 'it has to get worse before it gets better' situations. Regardless, it wasn't a major downer for me. It claims to be a mattifying and moisturising creme-gel. I would say that's a pretty good description. I don't find the moisture is adequate for night, so I use a heavier moisturiser over the top. For day wear it serves as a great base for make up.
On to the results it gave my skin; overall I am pretty happy with the product and do feel that it lives up to its claims. Throughout the testing period I did have quite a bit of stress due to exams and assignments, late nights, and junk food binges (as well as hormonal breakouts) which left my skin looking a bit worse for wear. I feel this only really helps with breakouts caused by bacteria (I mean, can hormonal/stress related pimples really be prevented?). I found it helps clear up acne faster and overall gives the skin a clearer look and texture. It helped clear up some of the small bumps around my forehead and nose area which have been there for a long time, and nothing else seemed to work! I don't find, however, that it helps with acne scarring or in my case preventing the spot leaving a scar. I have noticed less breakouts since using it and there was a time (right before exams) where I was very happy with the state of my skin, and I believe it can all be attributed to this product. I will of course keep using it but I do feel this produces really beneficial results and will be good in the long term.
Overall, this has definitely become a staple in my skincare routine, and one that I will continue to use and repurchase for a long time. It's not hugely expensive at AUD$25.95 for 40mL of product at Terry White Chemists. You can find your nearest La Roche-Posay stockist here. I think it's worth every cent and hopefully with continued use I will be on the road to clearer skin!
Have you tried the Effaclar Duo? Did it work wonders for you?
