L’Oréal Issues Recall of Effaclar Duo

In response to lab testing, L’Oreal has issued a voluntary recall of its Effaclar Duo in the U.S.

According to the recall, independent U.S. lab Valisure found high levels of benzene in acne treatments containing benzoyl peroxide (BPO) made by several companies. A larger list was revealed on the FDA website, as seen here.

The recall noted that benzene is a known carcinogen that can form at high levels in products containing BPO, a common ingredient for killing acne-causing bacteria.

The Effaclar Duo is a La Roche-Posay acne treatment that contains BPO.

The Happi Top 30 company stated that the recall will assist in a “seamless transition” to its new and improved Effaclar Duo formula, which has been in development since 2024.

In this recent round of testing, high levels of benzene were found in the air around incubated BPO products, showing that benzene can leak out of some product packages and pose a potential inhalation risk, said the recall.