I recall speaking with a sales rep at Shoppers Drugmart (Canadian drugstore) years ago (like 5+ years ago, oh my!) and he told me that he’s noticed many customers buy La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 for acne. Since that encounter, I have continuously had a tube of it in my skincare collection. The original version was my go-to for surgery scars, acne and post-CO2 Fraxel Laser care. I very well understood why it’s a cult classic and has earned “Holy Grail” status in many a person’s skincare routines.

I eventually stopped repurchasing and there are a few reasons why:

• It was very casty
• Felt a smidge too greasy and never set
• Stung my face at times, so I could not rely on it completely when my skin barrier felt very impaired

Lo’ and behold, not even a year later, I purchased the new La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+. The cult classic product has been reformulated, thus I was intrigued. I wanted to try it in hopes my previous reservations were settled.

La Roche Posay’s new Cicaplast Baume B5+ has been in constant rotation in my skincare routine ever since I picked it up at the local pharmacy. It has only been a couple of weeks, but I am ready to review it for you all!

General Information About La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+

“Ultra-repairing soothing balm clinically proven to immediately soothe uncomfortable, damaged, or irritated skin, and to provide the optimal conditions for faster and better repair from day 1*.

The new & improved La Roche Posay Balm formula helps accelerates the natural skin recovery process whilst respecting the skin microbiome and reducing feelings of discomfort. The balm texture acts as a barrier cream, leaving an invisible protective layer on the skin, also making it ideal as an everyday nappy change balm.

*Skin barrier repair, instrumental test, 26 subject’s vs untreated skin.”

– La Roche Posay UK site

Price: 15,95 Euro
Packaging: Opaque white squeeze tube with click-off cap
Amount: 100ml
Where to Buy International: Escentual *
* This is an affiliate link. If you click on this link and make a purchase, I earn a small commission. Thank you for your support!

Additional Claims/Information

• Product is for face and body
• Minimalist formula
• Hypoallergenic
• May be used for
  • nappy rashes
  • mosquito bites
  • heating sensations
  • post peeling and laser
• Claim it’s an ultra-nourishing texture
• Non-greasy finish
• Fragrance-free
• Denatured alcohol-free

La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ Ingredients

Aqua/Water, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter/Shea Butter, Panthenol, Zea Mays Starch/Corn Starch, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Trihydroxystearin, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Zinc Gluconate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Silica, Aluminium Hydroxide, Magnesium Sulfate, Mannose, Capryloyl Glycine, Caprylyl Glycol, Vitreoscilla Ferment, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Lactobacillus, Acetylated Glycol Stearate, Maltodextrin, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, CI 77891/Titanium Dioxide.

I looked on a good number of La Roche Posay’s official product pages, and I never saw an updated ingredients list. I found the list above on cocooncenter.es.

“La Roche-Posay’s Cicaplast Baume B5+ is enriched with new Tribioma (a unique prebiotic complex) combined with 5% of vitamin B5 and madecassoside​. Enriched with antibacterial agents’ zinc and manganese, the formula provides the optimal environment skin needs for its healing process, reducing the causes of long-term scarring.”

– La Roche Posay UK site

The above quote pretty much sums what the formula of La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ is all about.

The newest star ingredient is Tribioma. It is La Roche Posay’s trademark for a unique prebiotic complex. It’s derived from sugars, plant extracts and fermented ingredients. It is supposed to help restore the skin’s microbiome, in turn helping to strengthen weakened skin.

Highlighted Ingredients

While comparing the old formula on various websites and what I have on the box, I noticed extra ingredients:
*Not a skin expert in anyway. I’m a “skinthusiast”. Below descriptions of ingredients are written to the best of my knowledge.

• La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water – mineral rich water that soothes the skin and has antioxidant properties
• Dimethicone and Shea Butter: emollients
• Glycerin: a skin-identical humectant
• 5% Panthenol: a humectant, soothing and wound-healing
• Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract: antioxidant, humectant and soothing
• Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice: skin conditioning
• Zinc Gluconate: soothing and anti-acne
• Madecassoside: an antioxidant, soothing and wound-healing
• Manganese Gluconate: skin conditioning, described as also anti-acne
• Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide: sugar molecule that protects and stimulates beneficial microbial skin flora
• Mannose: sugar molecule humectant
• Vitreoscilla Ferment: skin conditioning
• Lactobacillus: skin conditioning; There is no indication of it being a ferment, lysate, filtrate…
• Tocopherol: AKA Vitamin E, an antioxidant

The ingredients list of the new La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+, to me, clearly showcase what the product is about. A non-greasy emollient cream with antioxidant, soothing, wound-healing, and anti-acne benefits. Throw in microbiome supporting ingredients, we got ourselves a nice barrier reparing product! Compared to the old ingredients list, there are plant extracts sugar molecules as well as ferments in the formula. I (highly) suspect these are what most likely makes up Tribioma.

But does it perform as such?

La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ Texture & Application

Texture

Straight out of the tube, La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+’s texture is a midweight, opaque, and white cream. The cast-like finish is not immediately noticeable with a thin layer. Nighttime is best to be more generous and less attentive to the finish. As I spread the cream, I notice a shimmering, wet-like finish on the skin. A thin layer eventually sets on the skin. With thicker layers, it slowly melts into that shimmery wet-like finish.

Application

I have tried La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ in several ways, morning and night (depends if I stay at home or not):

• Spot treatment for active cystic acne. At night, I am also using my prescription Retin-A Micro 0.1% tretinoin. Tretinoin also helps to reduce inflammation around cystic acne.
• Mixin with mositurizer. I like this for extra emollience and barrier strengthening assistance.
• All-over face treatment for irritated skin. I do not use as a standalone moisturizer, it’s just not enough for my drier skin type.

