🇫🇷France

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast B5 Serum for combination skin

Average

  • AverageCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for combination skin; other moisturizers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers moderate suitability for combination skin, as panthenol and glycerin provide excellent moisturizing and skin barrier repair, but these ingredients are irrelevant for controlling oily shine.
  • Sodium hyaluronate and vitreoscilla ferment offer general skincare benefits, but do not directly address your main goal of managing oily shine.
  • The product is safe for your combination skin with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

How to apply

  • Use this moisturizer in your AM and PM routine every day to control shine. Always pair with SPF in the morning.
  • Apply this moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your morning SPF.
  • Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin and avoid harsh rubbing. Let it ⏳absorb for a minute.
  • Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help it lock in moisture better. This keeps your combination skin balanced.
  • Avoid the eye area when applying the moisturizer. Do a patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 700+ reviews

This serum is widely praised as a rescue product for compromised skin barriers, effectively soothing redness, dehydration, and irritation. Most users with dry or sensitive skin report rapid healing and improved texture. A minority experience stinging upon application or find the formula too tacky and the dropper packaging messy.

Highlights

  • Intense barrier repair Mostly Mentioned
    • “healed peeling face in days”
    • “calmed my red irritated skin”
    • “saved my broken skin barrier”
    • “stopped the stinging from retinol”
  • Deep hydration Often Mentioned
    • “skin feels plump and hydrated”
    • “got rid of dry patches”
    • “keeps moisture locked in”
    • “great for dehydrated winter skin”
  • Soothing for sensitive skin Often Mentioned
    • “didn't cause any breakouts”
    • “instant relief for tightness”
  • Poor packaging design Often Mentioned
    • “dropper is very messy”
    • “thick product gets stuck in pipette”
    • “hard to dispense last drops”
    • “bottle neck gets crusty”
  • Improves skin texture Sometimes Noted
    • “skin feels super soft”
    • “smooths out roughness”
    • “leaves a healthy glow”
    • “makes skin look glass-like”
  • High price point Sometimes Noted
    • “bottle is too small”
    • “runs out very quickly”
    • “expensive for the amount”
    • “not budget friendly”
  • Unpleasant texture/finish Sometimes Noted
    • “feels sticky and tacky”
    • “pills under my makeup”
    • “leaves a shiny film”
    • “too thick for daytime use”
  • Caused irritation/stinging Rarely Noted
    • “burned my damaged skin”
    • “caused stinging on application”
    • “broke me out in whiteheads”
    • “alcohol content irritated my face”

Sources: lovi.care, boots.com, cocooncenter.co.uk, laroche-posay.us, reddit.com, youtube.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does La Roche-Posay Cicaplast B5 Serum work for combination skin?

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast B5 Serum offers moderate suitability for combination skin because panthenol and glycerin provide good moisture and repair the skin barrier, but they do not control oily shine. To work best for combination skin, a treatment of this type needs ingredients that balance hydration with oil control, such as niacinamide and ceramides.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?

Panthenol and glycerin make this serum a good fit for combination skin because they provide solid moisture and help repair your skin barrier. However, combination skin also needs ingredients like niacinamide, peptides, ceramides, or oil-controlling extracts to manage oily shine.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

What does Panthenol do for combination skin?

Panthenol helps combination skin by increasing moisture and keeping the skin barrier strong without feeling heavy. It may also calm redness and balance oily and dry areas comfortably.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

What does Thermal Water do for combination skin?

Thermal water helps hydrate dry areas and calm redness on combination skin, making it feel more comfortable. It is unlikely to clog pores and can be used throughout the day whenever skin needs a quick refresh.

The Medical Journal of Malaysia, 2024Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2020

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This serum goes in the evening routine for combination skin, placed after cleansing and before moisturizing. Putting treatments in the evening helps keep the routine simple and provides extra safety around sun exposure.

Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this serum with retinol by applying it before your retinol step to help keep your skin calm and moisturized. A product used for this skin alongside retinol needs ingredients that manage oily shine while supporting the skin barrier.

Cutis, 2006American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

How often should I use this serum?

Apply this serum in your evening routine, as treatments fit best then for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. Some serums can also be used in the morning or twice a day when needed, and this product is safe for combination skin without irritation risks.

Health Science Reports, 2021The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?

This serum is unlikely to cause irritation or breakouts on combination skin since it lacks harsh ingredients, though it does not help control oily shine. Combination skin requires lightweight ingredients and oil-balancing agents to manage shine while keeping dry areas soft and smooth.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?

You can safely use this moisturizing treatment on the body and around the eyes, as it has a very safe profile without harsh ingredients. Panthenol and glycerin help hydrate and repair the skin barrier in these areas.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol denat).

What the research says

  • Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.

    American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
  • A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.

    The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
  • Hyaluronic acid extracts are safe and efficacious products for skin repair when used in tissue regeneration alone or in combination with herbal or Western medicine.

    Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015
  • Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
  • Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.

    Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000
  • Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.

    Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020
  • Balneotherapy with thermal water altered specific skin microbiota at genus and species levels in healthy female volunteers compared to tap water, which produced no significant microbiome changes.

    Life, 2023
  • Malaysian thermal spring water as an adjunct to standard acne therapy improved skin hydration, reduced dryness and stinging, enhanced overall tolerability, and improved the acne disability index in patients with mild to moderate acne.

    The Medical Journal of Malaysia, 2024
  • A 2% Sphingomonas xenophaga ferment extract cream applied twice daily for 4 weeks significantly decreased facial vascular disorder scores compared to vehicle in 86 Caucasian female subjects, alongside dose-dependent inhibition of pre-kallikrein activity in vitro.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025
  • Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
  • Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.

    Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022
  • Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2019
  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001
  • Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.

    Military Medicine, 2024
  • A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2000
  • Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.

    Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007

Why other moisturizers fit combination skin better

Ingredients

Water, Panthenol, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat, Dimethicone, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Peg-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Vitreoscilla Ferment, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Octyldodecanol, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product.

Buy online

Prices checked 10 Oct – 16 Oct 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for France.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.