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Payot Soothing and Comforting Balm
Payot

Payot Soothing and Comforting Balm

Efficacy75/100IrritancyLow
See all ingredients

Works for

Moisturizing
Glycerin, Cetearyl alcohol + 7 more
Works
What the product description says
“It provides skin with daily hydration, restoring comfort and suppleness so it appears to live and breathe with renewed energy.”
Source: Recreate Yourself

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

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).

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~3.6–5.3%
Cetearyl alcoholKey active· EmollientEffect: MediumA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture~2.1–3.1%
Cetyl alcoholKey active· EmollientEffect: MediumA non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together~1.8–2.6%
Milk proteinKey activeEffect: MediumHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin~1–1.5%
Alpha-glucan oligosaccharideKey activeEffect: HighHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin~0.9–1.35%
LactoseKey active· HumectantEffect: MediumHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin~0.5–1.15%
Butylene glycol· HumectantEffect: LowUsed to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin~1.4–2.1%
Caprylyl glycol· Humectant, EmollientEffect: LowHelps preserve products and creates a nice product texture~0.35–0.8%
Bifida ferment lysateUnder-dosedConsists of remains of dead yeast bacteria cells. Helps to hydrate the skin and reduce irritation. Might has some anti-oxidant effect~1.2–1.7%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
8 flagged ingredients
Low risk
We flag 8 ingredients with irritancy potential; the product's overall irritancy is low. The table lists each ingredient's own rating.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Phenethyl alcoholA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.05–0.3%est.
Hydroxypropyl starch phosphateHelps oil and water mix together and used to stabilize product formulationsMedium~2.6–3.8%est.
Ceteareth-25Helps oil and water mix togetherMedium~0.5–1.15%est.
Caprylyl glycolHelps preserve products and creates a nice product textureMedium~0.35–0.8%est.
ChlorphenesinA preservativeMedium~0.16–0.32%est.
O-cymen-5-olA preservativeMedium~0.05–0.1%est.
Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~0.05–0.15%est.
1,2-hexanediolA preservativeMedium~0.05–0.2%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
Cetearyl alcoholA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture2/5~2.1–3.1%est.

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~40–60%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Cetearyl isononanoate~5.4–8.1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

An emollient that softens the skin and helps prevent moisture loss.

More about Cetearyl isononanoate
Glycerin~3.6–5.3%
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
Hydroxypropyl starch phosphate~2.6–3.8%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Helps oil and water mix together and used to stabilize product formulations

More about Hydroxypropyl starch phosphate
Cetearyl alcohol~2.1–3.1%
Key activeComedogenic 2/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
2/5
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture

More about Cetearyl alcohol
Cetyl alcohol~1.8–2.6%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

A non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together

More about Cetyl alcohol
Butylene glycol~1.4–2.1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin

More about Butylene glycol
Bifida ferment lysate~1.2–1.7%
Under-dosed
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-oxidationEvens skin tone

Consists of remains of dead yeast bacteria cells. Helps to hydrate the skin and reduce irritation. Might has some anti-oxidant effect

More about Bifida ferment lysate
Milk protein~1–1.5%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin

More about Milk protein
Alpha-glucan oligosaccharide~0.9–1.35%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin

More about Alpha-glucan oligosaccharide
Lactose~0.5–1.15%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin

More about Lactose
Ceteareth-25~0.5–1.15%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Ceteareth-25
Xanthan gum~0.35–0.85%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Used to create a thicker product consistency

More about Xanthan gum
Caprylyl glycol~0.35–0.8%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture

More about Caprylyl glycol
Chlorphenesin~0.16–0.32%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Chlorphenesin
O-cymen-5-ol~0.05–0.1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about O-cymen-5-ol
Tropolone~0.1–0.35%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Tropolone
Phenethyl alcohol~0.05–0.3%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Phenethyl alcohol
Citric acid~0.05–0.15%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

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

More about Citric acid
1,2-hexanediol~0.05–0.2%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about 1,2-hexanediol
Ingredient list view

Water, Cetearyl isononanoate, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl starch phosphate, Cetearyl alcohol, Cetyl alcohol, Butylene glycol, Bifida ferment lysate, Milk protein, Alpha-glucan oligosaccharide, Lactose, Ceteareth-25, Xanthan gum, Caprylyl glycol, Chlorphenesin, O-cymen-5-ol, Tropolone, Phenethyl alcohol, Citric acid, 1,2-hexanediol

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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
PayotSoothing and Comforting BalmYOUR PRODUCTLa Roche-PosayCICAPLAST BAUME B5+ BALM CREAMAvèneXera Calm BalmEau Thermale AveneTolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm
Match—35%32%32%
Price—$18.31$18.32$20.35
Shared key ingredients—2 of 31 of 31 of 3
Key difference—MadecassosideArginineArginine
Irritancy Low Medium Low Low
Drying alcohol————
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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 8 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functionsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. 2
    Bifidobacterium longumlysate, a new ingredient forreactive skinonlinelibrary.wiley.com
  3. 3
    Use of Probiotics for Dermal Applicationsresearchgate.net
  4. 4
    Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Ceteareth-2, -3, -4, -5, -6, -7, -8, -9, -10, -11, -12, -13, -14, -15, -16, -17, -18,-20,-22,-23,-24,-25,-27, -28, -29, -30, -33, -34, -40, -50, -55, -60, -80, and -100journals.sagepub.com
  5. 5
    Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Sodium p-Chloro-m-Cresol, p-Chloro-m-Cresol, Chlorothymol, Mixed Cresols, m-Cresol, o-Cresol, p-Cresol, Isopropyl Cresols, Thymol, o-Cymen-5-ol, and Carvacrolresearchgate.net
  6. 6
    Allergic contact dermatitis caused by isopropyl methylphenol, a new haptenonlinelibrary.wiley.com
Payot Soothing and Comforting Balm
PayotSoothing and Comforting Balm
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