IT'S HERE: My Honest Thoughts on the New La Roche-Posay Cicaplast B5 Serum
Amy Clark is Adore Beauty's former Senior Editor and co-host of Skincare School the podcast (and self-appointed beauty road-tester!). Amy's worked as a journalist, beauty editor and podcaster for several years, previously writing and talking about all things beauty at Mamamia and You Beauty. When she's not writing honest, no BS product reviews and taking selfies 'for work', you'll find Amy eating halloumi in a hair towel turban and... taking more selfies.
Key Takeaways
- La Roche-Posay's new Cicaplast B5 Serum is a highly anticipated addition to their skincare range, promising hydration and skin barrier repair.
- Key ingredients like 10% vitamin B5 are known for their soothing and repairing properties, making this serum effective for those with sensitive skin.
- My experience with the serum has been positive, as it hasn't irritated my sensitive skin and has improved my overall skin texture.
- Application is simple, requiring just one large drop after cleansing and before moisturising, making it easy to incorporate into any routine.
- Results have been remarkably calming for my skin, reducing itchiness and redness associated with flare-ups, highlighting its efficacy.
- I recommend this serum to anyone seeking a reliable, budget-friendly option for hydration and comfort in their skincare regimen.
I'm going to cut right to the chase:
A buzzy new La Roche-Posay serum has *finally* launched in Australia, and trust me, you're going to want to get in on your face immediately.
It's the newest product in the French pharmacy brand's Cicaplast skincare range.
And if the word 'cicaplast' sounds familiar, that's because the products have been best sellers from the start.
First came the original cicaplast B5 balm with its hundreds of five-star reviews.
Then, we got a cicaplast sheet mask, and it promptly sold out everywhere.
So naturally, when La Roche-Posay announced the launch of this new cicaplast serum on Instagram, The People lost their minds.
I am one of those said people because, since developing a sensitive skin condition about a year ago, trying new skincare is like playing Russian roulette with my face.
Will I wake up with a bouncy glow... or something resembling pash rash? Who knows!
God, I miss the days when I could slap literally anything on my skin (or pash my partner) without worrying about a perioral dermatitis flare up.
Anyway, back to this very exciting new serum.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast B5 Serum 30mL promises to hydrate dry, sensitive skin for 24 hours, reduce visible flaking, redness, and skin tightness or discomfort.
But is it as good as the cult Cicaplast balm? I put my perioral dermatitis on the line to find out.
Keep scrolling for everything you need to know about this new serum, including my La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Serum review.
What Is the La Roche-Posay Cicaplast B5 Serum?
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast B5 Serum 30mL is a hydrating repair serum and the newest member of the brand's cicaplast skincare range.
Like the beloved La Roche-Posay Cicaplast (this Beauty IQ article explains why dermatologists and dermal therpaists rate it so highly), the ciciaplast serum was specifically formulated to soothe and hydrate dry, sensitive skin.
But anyone can use it to strengthen their skin barrier, or repair a broken barrier.
I'm looking at you, person using 27 exfoliants or burning their face off with a too-strong retinol.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast B5 Serum benefits include:
- Hydrates skin for 24 hours.
- Works to maintain the skin’s moisture barrier, reducing trans-epidermal moisture loss (keeps moisture in the skin).
- Reduces skin sensitivity and any associated discomfort caused by compromised skin.
- Reduces the look of redness and flaking, and the feeling of tightness and itching.
- Repairs dryness from daily environmental aggressors (pollution, extreme climates, humidity, face masks) and lifestyle changes (lack of sleep, stress, poor diet etc.).
- Can be used after skin treatments, or layered over active skincare products.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Serum Ingredients.
As for what's in it, the hero here is vitamin B5, also referred to as panthenol.
B5 is known for its soothing and repairing capabilities, especially when it comes to fixing an impaired skin barrier.
You can learn more about vitamin B5 in our YouTube video below.
Here's the breakdown of the La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Serum formula:
- 10% vitamin B5, a humectant ingredient that helps skin retain moisture.
- HEPES gently exfoliates dead skin cells on the skin's surface to refine skin texture.
- Aqua Posae Filiformis (APF) is a soothing prebiotic to help rebalance the skin's microbiome.
- Lightweight serum texture is fast-absorbing, with a non-sticky finish.
- The formula is hypoallergenic, fragrance free and non-comedogenic (won't clog pores), and suitable for daily use on all skin types.
My La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Serum Review.
This might just be my new favourite everyday serum.
Scrap that, it is my new favourite. Let me explain why.
As previously mentioned, avoiding perioral dermatitis flare ups has become my entire personality.
This has meant adjusting my entire skincare routine, from identifying my triggers - lack of sleep and mask-wearing are big ones - to eliminating some of my all-time favourite products.
I talk more about what lead to my perioral dermatitis and how I manage it in this YouTube video, which I filmed before getting my mits on the ciciaplast serum.
This is one of the only new serums I've tried lately that hasn't irritated the highly temperamental skin around my mouth and nose.
If you've used other La Roche-Posay serums before, you'll recognise this product's slick, semi-gloopy consistency.
The texture is light and ridiculously silky. One large drop applied after cleansing and before moisturiser (on its own or after other serums) is all you need.
I find the serum instantly cooling, soothing and comforting on my skin.
Here's a look at my sensitised skin area before using the product, and after two weeks of using it daily.
Do I still need to be careful with what products I'm using, and am I still prone to inflammation?
Yes and yes.
But I've noticed an improvement in my overall skin texture - often, my flare ups involve little bumps or blemishes - and the frequency of irritation.
Even better, it relieves the isolated itchiness I get under my bottom lip.
I also reckon it brings down the redness in my flush-prone complexion.
Here's my skin first thing in the morning, no product, and immediately after applying the serum.
What do you think?
Final Verdict...
Want an all-rounder, fail-safe hydrating and soothing serum with a budget-friendly price tag?
This is it.
I can't say this serum has 'fixed' my sensitive skin issues for good.
That would be a lie, and I'm all about managing expectations, especially when you've probably bought a bunch of products promising just that.
But since using it every morning and night, my dry skin has never felt calmer.
For anyone who experiences frustrating skin flare ups like me, that's priceless.
