U.S. Market · Product Teardown
A 400 ml foaming gel built on zinc and a single strong sulfate, carrying a 4.7-star average over 56,902 ratings, a 2.2 score from the open ingredient community, and a price that has sat at its all-time ceiling since July 2026.
- Product information
- Product rating and voice of customer
- Product ingredients
- Product price and history
- Product gallery
- Data notes
Product Information
| Product name | La Roche-Posay Effaclar Foaming Gel Cleanser for Oily Skin |
|---|---|
| Brand | La Roche-Posay |
| ASIN | B003JSEGNC |
| Category path | Beauty & Personal Care > Skin Care > Face > Cleansers > Washes |
| Size / format | 400 ml (13.52 fl oz) pump bottle |
| Marketplace | Amazon US, delivery ZIP 10001, native USD |
| Snapshot date | 2026-10-31 |
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Foaming Gel Cleanser for Oily Skin is a 400 ml pump bottle of clear blue foaming gel from the Effaclar line, addressed on the listing to oily, sensitive and acne-prone skin. The published bullets position it around zinc pidolate, a purifying active credited with removing excess oil while respecting the skin's pH balance, and the pack artwork reproduced in the first listing image prints pH 5.5-6.0, soap free, paraben free and non comedogenic alongside a made-in-France origin line. The brand places it as step one of a three-step Effaclar routine, ahead of Effaclar Duo+M and Anthelios UVMune 400.
Directions, as printed in the A+ copy, are a standard cleanse: wet the face with lukewarm water, apply a small amount of gel, massage gently to a rich lather and rinse thoroughly, morning and evening as needed. The specification block gives 13.52 fluid ounces, item weight 0.46 kg, dimensions 2.36 x 2.36 x 8.07 inches, a fresh scent, model number RP1991 and UPC 885284203176. At the snapshot date the listing ranked #2,861 in Beauty & Personal Care and #51 in Facial Cleansing Washes, was in stock and was sold by Amazon itself.
What the listing claims
- This daily facial cleanser for oily skin with zinc pidolate effectively cleanses away dirt and oil while respecting skin's pH balance.
- Dermatologist tested daily face wash cleanses and purifies skin without over drying. Tested on acne-prone skin (non-comedogenicity test).
- Foaming cleanser formulated with Zinc Pidolate: Known for its purifying properties to help remove excess oil
- Suitable for sensitive skin, paraben free, non-comedogenic, allergy tested, dermatologist tested and soap free cleanser
- Oil free face wash with a clear, refreshing foaming gel texture, gently cleans the skin without over drying
Specification table
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | La Roche-Posay |
| Item weight | 0.46 kg |
| Item dimensions | 2.36 x 2.36 x 8.07 inches |
| Scent | Fresh |
| Age range | Adult |
| Package quantity | 1 |
| Number of items | 1 |
| Unit count | 13.52 fluid ounces |
| Net content weight | 13.5 ounces |
| Net content volume | 400 ml |
| Product dimensions | 2.36 x 2.36 x 8.07 inches; 1.01 pounds |
| Item model number | RP1991 |
| UPC | 885284203176 |
| Manufacturer | La Roche Posay |
| Best sellers rank | #2,861 in Beauty & Personal Care; #51 in Facial Cleansing Washes |
| Availability | In stock |
| Sold by | Amazon, first party |
Product Rating and Voice of Customer
The rating profile is read in two layers: the arithmetic of the star distribution, and the language customers actually use. Both are shown, and neither is extrapolated beyond what was published.
Star distribution
Rating at a glance
| Average rating | 4.7 / 5 |
|---|---|
| Total ratings | 56,902 |
| 5-star share | 84% |
| 4-star share | 8% |
| 3-star share | 4% |
| 2-star share | 1% |
| 1-star share | 3% |
| Community rating (open database) | 2.2 / 5 · 57 reviews |
What customers say, in aggregate
Customers find the cleanser effective and appreciate its gentle formula that doesn't dry out skin, making it particularly suitable for sensitive and oily skin types. The foaming action is well-received, with one customer noting it creates enough lather for the face. The product lasts a long time, with one customer reporting it lasts up to 5 months. While some customers say it doesn't irritate their skin and has a nice scent, others report breakouts and describe the fragrance as awful. The ease of use receives mixed feedback, with some finding it easy to use while others find it frustrating.
| Aspect | Mentions | Positive share |
|---|---|---|
| Effectiveness | 1183 | 86% |
| Gentleness | 453 | 71% |
| Skin compatibility | 447 | 84% |
| Skin sensitivity | 343 | 64% |
| Fragrance | 290 | 63% |
| Foaming | 79 | 80% |
| Duration | 69 | 94% |
Individual review text was not rendered on the captured listing page, so no verbatim review is quoted here. The aggregate summary and aspect table above are the published substitutes.
