Effectively calms redness and dryness while supporting skin barrier recovery without greasiness.
When your skin is red, tight, and cranky, La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 can act like a soothing blanket. Here is how it actually performs on irritated faces, what skin types benefit most, and how to use it without pilling or greasiness.
Red, tight, stingy skin happens to the best of us. Maybe you overdid acids, started a retinoid, caught a blast of winter wind, or wore a mask all day. La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 is the type of straightforward, no-frills repair balm that can calm the chaos quickly. I tested it across irritated retinoid nights, dry indoor heat, and day-to-day friction to see where it excels, where it struggles, and how to get the most relief for the least effort.
Overview
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 is a thick, fragrance-free, multi-purpose soothing balm designed to support a stressed skin barrier. The star is 5 percent panthenol, also called vitamin B5, which is well known for reducing the look of redness and helping the skin hold onto water. It is supported by humectants and emollients like glycerin and shea butter that soften dry patches and create a protective seal against moisture loss. The formula also includes soothing plant components like madecassoside, commonly used to calm visible irritation. In short, this product is built to cocoon skin while it recovers.
The texture is a rich cream-balm that comes out white from a sanitary squeeze tube in two common sizes, a travel-friendly tube and a larger one that is easy to keep at the sink or bedside. There is no added fragrance, and there is no shiny perfumey finish. Expect a faint, clean, almost medicinal scent that disappears quickly after application. Per the brand, it is non-comedogenic and suitable for face and body, including delicate zones like around the nose and cheeks that often get chapped.
Think of Cicaplast Baume B5 as a barrier support product. It does not contain steroids or antibiotics, and it is not a sunscreen. It is simply very good at reducing the look and feel of dryness and irritation while your skin does its own healing. Used consistently over a few days, it can help skin feel less tight, look less blotchy, and flake less when makeup goes on top. For many, it becomes an SOS tube to keep on hand year-round.
Who it’s for
If your skin gets red, reactive, or uncomfortable, this is likely for you. It shines for people who:
1) Are starting or stepping up retinoids and getting dryness or peeling. 2) Overused acids and need a timeout without abandoning skincare completely. 3) Deal with seasonal flares like windburn, indoor heat dryness, or allergy-related chapping around the nose. 4) Have generally sensitive skin that stings easily and prefers low-fragrance basics. 5) Want a simple face and body soother for hot spots like the corners of the mouth, cheeks, or along the jawline where masks, scarves, or sports gear can rub.
It is also great for anyone who needs a buffer product that reduces stinging when layering actives. A very thin layer around the nostrils, at the corners of the mouth, or on fragile under-eye edges can help keep actives where they belong while protecting the areas most likely to get cranky.
Who might not love it: very oily skin types who dislike a balmy finish, or those who are prone to clogged pores when using heavy occlusives over the entire face. If you have consistently oily or acne-prone skin, you can still get the benefits by using Cicaplast Baume B5 as a spot treatment on irritated patches instead of full-face. People who wear long-wear makeup may find it too emollient under certain formulas. And if you have a known sensitivity to shea butter, patch test first or consider a lighter barrier cream. As always, do not apply on open wounds, and check with your provider after any in-office procedure to confirm the right timing.
How it feels and performs
On contact, this is a true balm-cream. It feels plush and comforting, spreads slowly, and leaves a soft occlusive film that reduces the pull of tight, dehydrated skin. If you apply a normal moisturizer then add a small amount of Cicaplast Baume B5 as the last layer, the finish is dewy and satiny, not glossy. A thicker layer can look more creamy for the first 10 to 20 minutes, then settles. If you overapply, you may notice a slight white film that fades as it warms to skin temperature.
Relief is quick. It does not erase redness like a green-tinted primer, but it often takes the heat out of the skin within minutes and makes angry areas feel less prickly. Overnight, it reduces flaky edges around the nose and mouth and helps makeup sit flatter the next day. Consistent use for three to five nights in a row is usually enough to get through a barrier wobble from actives or weather swings.
Under makeup and sunscreen, it is workable but demands a light hand. Use less than you think, especially in the morning. A rice-grain sized amount split between the cheeks, plus a tiny dab for the nose and chin, is plenty for most faces. Give it a few minutes to set before applying sunscreen. If you are using a heavy silicone primer or a dense mineral sunscreen, pilling can happen if layers are rushed or too thick. Warming the balm between your fingertips and pressing it in, rather than rubbing, improves the laydown and reduces rolling.
For eyes, it can be dabbed around the orbital bone to cushion dryness from retinoids or winter air. For lips, it works in a pinch, though the taste is not designed for lip wear. On the body, it shines on hands, cuticles, elbows, and chafed spots. The tube makes it easy to throw into a gym or work bag for midday rescue. In hot, humid climates, the finish may feel heavier, so consider it a night-only step or a targeted patch treatment.
How to use for best results
Use it like a flexible tool rather than a set-in-stone moisturizer. A few practical ways to fit it into your week:
Nightly rescue routine: Cleanse gently with lukewarm water. While skin is still slightly damp, apply your hydrating serum if you use one. Follow with your usual cream. Then smooth a small amount of Cicaplast Baume B5 over the areas that feel tight or look flushed. Press to apply, do not rub. By morning, skin should look less patchy and feel less tight. Repeat nightly until your skin calms.
