All scans / Moisturizers / La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5 ingredients: is it worth it?
A genuinely effective barrier-repair balm that delivers on its core promise—soothing irritated, compromised skin without unnecessary actives or fragrance.
A genuinely effective barrier-repair balm that delivers on its core promise—soothing irritated, compromised skin without unnecessary actives or fragrance.
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The efficacy score of 4.0 reflects a well-formulated moisturizer optimized for its specific job: the combination of Madecassoside (centella asiatica's most bioactive compound), Panthenol, Shea Butter, and a silicone-glycerin base creates a clinically sound formula for eczema, post-procedure, and sensitized skin. The inclusion of Zinc, Manganese, and Copper gluconates adds mineral-based soothing without irritation. However, the score is not higher (4.2+) because: (1) Madecassoside appears at position 13, suggesting sub-1% concentration—effective but not a primary active; (2) the formula lacks ceramides or cholesterol, which would be ideal for true barrier repair; (3) Titanium Dioxide at the end is trace and provides negligible UV protection. This is a specialist product, not a multi-tasker. It excels at calming and protecting; it does not treat acne, hyperpigmentation, or aging. The safety score of 4.8 is excellent—no fragrance, no essential oils, no harsh surfactants, and a clean mineral profile.
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DemythSkin rates La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5 4.2/5 for efficacy and 4.9/5 for safety.
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS BY TIER
Gold Standards
High clinical proof | Skin-transformativeReliable
Proven resultsPotent
Developing evidenceOverhyped | Marketing
Hype | Limited dataDocumented Irritants
Evidence-backed flagFORMULATION BASE (11)⌄
FULL INGREDIENT LIST⌄
Water, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter / Shea Butter, Panthenol, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Cetyl Peg/Ppg-10/1 Dimethicone, Trihydrox Tearin, Zinc Gluconate, Madecassoside, Manganese Gluconate, Silica, Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Sulfate, Disodium Edta, Copper Gluconate, Capryloyl Glycine, Citric Acid, Acetylated Glycol Stearate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Ci 77891 / Titanium Dioxide
WHAT EACH INGREDIENT DOES (24)⌄
- Water
- Solvent, hydration base
- Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
- Emollient, occlusive barrier
- Dimethicone
- Silicone emollient, smoothing
- Glycerin
- Humectant, draws moisture in
- Butyrospermum Parkii Butter (Shea Butter)
- Rich emollient, barrier repair
- Panthenol (Vitamin B5)
- Humectant, skin conditioning
- Propanediol
- Humectant, preservative booster
- Butylene Glycol
- Humectant, texture enhancer
- Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
- Absorbent, mattifying agent
- Cetyl Peg/Ppg-10/1 Dimethicone
- Emulsifier, silicone conditioning
- Trihydrox Tearin
- Emollient, skin conditioning
- Zinc Gluconate
- Mineral, skin soothing
- Madecassoside
- Centella asiatica extract, anti-inflammatory
- Manganese Gluconate
- Mineral, antioxidant support
- Silica
- Absorbent, texture modifier
- Aluminum Hydroxide
- Absorbent, buffering agent
- Magnesium Sulfate
- Mineral, skin conditioning
- Disodium Edta
- Chelating agent, preservative
- Copper Gluconate
- Mineral, antioxidant support
- Capryloyl Glycine
- Amino acid derivative, skin conditioning
- Citric Acid
- pH buffer, preservative
- Acetylated Glycol Stearate
- Emulsifier, texture stabilizer
- Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
- Emulsifier, texture enhancer
- Tocopherol (Vitamin E)
- Antioxidant, skin protection
EXTERNAL CITATIONS
Madecassoside: Centella asiatica triterpenes reduce inflammatory cytokines and strengthen skin barrier in clinical studies (J Ethnopharmacol, 2010)
Panthenol (Vitamin B5): Humectant and skin conditioning agent; enhances barrier function and reduces transepidermal water loss (Dermatol Ther, 2004)
Shea Butter: Rich in fatty acids and phytosterols; clinically shown to improve skin hydration and barrier integrity (Int J Cosmet Sci, 2015)
Zinc Gluconate: Mineral cofactor for skin healing and anti-inflammatory response; safe topical use (Nutrients, 2019)
DISCLAIMER: THIS ANALYSIS IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. AI-GENERATED DATA BASED ON PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INGREDIENT LISTS. VERIFY WITH A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.
A cheaper moisturizer that scores as high or higher
A different formula for the same concern (barrier repair) that scores at least as high on both efficacy and safety.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5: common questions
Is La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5 worth it?
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5 scores 4.2 out of 5.0 for efficacy (Effective) and 4.9 out of 5.0 for safety (Very Gentle) on DemythSkin's independent ingredient analysis. A genuinely effective barrier-repair balm that delivers on its core promise—soothing irritated, compromised skin without unnecessary actives or fragrance.
What are the key active ingredients in La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5?
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5 contains no gold-standard actives. Its formula is built on supporting and base ingredients rather than clinically transformative actives.
Does La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5 contain fragrance or known irritants?
DemythSkin's analysis found no flagged irritants in La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5. It scores 4.9 out of 5.0 for safety.
How is La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5 scored?
DemythSkin grades every product on two independent scores: efficacy (whether the ingredients have clinical evidence of working) and safety (irritation and sensitisation risk). Ingredients are graded S through D against a database of over 3,000 compounds. Brand and price are not part of the score, and no brand pays for one.
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