My Experience Using La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ with Before and Afters

Helps with Allergic Reaction to Skincare and Flushing

Do you recall the above before and after photo? I featured this in my Slowvember post as an example of why I’m taking it slow in skincare for November – hence Slowvember. The La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ was – and still is – the barrier repair cream I used! Although my face is slightly casty, I assure you the after photo is not the white film covering up the redness. The redness was still peaking through after initial application. I took the after photo once I noticed the redness has finally subsided. The baume was very quick to relieve the itchiness after application. Any minor breakouts around my face also disappeared.

I also mentioned in the Slowvember post how my face was very heated after eating spicy food and having an afternoon cup of coffee. My face flushed while eating spicy food, and the afternoon coffee increased my heart rate. This unfortunate combo left my face very red, heated and uncomfortable. I again had to rinse my face and use La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ in a minimal skincare routine to save the day.

Helps with Cystic Acne

I have been very bad the past few months at maintaining consistency with my high-fat, low-carb way of eating. European summer was just so long and beautiful, fall has also been very pleasant! This means a lot of eating out and over-indulging. It is a blessing in disguise that my face tells me my body is not happy *rolls eyes*.

Since I was intrigued by the original baume for acne, of course I’d use the new one for the same reason. On two big, inflamed acne cysts on my chin (where else), I consistently applied and reapplied a generous amount of the La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ throughout the day and before bed. I showed this application in my latest nighttime skincare routine video.

I am so impressed how within a few days, the size and anger of these acne cysts decreased. In the daytime without use of tretinoin, it performed similarly to Malezia’s 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment Gel (Reviewed). Keep note that I was constantly reapplying La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ throughout the day. If I were to use Malezia’s BPO Acne Treatment Gel in its stead, I would apply only twice maximum daily.

Prevents Dark Post-Acne Red Marks and Maintain’s Skin’s Health

As I write this November 17, 2022, the acne cysts are just tiny, red bumps. Although there is some residual redness, it’s nowhere as dark and obvious as the post-red acne marks I had in the past. I find the redness has faded significantly faster than just using Tretinoin on its own. In addition, my skin’s integrity is still in tact; It looks neither flakey nor depleted of moisture.

An Ode to the Original La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5

Before I complete this post, I just want to give a quick shout out to the original La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume 5 that I constantly had in my skincare collection, yet never reviewed.

Works to Reduce Breakouts

The original was also excellent at reducing breakouts around my face from irritation, as well as reducing cystic acne. If you’re still not convinced, here’s a youtube video I found when first looking into La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5. A great testimonial on overcoming acne with a gentle product!

Post-CO2 Fraxel Laser Care

I used it as my main barrier repair product for my post-CO2 Fraxel Laser care. My husband actually had to pick up another tube for me mid-recovery because I was using it so generously. I will say during this time, when the state of my skin was most sensitive and weakened, there was some stinging. Because I was already dealing with itchiness, redness and all the fun stuff, I decided to use something else. This is during the time I picked up the Bioderma Cicabio Pommade at the recommendation of an Instagram follower. Many thanks again, because I already repurchased a 2nd tube and may soon pick up a 3rd! It has proven its worth during this post-CO2 Fraxel Laser recovery period and other instances. I deem it a go-to S.O.S. product in my skincare collection because I never have any bad reactions from it.

Post-Surgery Care

I also used it consistently on my surgery scars after my laproscopic appendectomy (got my appendix removed, heh). Fun story: I went to a follow-up appointment with the surgeon who performed the laproscopic appendectomy on me. He took a look at my scars and asked what I used. I told him my routine, which included La Roche Posay’s Cicaplast Baume B5. He thanked me and said he wanted to know so he could recommend the same thing to his other patients! Both my husband and I had such big smiles on our faces after that appointment. Although he didn’t say it directly, it’s clear the surgeon thought the healing was very good.

My friend who also saw my scars said they healed incredibly well compared to when her mother had the surgery (keep in mind age difference and lifestyle could be a factor here). I have 3 scars total – above the bellybutton, far below the bellybutton, and one on the left between the two. The latter is completely gone, the bottom one is never seen and almost faded. The top one is the biggest and most visible, but I’ve been told it looks like where I’d have a belly button piercing lol.

If the latest formula is not available where you live, worry not. The original is just as effective, but I do find the textures differ and how it sets on the skin. However, the new formula may be problematic for those of you who don’t get along well with plant extracts and ferments. For those of you who love the original and dread the reformulation, I believe the gel version is still the original formula.

Final Thoughts on La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+

La Roche Posay has not disappointed; The new Cicaplast Baume B5+ performs amazingly well and has been re-established as a staple in my skincare collection. Reflecting on previous usage, it has a clear track record in my routine as a product that provides barrier repairing and anti-acne abilities.

Rave review aside, here’s the one big con: I should not have to look across several of their websites to find an updated ingredient list. ESPECIALLY for such a cult classic product from a well renowned international brand. I started hearing of this reformulation in late August 2022. Considering how frequent online shopping is, the page for a beloved product should be up to date in a timely manner.

As mentioned at the beginning of this post, I had several reasons why I stopped repurchasing the original La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5. The main factor was that when push came to shove, I could not 100% rely on it when my skin barrier was at its utmost dismay. Thankfully, those times do not happen frequently. I’ve come to realize that while both La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ and Bioderma Cicabio Pommade may seem similar, I reach for them for completely different reasons. Thus, it’s okay to have more than one “cica” product, and both are must-haves in my skincare collection. I dare say, both may be “Holy Grails”.

Where to Buy International: Escentual *
* This is an affiliate link. If you click on this link and make a purchase, I earn a small commission. Thank you for your support!

That’s all folks! As always, I hope you find content like this helpful and informative. Let me know in the comments down below what you think of the new formula!

xo, M