We review La Roche-Posay's Cicaplast Baume B5+ Balm, AKA the TikTok-viral face cream
Has winter left you with dry, parched skin? You're not alone – while the cooler months can be cosy, the constant change between cold air and artificial indoor heat can mess with your skin barrier big time.
Even those of us blessed with problem-free skin might find they're suddenly dealing with dry patches and tightness. If you suffer from eczema, rosacea, or dermatitis, it's probably your most hated time of year. These conditions often flare up during the cooler months and can leave you at your wits end trying to find creams that soothe and heal without exacerbating the itchy, stinging feeling.
Enter La Roche-Posay's Cicaplast Baume B5+ Balm. You may have heard of this so-called miracle cream thanks to a viral moment on TikTok, where people are using it for everything from spot treatment to makeup primer. But the most common praise it's getting is for reducing redness and healing dry, irritated skin.
La Roche-Posay's Cicaplast Baume B5+ Balm
How does it work?
The efficacy of La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ Balm is a mix of its consistency and ingredients. On the consistency front, it's thick and protective, so when you wear it at night, it acts as a barrier on top of the skin to prevent moisture loss.
On the ingredient front, Cicaplast Baume B5+ Balm has a host of skin-loving qualities. Most notable is panthenol, known as vitamin B5, which helps maintain skin health and supports the skin's moisture barrier. When your moisture barrier is depleted, that's when you end up with dryness, itchy skin and irritation, so vitamin B5 is your best friend.
Also in the mix? A prebiotic complex called Tribioma further assists in repairing and balancing the skin barrier, and Madecassoside, which is rich in fatty and amino acids. Most importantly, it's fragrance-free and lanolin free, two factors that, when found in skincare, can worsen skin issues for some people.
How do you use it?
There are many ways to use La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ Balm. I tried it as an all-over face cream at night. It's a little too heavy for daytime use unless you're not going out or putting makeup on, as I found it left a greasy sheen. But for nighttime use, it was perfect.
As soon as I applied it, my itchy, irritated perioral dermatitis was instantly soothed. Many lotions, even ones that are for sensitive skin, have made my dermatitis sting, but Cicaplast Baume B5+ Balm did not. In the morning, my skin didn't feel tight or dry. After a week's use, I noticed less redness on my dermatitis patches, and while it had not diminished noticeably, it also hadn't worsened, something I was finding when using other products.
Another way people are using La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ Balm is as a pimple treatment. How does a heavy cream work as a pimple treatment? According to TikTok users, it diminishes redness, softens any scaly, dry skin on spotty areas, and promotes healing, even on acne scars.
What are some similar products?
Looking for other products similar to La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ Balm or products for dry, winter skin? There are several in the market that do a similar job, using different ingredients or with different formulations that may suit your skin better.
Here are a few of our favourites.
Avene Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream
With almost the same consistency as Cicaplast Baume B5+ Balm, this Avene product has slightly different ingredients, with a combination of copper sulphate and zinc sulphate helping limit bacteria growth on the skin and Avene's Thermal Spring Water soothing irritation.
Skinstitut Repair Balm
Enriched with ceramides and shea butter, this balm is best suited to those with extremely sensitive skin or anyone in need of skin protection after chemical peels or laser skin treatment.
Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Balm
Another French beauty brand with plenty of well-loved sensitive skin treatments, Bioderma's Atoderm Intensive Balm is their richest formula and instantly stops itching thanks to dermatological active ingredient PEA.
Cosmedix Rescue Intense Hydrating Balm & Mask
A facialist favourite, this Cosmedix balm/mask hybrid is soothing and nourishing, helping skin to heal thanks to an emollient formulation packed with antioxidants. It also dramatically reduces skin redness.
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