A multi-use rescue balm with cica and bija seed oil to help strengthen your skin’s protective barrier while improving the look of uneven skin texture.
–Innisfree
I was really excited to try to Innisfree’s Cica balm, and my lucky chance to try it came during a K-beauty sale where it retailed for $8 (around $25 on the Innisfree website, $15-11 on Yesstyle). Hoping the cica would assuage my redness, I quickly used up the tube (quite a dollop is needed for the whole face), and now, one month later, I can say that while I enjoyed the application and the feeling of the product, I haven’t spotted any differences in my complexion that I can credit to its properties.
Ingredients
Ingredients: WATER, PROPANEDIOL, GLYCERIN, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, SQUALANE, CYCLOHEXASILOXANE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, PANTHENOL, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, C12-16 ALCOHOLS, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, POLYSORBATE 60, HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER, ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, TROMETHAMINE, HYDROGENATED LECITHIN, PALMITIC ACID, CETEARYL GLUCOSIDE, TORREYA NUCIFERA SEED OIL, DISODIUM EDTA, MADECASSOSIDE, ASIATICOSIDE, CAMELLIA JAPONICA LEAF EXTRACT, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, CITRUS UNSHIU PEEL EXTRACT, OPUNTIA COCCINELLIFERA FRUIT EXTRACT, ORCHID EXTRACT, MADECASSIC ACID, ASIATIC ACID
Significant Pros
- Propanediol (moisturizing)
- Panthenol (soothing, moisturizing)
- Glycerin (hydrating)
- Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (skin protecting, soothing, humectant and emollient)
- Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside (moisturizing)
- Madecassic Acid, Madecassoside (anti-inflammatory)
Significant Cons
- Palmitic Acid (fungal acne trigger)
- Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract (skin irritant)
- Polysorbate 60 (fungal acne trigger)
- The Camellia, Asiatic and Madescassic acids are quite low on the list as well.
The Takeaway
Some reviews have noted that this product requires continuous use over a longer period of time in order for it to work, and there’s truth in that. Continued use over specified areas of redness could produce desired results (though the citrus extract could also create an opposite effect). But at $25 a tube (or even $11), the price may be more than what the time commitment is worth. Feel free to give it a try yourself, but don’t expect an overnight miracle-worker.
Skincare for Introverts 