SoonJung 10-Panthensoside Cica Balm

YesStyle Editor’s Notes: Containing panthenol, madecassoside and centella asiatica, this soothing balm strengthens the skin barrier to protect irritated and sensitive skin. Its moisturizing texture delivers a refreshing and non-sticky finish. Formulated at an ideal pH level that is similar to the skin’s natural pH level to help skin become healthier.

Specs:
✏️ Purchased At: Stylevana
✏️ Full Retail: $25 USD
✏️ Size: 50ml
✏️ YesStyle Star Rating: 4.7
✏️ Format: Squeeze tube
✏️ Formulation: mid-to-heavy cream
✏️ Fragrance: None
✏️ Usage: Day / Night
✏️ Slip: Smooth
✏️ Absorption: Low
✏️ Finish: Film-forming, occlusive
✏️ Target: Reactive, irritated skin
✏️ Application: Face

My Brand Experience:
🛍️ ETUDE pH 6.5 Whip Cleanser
🛍️ ETUDE pH 5.5 Cleansing Water
🛍️ ETUDE pH 5.5 Relief Toner
🛍️ ETUDE 10-Panthensoside Cica Balm*
🛍️ ETUDE Dear Darling Peel Off Lip Stain
🛍️ ETUDE Face Blur -- Mattifying
🛍️ ETUDE My Lash Serum

Cica Balm Directions:
1. For dry and sensitive skin, apply to the face areas that need soothing.
2. For troubled spots, apply a thick amount of spot care.

💡Major Actives Spotlight: Centella Asiatica, Penthanol, Squalane

⛔️ Lobster Lookout: Potential irritants and pore-cloggers

⚗️INCI:
Water / Aqua / Eau, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Squalane, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Phenyl Trimethicone, Diisostearyl Malate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tromethamine, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Disodium Edta, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Glucose, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol

🦞 My Skin Profile:
📌 Type: A spectrum of Oily/Dehydrated to Combo
📌 Skin Life Cycle: Mature
📌Skin Concerns: Excessively caucasian, photosensitive, generalized sensitivity, reactive, rosacea, compromised barrier, sensitized to heat, adhesive polymers, alcohols, fragrance
📌Sensory Concerns: Fragrance can cause non-allergic rhinitis and migraines. Persistent perimenopausal heat.

🥵 Condition at trial start:
Intense vascular flushing, redness, contact dermatitis, breakouts, trapped heat, stinging and burning from otherwise well-received products.

📆 Trial Start: 9/27/26 -- Trial End: 10/11/26

🚨Product Reaction:
📌 Initial acne outbreak across jawline, chin, and nose
📌 Trapped heat
📌 Temporary flushing from mechanical friction
📌 Discomfort with waxy film
📌 Clogged pores on nose
📌 Midday dryness

📝 Review:
The barrier repair vehicle in SoonJung 10 Panthensoside Cica cream is the combination of barrier-rich ingredients with polymers to form a shield over the skin to hold onto hydration and not let it escape. This is essential for repairing the integrity of the barrier. However, this type of film formulation felt suffocating, heavy, and waxy when my skin was inflamed. The cream further congested the pores of my oily t-zone and caused an acne outbreak that it couldn’t heal, due to the gentleness of the formula. It also felt like the ingredients were sitting on top of my skin, locked into the cream itself rather than absorbing and transferring into the barrier. I did not purchase the serum, and not wanting to overload my skin with more products, I only used the cleansers, toner, and moisturizer. So, not enough hydration was making it into my skin for the first half of the trial, increasing my discomfort. My skin began to turn around when I paused the use of the moisturizer over a weekend with Kiehl’s medicated cream and included a hyaluronic acid serum.

Lobster Sensitivity Rating: 🦞🦞 of 5 Lobsters for sensory discomfort, acne, dryness

I liked:
👍🏻 Gentle, barrier-loving ingredients
👍🏻 Small amount goes a long way
👍🏻 Affordable with sales and discounts relative to other barrier creams
👍🏻 Unscented, no drying alcohols
👍🏻 Barrier improvement in combination with the entire SoonJung regimen and a hyaluronic acid serum
👍🏻 Although the film felt suffocating on my face, I liked it on my hands.

I disliked:
👎🏻 Initially caused an acne outbreak
👎🏻 Initially caused mechanical irritation and flushing during application
👎🏻 It’s not greasy (good) but it’s leaning waxy (not my fave)
👎🏻 The sensory experience of the film on top of my face while underneath it felt dehydrated
👎🏻 Pore clogging and oil trapping
👎🏻 Too gentle to speed along acne and dark spots that it caused
👎🏻 Uncertain if active ingredients were absorbed
👎🏻 Film + perimenopausal heat = slow cooked in my own skin

🥉 Conclusion:
My face went from a 🦞🦞🦞🦞🦞 Lobster Fire to hanging out in a fishmonger's tank in two weeks. So although 10 Panthensoside Cica cream is not my Holy Grail K-Beauty barrier cream, within the scope of the entire regimen, the cream delivered.

🦞 Crunch-Approved for:
✅ Sensitive 🦞, barrier-jeopardized skin on a budget.
✅ Dry types -- a robust hydration plan is required.

🦞 Crunch Says No:
⛔️ Oily, combo, and acne-prone skin types should skip or proceed with their eyes open.
🥵 Not suitable for individuals “blessed” with a robust internal radiator or those living in tropical climates.

🗑️ Don't Trash It:
Have a tube of this Cica Balm like I do? This formula reminds me of a lite version of Dr Sam Ellis’s Prequel Hand Wrap cream which leaves a film over the hands and fingers. When it’s cold and dry, or for frequent hand washing, save your skin from cracking, chaffing, dermatitis, and peeling cuticles with a combination of hydration and barrier protection.

👉🏻 Grab a hydrating toner and serum
👉🏻 During your skincare routine, leave plenty of product for your hands during each step
👉🏻 Rub in products well for thorough absorption
👉🏻 Apply 10 Panthensoside Cica cream to lock in the moisture.

See my review on Rec League @tryhazelmoss