Barrier repair · $17
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5
A soothing multi-purpose balm built on 5% panthenol with madecassoside and zinc salts. It sits between a moisturizer and an ointment: rich enough to work as an overnight rescue layer, light enough to use as a daily cream on very dry skin.
Key ingredients
- Panthenol 5%
- Provitamin B5 at a percentage the brand publishes. Humectant and anti-inflammatory; one of the better-evidenced soothing ingredients.
- Madecassoside
- A centella asiatica derivative used for redness and post-procedure recovery.
- Shea butter
- Occlusive emollient that gives the balm its cushion and slip.
- Zinc gluconate + manganese
- Included for their mild antibacterial and sebum-related properties, though the evidence here is thinner than for panthenol.
Texture and finish
Thick white balm with a faint clean scent (the formula is fragrance-free but the raw materials are not odourless). Absorbs to a slightly glossy finish rather than a matte one.
It suits you if
- Your skin is red, raw, or reactive right now
- You are recovering from over-exfoliation or a retinoid ramp-up
- You want one product for face, lips, cuticles, and dry patches
- You are prone to windburn or cold-weather flaking
Skip it if
- You are acne-prone and break out from shea butter
- You want a matte finish under makeup
- You need actives — this is purely supportive
Pros
- High panthenol percentage that the brand actually discloses
- Very versatile; a small tube lasts months
- Fragrance-free and suitable for sensitive skin
- Widely available at pharmacy pricing
Cons
- Glossy finish some people dislike in the morning
- Shea butter is not universally well tolerated by acne-prone skin
- Tube can be difficult to squeeze in cold weather
How to use it
- 1As a repair layer: thin coat over moisturizer at night.
- 2As a spot balm: on flaking patches around the nose and mouth.
- 3During a barrier reset: twice daily as your only moisturizer.
Where it fits in a routine
Last step at night during a barrier-repair phase, or over moisturizer on the areas a retinoid dries out most.
See the sensitive-skin routineMore breakdowns
This breakdown is based on publicly available ingredient lists and manufacturer information. It is general skincare information, not medical advice, and it is not a substitute for a dermatologist's assessment of your skin.