Effaclar duo - please tell me it gets better?!

[Nomakeupselfish]

I have been using effaclar duo for about 2 weeks now. My skin has never been worse! I seem to be getting loads more spots than before - the only difference now is that they seem to come to a head quicker rather than stay like lumps like they did before.

Help! Should I persevere?

[Nomakeupselfish]

Anyone? Been reading about skin purging but I'm not sure if this is what's happening....

[FoxyHarlow123]

I too am having issues with this product bringing me out in even more spots. Not at all impressed. Mine has a money back guarantee with it, so I'm taking it back this weekend for a refund.

[Nomakeupselfish]

How long have you been using it Foxy? It's weird, because I feel the overall texture of my skin on the non spotty areas is better but I have these big spots!

I don't think I had a money back guarantee with mine... I'm going to use it til the tube is finished I think to give it a fair chance. I seem to be bumbling from one skin disaster to another at the moment! Last time it was superdrug vitamin E hot cloth cleanser broke me out, now this!!

[BumWad]

I bought the Mattifying moisturiser, effaclar K and effaclar duo to try.

Effaclar duo is a load of shite to be honest. Hasn't made my skin worse but isn't doing anything either??

Effaclar K is however fab!

[CanaryYellow]

It made my skin 10 times worse and after two weeks I gave up and gave all the stuff I'd bought away on here for free.

[catacats]

Noma exactly the same thing happened to me! But I swore to myself I would give it a fair chance. I've been using it almost eight weeks now,

Initially I loved it for the first week or so then week three to four was the pits I was really spotty. But miraculously very shortly after that stage my skin really cleared up.

Then time of the month spots turned up just as I was getting used to my much clearer complexion at this stage I thought sod it but but...... overnight they seemed to of died a death now I usually get welt like spots that take the best part of two weeks to heal and never actually coming to a head iykwim.

So my advice is stick with it I definitely think the skin just needs time to adjust or purge but I am really happy with effaclar duo, my monthly spots or should I say welts have been the Bain of my life for over 25 years I'm not saying its a miracle cream but its most definitely the best cream I've tried and believe me I've tried a lot of them usually triple the price.

[candycrushhater]

Definitely stick with it! My skin was a total disaster with huge hormonal spots/breakouts around my chin area. It made them worse for the first 3 or 4 weeks then gradually everything just healed up. My skin is now totally blemish free! Even when I do get the odd breakout, it's nowhere near as bad and the spots clear up within a couple of days. I use a different moisturiser on my cheeks and neck as I find that it gets a bit drying.

[SpicedGingerTea]

I've been using Duo+ for approx 4 weeks. I think I'm finally seeing some benefits. For the first couple of weeks I felt like I got more spots, but my skin looks clearer and calmer now. The red marks have all practically disappeared.

It hasn't shrunk my pores or cleared them though. But so far I'm reasonably happy.

[Nomakeupselfish]

Hmmm, interesting to hear different experiences. I will stick with it and see. I think any product would need a while to work so I will keep going. I shall report back in a few weeks!

[Nomakeupselfish]

BumWad, what's the difference between K and duo?

[FoxyHarlow123]

I've been using it sporadically for about 3 weeks. Reading all the comments on here though, I'm now tempted to persevere. Just get so blummin despondent with my skin though. Even during today, a new cystic spot has surfaced, so I now have a matching pair on my chin.

[daisydaisys]

Oh my goodness - yes! I'm so glad other people found this too, I thought I was the only person who didn't get on with Effaclar Duo - so I'm pleased it's not just me :-S

I used it for a couple of weeks when my skin was really bad last summer, and it just did nothing. If anything it made my skin worse and made me get lots more small bumps on my forehead than before. I think the key ingredient (salicylic acid) is a really over-rated ingredient actually - I've never found a good, salicylic acid based product and there are certainly better things out there...

I have a feeling that La Roche-Posay had some kind of contract with all the popular beauty bloggers and that's why there was so much hype around it... I certainly don't understand it!