Product Ingredients
14 ingredients were merged into one roster. Each ingredient is graded on comedogenic risk, irritation risk and an overall safety grade, all read low is safer (0 or 1 is the benign end; 3 and above is the caution band). Level assignment takes the highest of the three grades, so a single severe flag is never averaged away.
What's inside
A "not" prefix is a failed claim, not a marketing variant: it means the formula does not meet that standard.
Level classification
Count of ingredients by level
Functional family mix
| Level | Reading | Ingredients | Share | Members |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | No known comedogenic or irritant activity | 1 | 7.1% | PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate |
| 2 | Mild watch item, patch test if sensitive | 1 | 7.1% | Hexylene Glycol |
| n/r | Not rated by either database | 12 | 85.7% | Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEG-8, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Zinc PCA, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid and 4 more |
"Not rated" is missing data, not a clean bill of health. Most commodity ingredients carry no grade in either database.
Benefit claims and how many ingredients carry them
| Benefit | Ingredients | Mechanism as stated |
|---|---|---|
| Acne Fighting | 1 ingredient | Zinc PCA - fights acne and helps prevent breakouts. |
| Good For Oily Skin | 1 ingredient | Zinc PCA - balances oil and helps reduce shine. |
| Reduces Large Pores | 1 ingredient | Zinc PCA - minimizes the look of enlarged pores. |
| Redness Reducing | 1 ingredient | Zinc PCA - soothes visible redness and calms irritation. |
| Barrier Repair | 1 ingredient | Zinc PCA - strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier. |
Class-level concerns
| Concern | What the database means |
|---|---|
| May Worsen Dryness | Sodium Laureth Sulfate can strip moisture and worsen dryness, especially at higher concentration or on already dry and sensitive skin. |
| May Worsen Eczema | Parfum may worsen itching or irritation for eczema-prone skin; triggers vary between individuals. |
| May Worsen Rosacea | Parfum can trigger flare-ups in rosacea-prone skin. Citric Acid and PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate carry the same flag at ingredient level. |
These are ingredient-class warnings: the formula contains ingredients capable of the stated effect. They are not a prediction about any one user.
Key ingredient groups
- Zinc — 1 ingredient(s). Zinc PCA, at position 8: a skin-balancing mineral that helps regulate oil production, calm inflammation and support the skin's natural healing process, which is why it carries all five benefit claims on its own.
Complete ingredient roster
| # | INCI name | Function | Comedo | Irrit | Safety | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Water | Skin conditioning / Solvent | - | - | - | — |
| 2 | Sodium Laureth Sulfate | Cleansing / Emulsifying / Foaming | - | - | - | — |
| 3 | PEG-8 | Humectant / Solvent | - | - | - | — |
| 4 | Coco-Betaine | Cleansing / Foam boosting / Skin conditioning | - | - | - | — |
| 5 | Hexylene Glycol | Emulsifying / Skin conditioning / Solvent | 0-2 | 0-1 | - | 2 |
| 6 | Sodium Chloride | Masking / Thickener | - | - | - | — |
| 7 | PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate | Emulsifying | 0 | 0 | - | 0 |
| 8 | Zinc PCA | Humectant / Skin conditioning | - | - | - | — |
| 9 | Sodium Hydroxide | Buffering | - | - | - | — |
| 10 | Citric Acid | Buffering / Chelating / Masking | - | - | - | — |
| 11 | Sodium Benzoate | Masking / Preservative | - | - | - | — |
| 12 | Phenoxyethanol | Preservative | - | - | - | — |
| 13 | Caprylyl Glycol | Emollient / Humectant / Skin conditioning | - | - | - | — |
| 14 | Parfum | Masking / Perfuming | - | - | - | — |
Product Price and History
Every figure below is native USD as listed for a U.S. delivery address. No conversion, no estimate. The history block is all-time, not period-specific.