Retinoid buffer: On retinoid nights, apply Cicaplast Baume B5 first to the corners of the nose and mouth, and under the eyes along the orbital bone. Once it is set, apply your retinoid to the rest of the face, avoiding those buffered zones. This simple step helps reduce hot spots without compromising your results.
Daytime chafe shield: If masks, scarves, sunglasses, or bike helmets rub your skin raw, use a rice-grain amount on contact points. It creates a thin protective film that reduces friction. Let it set for a few minutes, then apply sunscreen on top. If your sunscreen pills over it, use even less balm and wait longer before layering.
Overnight mask, no mess: Instead of full-face slugging with petrolatum, apply your regular moisturizer, then a thin veil of Cicaplast Baume B5 just over the cheeks and around the nose. You get the cushion and barrier support without a greasy pillowcase.
Post-irritation cooldown: After a minor at-home peel or a bout of redness from cold, apply a thin layer twice daily for two or three days. If you have had an in-office treatment like laser or microneedling, follow your provider’s instructions about timing and product choice.
Application tips to avoid pilling and greasiness:
1) Use less than you think. Start with a pea-sized amount for the entire face and adjust down. 2) Warm it between fingertips and press, do not rub. 3) Give each layer time to settle. Two to five minutes is often enough. 4) If a particular sunscreen or primer rolls on you, try applying Cicaplast only on the cheeks and sides of the nose, skipping the T-zone. 5) If you are very breakout prone, limit it to irritated patches and avoid piling it over congested areas.
Pros and cons
- Pros: Noticeably calms the feel of irritation fast, softens flakes, and reduces that tight, over-scrubbed sensation. Fragrance-free and non-comedogenic per the brand. Versatile for face and body, and a handy alternative to full-on slugging. Accessible price and widely available in convenient tubes.
- Pros: Plays well with sensitive routines. You can use it to buffer actives, rescue over-exfoliated skin, and protect friction zones without building an elaborate routine.
- Cons: The texture is rich. Apply too much and it can feel heavy, leave a short-lived white film, or make makeup slide. It may pill under some mineral sunscreens or silicone-heavy primers if layers are rushed.
- Cons: Not ideal for very oily or easily congested skin as a daily full-face cream. Best used as a targeted treatment instead. It will not treat medical skin conditions and should not be used on open wounds.
Final verdict
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 is a reliable SOS balm that earns its place in a sensitive-skin toolkit. It will not clear acne or replace a moisturizer long term, but it excels at taking heat and sting out of irritated skin, smoothing flakes, and giving your barrier the quiet space it needs to rebound. Use it strategically, apply less than you think, and give it a few minutes to settle before sunscreen or makeup. If your skin is frequently red or reactive, keeping a tube on hand is an easy win.
See also
If your skin barrier has been through the wringer, you may want backup beyond a balm. Learn how to rebuild a routine around gentle building blocks with our guide to Ceramide Moisturizers for Damaged Skin Barrier, and pair it with the right cleanser from Best Face Cleansers for Sensitive Skin so you are not undoing your progress at the sink.
Still dealing with redness and stinging day to day? Keep toner simple with options from Best Gentle Toners for Barrier Repair (No Burn, No Sting), choose a straightforward hydrator from Best Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin: Calm, Simple, Fragrance Free, and plan for seasonal flares using Allergy Season Skin Plan: Redness and Dryness.
FAQ
Will La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 clog pores or cause breakouts?
Per the brand, the formula is non-comedogenic, and many dry or normal skin types use it without issues. That said, it is an occlusive balm. If you are very oily or easily congested, avoid using it full-face every day. Instead, apply a thin layer only on irritated patches and skip areas that tend to break out. Patch testing on one cheek for a few nights is a smart way to gauge your skin’s response.
Can I use Cicaplast Baume B5 with retinoids and exfoliating acids?
Yes. It pairs well with actives as either a buffer or a recovery step. If retinoids or acids sting around the nostrils and mouth, apply a thin layer of the balm to those sensitive spots first, then apply your active to the rest of the face. If your skin feels tight or looks flaky after actives, use Cicaplast Baume B5 as the last step at night to lock in moisture and reduce discomfort.
Does it pill under sunscreen and makeup?
It can, especially under thick mineral sunscreens or silicone-heavy primers. To minimize pilling, use a very small amount, warm it between fingertips, press it in, and wait a few minutes before applying sunscreen. If pilling persists, apply the balm only to the cheeks and sides of the nose, leaving the T-zone for sunscreen and makeup without the balm underneath.
Is Cicaplast Baume B5 safe to use around the eyes or on lips?
It can be used cautiously around the eye area by tapping a tiny amount along the orbital bone to soften dryness. Many people also use it on lips, although it is not formulated as a lip product and the taste is not ideal. If you have a history of milia or clogged pores under the eyes, keep the application very light and avoid getting the balm directly into the eye.
How long should I use it after a skin irritation flare?
Most people notice relief in one or two uses, with flakiness softening overnight. Continue for three to five nights until your skin feels comfortable, then taper to spot use as needed. After any professional treatment, follow your provider’s specific instructions about when to restart balms and other skincare. Avoid applying to open wounds.
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