La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser For Oily, Breakout-Prone Skin 200ml vs Simple Smooth+ Gel Facial Cleanser AHA + hyaluronic acid gently exfoliates and helps promote cell turnover for smoother, radiant skin 240 ml
Side-by-side comparison of scores, ingredients, prices and real customer feedback for La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser For Oily, Breakout-Prone Skin 200ml and Simple Smooth+ Gel Facial Cleanser AHA + hyaluronic acid gently exfoliates and helps promote cell turnover for smoother, radiant skin 240 ml.
Last verified: 07 Apr 2026 · Based on 24 reviews
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser For Oily, Breakout-Prone Skin 200ml scores 80.0/100 vs Simple Smooth+ Gel Facial Cleanser AHA + hyaluronic acid gently exfoliates and helps promote cell turnover for smoother, radiant skin 240 ml at 77.0/100. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser For Oily, Breakout-Prone Skin 200ml wins on effectiveness, ingredient quality, texture experience. Simple Smooth+ Gel Facial Cleanser AHA + hyaluronic acid gently exfoliates and helps promote cell turnover for smoother, radiant skin 240 ml is stronger on skin compatibility and value for money.
Which is better: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Pur... or Simple Smooth+ Gel Facial C...?
La Roche-Posay Effaclar wins with an 80/100 score versus Simple's 77/100, backed by clinically active zinc pidolate that directly addresses oily, breakout-prone skin. Simple is the better pick for sensitive or dry skin types who want a fragrance-free, sulphate-free option at a lower £8.30 price point.
— AIScored Editorial Team
How Do the Scores Compare?
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Pur...
|
Simple Smooth+ Gel Facial C...
Simpl
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 80.0 | 77.0 |
| Effectiveness |
83.0/100
Best
|
72.0/100 |
| Ingredient Quality |
71.0/100
Best
|
70.0/100 |
| Skin Compatibility | 78.0/100 |
88.0/100
Best
|
| Texture & UX |
86.0/100
Best
|
83.0/100 |
| Value for Money | 79.0/100 |
82.0/100
Best
|
| Best Price | £13.19 Amazon UK → |
£8.30
Amazon UK →
Cheapest
|
| Form | N/A | N/A |
| Dose | N/A | N/A |
| Third-Party Tested | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Reviews Analysed | 13 | 11 |
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifyin...
Pros
- ✓Clinically relevant zinc pidolate active targets excess sebum and has mild antimicrobial action against acne-causing bacteria
- ✓Non-stripping: multiple reviewers with sensitive and combination skin report no tightness or dryness post-cleanse
- ✓Rich, satisfying foam from minimal product — bottle routinely lasts 4–6 months, improving cost-per-use
- ✓Noticeably reduces whiteheads and spots within weeks according to multiple independent reviewers
Cons
- ✗Contains parfum (fragrance) — a potential sensitiser and irritant for reactive or rosacea-prone skin
- ✗Primary surfactant is SLES (sodium laureth sulfate), which is effective but less gentle than next-generation surfactants such as sodium cocoyl glutamate; unsuitable for dry or compromised-barrier skin
- ✗Not a makeup remover — an Arabic reviewer specifically notes heavy makeup requires a dedicated first cleanse
- ✗Slightly elevated price point versus drugstore equivalents, though partially offset by longevity
Best For
Simple Smooth+ Gel Facial Cleans...
Pros
- ✓Fragrance-free and sulphate-free — unusually gentle for an exfoliating cleanser
- ✓Lactic acid is the mildest AHA, suitable even for reactive and sensitive skin
- ✓Hyaluronic acid partially offsets typical AHA dryness during cleansing step
- ✓Very economical — multiple reviewers note a small amount goes a long way
Cons
- ✗Rinse-off AHA delivers minimal exfoliation versus dedicated leave-on serums or toners
- ✗Product instructions caution against daily use due to AHA content — limits convenience
- ✗No INCI list provided, so active concentrations and full ingredient order cannot be verified
- ✗Not suited to those seeking meaningful chemical exfoliation — effect is gentle at best
Best For
What does the data say about La Roche-Posay Effacla... vs Simple Smooth+ Gel Fac...?