[Nomakeupselfish]

I only really heard of it on here, then did some reading of blogs - it's certainly got a lot of write ups!

To the people that didn't keep using effaclar duo - what do you use now, and does it work for you?

Please don't anyone suggest hot cloth cleansing. It just doesn't work for me at all - I've tried several brands! Feels lovely but gives me blackheads.

[Nomakeupselfish]

foxy - I know that despondent feeling. It's just relentless.

[FoxyHarlow123]

Ok, so I'm trying again and my skin is hideous. I have spots everywhere. Cystic acne on my chin and spots on my forehead and cheeks, which I never get. In for a penny though.......I'm going to give it 4-6 weeks before I quit this time.

[Kundry]

If they come to a head quicker it is working - stick with it til the end of the bottle before deciding.

Effaclar Duo has Benzoyl Peroxide in it and Effaclar K has Salicylic Acid, both are v effective anti-acne treatments.

You may find one works better for you than the other or that you need both.

I started with a salicylic acid product (Paula's Choice 2% BHA) and pretty much had what you described and then suddenly all the spots and blackheads vanished. You need to wait until your skin has completely turned over before deciding it doesn't work though - about 4 weeks as some spots will be in development deep down before you start and they will have to come out and go before you get lovely new skin.

[FoxyHarlow123]

I don't have greasy skin at all or blackheads and I never get spots on my cheeks. Ever. So I don't know how they could have been brewing. It's just so demoralising. Sagging, wrinkles and spots :-(

[peachdaiquirionmytoes]

Foxy - if you haven't got blackheads are you sure it is acne. My dermatologist confirmed that one of the main differences between acne and rosacea was lack of blackheads. If it is rosacea it requires different treatment - worth checking.

[FoxyHarlow123]

I'm almost certain it's cystic acne, linked to hormone fluctuations but its usually just on my chin mainly. Another one has appeared on my temple overnight.

[Greenstone]

I'm nearly finished a tube of Effaclar A.I. Targeted Corrector. I think it might be discontinued now but I've been pretty impressed with the results. I did get that thing of further spots but they are healing more quickly. I'm just switching to Effaclar Duo now and will see how I get on. I currently have chin eruptions but they are healing.

Does anyone know if the Effaclar range is definitely safe in pregnancy? Google suggested it was but I'm a bit worried.

[Mandelinka]

Just started using Effaclar Duo about 2 weeks ago, first couple of days my skin looked and felt so much better ( recently developed cystic acne on my chin due to stress and hormone fluctuation ). It got me really excited. However, now I'm going thru the 'purging stage' and am completely horrified! The spots seem to erupt in front if my eyes! ?? it's absolutely disgusting. I need to wear foundation for work, ( recently started using MAC studio fix and am pretty sure it aggravates my skin even further ) I wish I could give my skin some rest and let it breath, but it's in such a bad state there is no way I could go to work bare-faced!
I'd love to hear from anybody out there who's been using Effaclar for a while and seen some results!

[Starypjs]

I'm on my third or fourth box and they usually last about 2 months. I had a dodgy beginning where I thought it wasn't working but now my skin is the clearest it's ever been. My skin v oily and that hasn't changed but my pores look a bit better. It can be drying though so I top up with aldis night cream which is amazeballs and just takes the edge off the drying effects. I use oil cleanse to get my make up off.

[Pluto30]

I despised that product. It made my skin significantly worse (and I stuck to it for 12 weeks).

Then realised that my bad skin was due to fish oil (and/or evening primrose oil - but I think the fish oil is more likely) tablets, and that my skin reacts to some (or most) foundations. Ever since working that out, I've not had a problem with my skin. It took bloody years though.

[ChishandFips33]

Clearest skin ever here too - I also use the cleansing gel

I can see a difference when I've been lazy and not kept on top of using it

It.lasts.ages
And when you think it's finished - cut off the top and scoop loads more out! It's the cream that keeps on giving!

[Starypjs]

OMG I also had issues with the fish oil!!