La Roche-Posay

Most people arrive at La Roche-Posay for one of two reasons: a dermatologist wrote down Effaclar or Cicaplast and they're trying to find it, or they saw the sunscreen somewhere and want to know what it costs. Those are two completely different needs, so it's worth going line by line rather than scrolling 60 products hoping something jumps out.

What La Roche-Posay actually is

A French pharmacy brand, part of L'Oréal's dermatological division, built around thermal spring water from the town it's named after. The practical thing to know is that it's organised by problem, not by skin type. That's why the names matter more than the packaging: Effaclar means oil and breakouts, Anthelios means sun, Cicaplast means repair, Toleriane means sensitive. Once you know the four words, the whole range makes sense.

Effaclar isn't one product, it's four different ones

This is where most of the confusion happens. Effaclar Foaming Gel is the cleanser, and it's the one to start with. Effaclar Duo+M is a treatment, not a moisturiser — thin layer on the spots, not all over the face. Effaclar Mat is the moisturiser for genuinely oily skin, and Effaclar H Iso-Biome is the moisturiser for skin that's oily but has been dried out by acne treatment. People buy Mat when they need H, then wonder why their skin is tight and peeling. More in Acne & Blemishes and Oil Control & Shine.

With Anthelios, the SPF number isn't the difference

Every Anthelios here is SPF 50+. What actually separates them is texture, and in Egyptian heat that's the only thing that decides whether you'll keep using it. The UV Air serum and the Oil Control fluids dry down matte and disappear, which is why they suit oily and combination skin. UVMune 400 Hydrating Cream is heavier and better for dry skin. The tinted versions replace a light base, and they're the ones people repurchase once they realise they've stopped wearing foundation. Mexoryl 400 is the filter behind the UVMune name, developed for the long UVA that older filters let through. All of them in Sunscreens.

Cicaplast is the one to keep in the drawer

Cicaplast Baume B5+ gets bought for a specific problem and then ends up being used for everything: over-exfoliated skin, a retinol reaction, chapped patches, after a facial, cracked hands in winter. Panthenol and madecassoside, nothing complicated. If your skin is reactive daily rather than occasionally, Toleriane Sensitive is the everyday version of the same idea, and Lipikar Syndet AP+ replaces shower gel for very dry or eczema-prone skin. See Redness & Sensitivity and Sensitive & Eczema-Prone Skin.

Mela B3, Pure Niacinamide, Hyalu B5: not interchangeable

Mela B3 is the one for stubborn pigmentation and melasma-type discolouration, and it's the slowest of the three to show results. Pure Niacinamide 10 is lighter, cheaper, and better suited to post-acne marks that are still fresh. Hyalu B5 isn't a brightener at all — it's hydration and fine lines, and people sometimes buy it expecting it to fade spots. Retinol B3 sits above all three, and only if your skin already handles actives. See Dark Spots & Pigmentation.

Questions people actually ask

How much is La Roche-Posay cleanser in Egypt?

Prices are on each product above in EGP and we keep them current. The Effaclar cleanser comes in 200ml and 400ml, and the 400ml works out cheaper per use if it's already your regular cleanser.

Which La Roche-Posay moisturiser for oily skin?

Effaclar Mat if your skin is oily and otherwise fine. Effaclar H Iso-Biome if it's oily but also flaking, tight, or irritated from acne treatment. That second case is far more common than people expect.

Is the sunscreen okay for acne-prone skin?

The Oil Control and UV Air textures are formulated non-comedogenic and finish dry, which is why they get recommended alongside Effaclar rather than in spite of it.

Does Mela B3 work on melasma?

It's formulated for that kind of stubborn pigmentation, but it needs months and it needs daily sunscreen. Without the sunscreen the spots come back and the serum gets blamed.

Can I use Effaclar Duo+M all over my face?

You can, but it's designed as a treatment and most people find it drying used that way. Thin layer where the breakouts are, moisturiser everywhere.

Is it the same product sold in French pharmacies?

Yes, same formulas, and prices here are in EGP with delivery to all governorates.

Not sure which line fits your skin? Our team can help you work it out. Or start with Cicaplast Baume B5+ and explore more in Moisturizers & Creams.