These two cleansers take quite different approaches. The La Roche-Posay Effaclar (£13.19, 80/100) is built around zinc pidolate — an active ingredient that works on sebum regulation and has mild antimicrobial action against acne-causing bacteria. It uses SLES as its primary surfactant, which produces a rich foam but is better suited to oily skin than a compromised barrier. The Simple Smooth+ (£8.30, 77/100) pairs lactic acid — the gentlest of the AHAs — with hyaluronic acid and avoids both fragrance and sulphates entirely. The catch is that rinsing off an AHA cleanser dramatically limits how much exfoliation actually reaches the skin compared to a leave-on product.
If you have oily, breakout-prone skin and want active sebum control with a satisfying cleanse, the Effaclar is the better fit — and at £13.19 a bottle that reportedly lasts four to six months, the cost-per-use is reasonable. If your skin is sensitive or dry and you want a gentle introduction to AHAs without risking irritation, Simple's fragrance-free formula at £8.30 makes more sense, though the instructions advise against daily use.
One practical note: the Effaclar contains parfum, which rules it out for anyone with rosacea or reactive skin.
The La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel is a soap-free, dermatologist-tested cleanser formulated around zinc pidolate for sebum regulation and a mild SLES/cocamidopropyl betaine surfactant system.
What are the key differences?
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser For Oily, Breakout-Prone Skin 200ml or Simple Smooth+ Gel Facial Cleanser AHA + hyaluronic acid gently exfoliates and helps promote cell turnover for smoother, radiant skin 240 ml? ▼
Is La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser For Oily, Breakout-Prone Skin 200ml worth the price compared to Simple Smooth+ Gel Facial Cleanser AHA + hyaluronic acid gently exfoliates and helps promote cell turnover for smoother, radiant skin 240 ml? ▼
Related Product Comparisons
The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser, Gentle Foaming Face Wash for All Skin Types Including Sensitive Skin, 150ml
vs La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser For Oily, Breakout-Prone Skin 200ml
The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser, Gentle Foaming Face Wash for All Skin Types Including Sensitive Skin, 150ml
vs Simple Smooth+ Gel Facial Cleanser AHA + hyaluronic acid gently exfoliates and helps promote cell turnover for smoother, radiant skin 240 ml
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser For Oily, Breakout-Prone Skin 200ml
vs Q+A Niacinamide Gentle Exfoliating Face Cleanser (125ml), Face Scrub, Exfoliating Face Wash with Jojoba Esters and Prebiotics, Cleanses While Calming Sensitivity and Blemish-Prone Skin, Fragrance Free
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser For Oily, Breakout-Prone Skin 200ml
vs e.l.f. SKIN Holy Hydration! Clean Freak Daily Cleanser, Gentle Hydrating Gel Face Cleanser, Made With Hyaluronic Acid, Vegan & Cruelty-Free, 163ml
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser For Oily, Breakout-Prone Skin 200ml
vs NEOSTRATA RESTORE PHA Hydrating Gel Facial Cleanser; Sensitive Skin Exfoliating Blackhead Remover; Pore Minimizer; Acne Face Wash Makeup Remover with Glycine for Collagen & Polyhydroxy Acid, 6.8 oz
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser For Oily, Breakout-Prone Skin 200ml
vs Dermatica Anti-Breakout Balancing Glycerin Gel Cleanser
Disclaimer: AIScored provides data-driven comparisons based on publicly available reviews. This is not medical advice. Affiliate links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
Feedback & Suggestions
Spotted an issue? Wrong price, incorrect data, or something else off? Let us know and we'll fix it.
Missing a product you'd like us to review? Tell us the product name and we'll consider adding it.