Amazon price history
| Price type | Lowest ever | Highest ever | Current | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $11.24 Nov 26, 2017 | $24.99 Jul 21, 2026 | $24.97 Oct 12, 2026 | $20.78 |
| 3rd Party New | $10.90 Jul 03, 2012 | $44.77 Aug 30, 2014 | $24.97 Oct 12, 2026 | $24.76 |
| 3rd Party Used | No data recorded for this channel | |||
"Current" is the last observed value with its own date, not a live quote. Monitoring since Mar 28, 2012.
Price record, compared
Position and spread
| Metric | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Current vs all-time low | 122.2% | $13.73 above the floor |
| Current vs average | 20.2% | above the typical shelf price |
| Current vs all-time high | -0.1% | $0.02 below the peak |
| All-time spread | 122.3% | peak minus floor, an indicator of promotional depth |
| Average vs list price | -16.8% | how far the street price sits from the anchor |
Product Gallery
Listing imagery and customer-submitted photographs, shown in source order.
Front of the 400 ml pump bottle: translucent blue gel behind clear plastic, white pump head, pack text reading pH 5.5-6.0, soap free, paraben free, non comedogenic, 13.52 fl oz, made in France.
Foam worked onto a cheek with callouts for Zinc Pidolate, the refreshing foaming gel texture, and the promise of cleansing impurities while respecting the skin's pH balance.
Bottle against a bubble-and-lather backdrop, overlaid with 'Gentle face wash for oily skin' and 'cleanses away dirt and oil without drying'.
Split-frame lifestyle shot of two models using the foam, captioned 'Recommended for oily, sensitive skin', with the bottle inset.
Claim panel under the brand lockup: Dermatologist Tested, Allergy Tested, Oil-Free / Non-Comedogenic, Fragrance-Free, and a footer reading 'Recommended by 90,000 Dermatologists Worldwide'.
Three-step regimen graphic: 1 Cleanse with the Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel, 2 Correct with Effaclar Duo+M, 3 Protect with Anthelios UVMune 400.
Bottle with a hard shadow on white, flanked by three circled icons: Dermatologist Tested, Gentle for the Skin, Non-Comedogenic.
Data Notes
- No review text was rendered for this ASIN on the collection date: the desktop page, the mobile layout and the review fallback page all returned zero cards. The 4.7 average, the 56,902 rating count, the percentage histogram and the AI-generated 'customers say' summary were all captured from the product page itself, but no individual review body is quoted anywhere in this report.
- No buyer-uploaded photographs were available: the listing exposed zero review-media tiles and none of the rendered reviews carried an image. All seven gallery images are official listing photography, including the model and claim-panel shots.
- The dedicated ingredient-safety database returned a Cloudflare 'Just a moment...' challenge on the single attempt made for this run, so no third-party safety grades were captured. All ingredient data comes from the open ingredient database and the brand's own copy.
- Comedogenic and irritancy values exist for only 2 of the 14 ingredients. The twelve blank cells are missing data, not a clean bill of health, and the level-classification chart is correspondingly thin.
- The open ingredient database scores this product 2.2 / 5 across 57 reviews, against a 4.7 / 5 Amazon average across 56,902 ratings. The two populations are not comparable - the community reviewers are self-selected for adverse reactions - and both figures are reported rather than reconciled.
- The listing's own imagery includes a Fragrance-Free icon, but Parfum appears at position 14 of the INCI roster. The claim is recorded as failed and the contradiction is left visible rather than resolved in the brand's favour.
- No list price was displayed in the Amazon buy box. The $24.99 list price used in the price section comes from the independent price tracker's product record, not from the listing.
- The price tracker's current value carries its own observation date of Oct 12, 2026, roughly 19 days before collection; the live buy-box figure on the collection date was also $24.97.
- Ratings, prices and ranks move between captures; figures here describe the snapshot date only.
- Ingredient grades are community-database aggregates used as reference, not a regulatory or dermatological verdict. Formulas are reformulated without notice; the packaging wins.
- No reviewer name, handle, profile link or identifier appears anywhere in this report.