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Balea Sensitive Shower Cream
Balea

Balea Sensitive Shower Cream

Efficacy100/100IrritancyMedium
See all ingredients

Works for

Moisturizing
Panthenol, Glycerin + 3 more
Works well
What the product description says
“The mild moisturizing formula with AquaCellSoftTM protects the sensitive skin and makes it wonderfully soft and supple.”
Source: German Drugstore

This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": glycerin, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate.

When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).

The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: panthenol

PanthenolHero· HumectantEffect: HighHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function~1.1–1.3%
GlycerinKey active· HumectantEffect: HighOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant~1.6–2%
Hydrogenated starch hydrolysateKey active· HumectantEffect: MediumHelps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Can add sweet taste to lip products~1.3–1.6%
Aloe barbadensis leaf juice powderEffect: LowTraditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin~0.7–1.05%
TocopherolEffect: Low, below effective dosePure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself~0.15–0.25%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
2 strong irritants: Benzophenone-4, Parfum
Medium risk
We flagged 9 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Sodium laureth sulfateWorks as a foaming cleansing agentHigh~12–14%est.
Coco-glucosideUsed as a cleansing agent (surfactant) in cleansers. Helps water and oil mix together in lotions. Can be irritatingHigh~2.3–2.8%est.
Glyceryl oleateHelps oil and water mix together. Can be irritatingHigh~1.9–2.3%est.
Benzophenone-4Sulisobenzone. A UV filter. Is typically used to improve the product stability under exposure to UV light. It is effective against both UVA and UVB rays. It can be used is larger concentrations as a sun protection ingredient for the skin, but can be irritatingHigh~0.45–0.65%est.
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.1–0.15%est.
Cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaineUsed as a cleansing agent. Helps water and oil mix togetherMedium~5.8–7.1%est.
Aloe barbadensis leaf juice powderTraditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skinMedium~0.7–1.05%est.
Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~0.45–0.7%est.
Disodium edtaStabilizes the product formulationMedium~0.3–0.5%est.
Comedogenic
1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
1 flagged
These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.
IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount
Sodium laureth sulfateWorks as a foaming cleansing agent2/5~12–14%est.
Alternatives
The closest match we found
Kids Multi-Vitamin Face Wash Fragrance Free
Evereden Kids Multi-Vitamin Face Wash Fragrance Free
Closest match63% match
$9.00
View all alternatives

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~45–55%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Sodium laureth sulfate~12–14%
Comedogenic 2/5Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Comedogenicity
2/5
Works for
Cleansing

Works as a foaming cleansing agent

More about Sodium laureth sulfate
Cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine~5.8–7.1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Used as a cleansing agent. Helps water and oil mix together

More about Cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine
Sodium chloride~3.1–3.8%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to stabilize mixtures of oil and water, and create thicker, gel-like product textures

More about Sodium chloride
Coco-glucoside~2.3–2.8%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Cleansing

Used as a cleansing agent (surfactant) in cleansers. Helps water and oil mix together in lotions. Can be irritating

More about Coco-glucoside
Glyceryl oleate~1.9–2.3%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together. Can be irritating

More about Glyceryl oleate
Glycerin~1.6–2%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant

More about Glycerin
Hydrogenated starch hydrolysate~1.3–1.6%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Can add sweet taste to lip products

More about Hydrogenated starch hydrolysate
Panthenol~1.1–1.3%
Hero · Moisturizing
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
MoisturizingReduces rednessReduces irritation

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function

More about Panthenol
Opuntia ficus-indica stem extract~0.9–1.1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Opuntia ficus-indica stem extract
Aloe barbadensis leaf juice powder~0.7–1.05%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin

More about Aloe barbadensis leaf juice powder
Polyquaternium-7~0.6–0.9%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product finish

More about Polyquaternium-7
Citric acid~0.45–0.7%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH

More about Citric acid
Styrene/acrylates copolymer~0.45–0.7%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to create an even product consistency. Can help boost efficiency of sunscreen filters

More about Styrene/acrylates copolymer
Disodium edta~0.3–0.5%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Stabilizes the product formulation

More about Disodium edta
Benzophenone-4~0.45–0.65%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Sun protection

Sulisobenzone. A UV filter. Is typically used to improve the product stability under exposure to UV light. It is effective against both UVA and UVB rays. It can be used is larger concentrations as a sun protection ingredient for the skin, but can be irritating

More about Benzophenone-4
Hydrogenated palm glycerides citrate~0.25–0.45%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin

More about Hydrogenated palm glycerides citrate
Tocopherol~0.15–0.25%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Anti-oxidationMoisturizingAnti-inflammatoryAnti-aging

Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself

More about Tocopherol
Parfum~0.1–0.15%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Sodium benzoate~0.1–0.15%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative

More about Sodium benzoate
Phenoxyethanol~0.1–0.15%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Ingredient list view

Water, Sodium laureth sulfate, Cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, Sodium chloride, Coco-glucoside, Glyceryl oleate, Glycerin, Hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, Panthenol, Opuntia ficus-indica stem extract, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice powder, Polyquaternium-7, Citric acid, Styrene/acrylates copolymer, Disodium edta, Benzophenone-4, Hydrogenated palm glycerides citrate, Tocopherol, Parfum, Sodium benzoate, Phenoxyethanol

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Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
BaleaSensitive Shower CreamYOUR PRODUCTEveredenKids Multi-Vitamin Face Wash Fragrance FreeUriageBariéderm Cica-CrèmeSimpleKind to Skin Nourishing Shower Cream With Granium Oil
Match—63%61%60%
Price—$9.00$9.90$14.54
Shared key ingredients—2 of 32 of 32 of 3
Key difference—NiacinamideMineral OilBisabolol
Irritancy Medium Low Low Medium
Drying alcohol————
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Product summary

"Balea - Sensitive Shower Cream" is effective for: Moisturizing

Ingredient callouts

  • An effective concentration of Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) - about 1.10% - 1.30%. Panthenol helps strengthen the skin barrier, improve hydration and reduce inflammation in skin.
  • Humectants (panthenol 1.10% - 1.30% and glycerin 1.60% - 2.00%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.

Price

The product retails from 2.49$ up to 5.99$ in the United States and for 21.29CA$ in Canada.

For a detailed price comparison: click here.

Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 12 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Surfactants and experimental irritant contact dermatitisncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. 2
    In Vitro Assessment of Skin Irritation Potential of Surfactant-based Formulations by Using a 3-D Skin Reconstructed Tissue Model and Cytokine Responseresearchgate.net
  3. 3
    Allergen of the Year—Alkyl Glucosidepracticeupdate.com
  4. 4
    Contact Sensitization to Emulsifying Agents: An Underrated Issue?journals.lww.com
  5. 5
    Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functionsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  6. 6
    Safety assessment of hydrogenated starch hydrolysatesncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Balea Sensitive Shower Cream
BaleaSensitive Shower Cream
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As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.