Opened the new tube and knew immediately. The texture was wrong.
They swapped the iconic zinc oxide for zinc gluconate — a huge shift for a product built on barrier repair.
A $16 multi-purpose balm from La Roche-Posay. The claim? “Soothes irritated skin.” My hope? That they didn’t ruin it.
New Pump
No more squeezing a metal tube — way more hygienic.
Lighter Feel
Marketed as less greasy, more wearable.
Bigger Size
40ml now, up from 40g — slight volume increase.
Photo: Fleur Kaan / Unsplash
The old formula was a physical shield. The new one aims to be a biological signaler. It’s a different repair philosophy.
- Madecassoside: Calms inflammation fast
- Zinc Gluconate: Antimicrobial, not a physical barrier
- Shea Butter: The main emollient left
- Panthenol (B5): Still holds moisture
It’s lighter — spreads like a rich lotion, not a waxy balme. Absorbs in 90 seconds, not 5 minutes. No white cast.
Surprise: It pills under sunscreen if you rub. And for severe dryness, it doesn’t feel as “sealing” — like a lighter jacket in a snowstorm.
Redness from retinol? Calmed overnight. But a cracked, wind-burned patch? Needed two layers. It’s a great soother, not a heavy-duty fixer.
They made it more user-friendly for daily life — and lost some of its surgical-grade healing power. A solid 7.