2 hours ago
4
If you were to open the smallest cupboard in my kitchen, you’d find some Elastoplast, paper-wrapped wound dressings, sterile latex gloves, surgical tape and some La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume (£11). I could name a good handful of consultant dermatologists who would probably say the same.
Some cosmetic creams are more – at least in practice – than mere beauty products, and no home should be without them. A rich, no frills, multipurpose emollient is essential family kit to support the soothing and healing of scalds, grazes, rashes and any other signs of vexed skin. And what the best ones generally have in common is the inclusion of cica, AKA Centella asiatica or (as it’s known in much South Korean skincare) tiger grass. This wild plant is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and is known for its skin-calming benefits and ability to support a skin barrier compromised by illness, everyday injury and lifestyle.
Cica creams are not medicine, but they are harmless, without side effects in the vast majority of cases and in my professional experience widely endorsed by medical personnel and other experts to safely complement conventional treatments. There is no reason not to have one at the ready.
La Roche-Posay’s thick, unctuous and instantly comforting balm is my go-to, but motivated by a recent bout of increased dryness, skin sensitivity and stress (triggered by a clinical-strength prescription retinoid), I’ve enjoyed testing other cica products.
Avène’s Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream for very sensitive skin (£10) is marketed at the whole family and suitable for any age from birth. Rich, unctuous and packed with glycerin, it gives skin a feeling of being wrapped in a moisture blanket. As well as cica, it has naturally antibacterial ingredients for the treatment of minor burns, knee grazes and so on, making it a useful handbag treatment for everyday emergencies.
Bioderma Cicabio Ultra-Repairing Soothing Cream (£12) offers all the benefits of a cica cream but with added SPF50. This is particularly useful, given that injured, broken and postoperative skin is generally more susceptible to scarring if exposed to UV. I’ve worn it often during the day, and although it reduced redness, I didn’t find it as richly moisturising as others. This isn’t necessarily a criticism – it may be just the ticket if your skin is oilier than mine and most balms therefore feel too greasy. All three are suitable for use from head to toe.
