Retinol Cica Barrier Defense Cream
The INNISFREE Retinol Cica Barrier Defense Cream is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 45 ingredients (37 low-risk) rates it Excellent (98/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
The INNISFREE Retinol Cica Barrier Defense Cream is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 45 ingredients (37 low-risk) rates it Excellent (98/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
Dry Skin
8/8
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin
1/0
Sensitive Skin
5/6
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
1
|
|
Water
(Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
2
|
A
|
Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
A
|
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing) |
|
|
1
|
|
Dicaprylyl Ether
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
|
Methyl Trimethicone
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
1,2-Hexanediol
(Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Panthenol
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
|
Diethoxyethyl Succinate
(Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
|
Diphenyl Dimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
(Film Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
B
|
Cetearyl Olivate
(Hair Conditioning) |
|
|
2
|
A
|
Hydrogenated Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant) |
|
|
1
|
|
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
(Opacifying) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sorbitan Olivate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
|
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
|
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Allantoin
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing) |
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
|
|
2
|
A
|
Tromethamine
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
|
|
|
|
Glycine Soja Oil
(Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Cetearyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasingagent Aqueous, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
3
|
|
Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
(Flavoring Agent, Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Glyceryl Caprylate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Phytosterols
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Asiaticoside
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning, Perfuming) |
|
|
|
|
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient) |
|
|
1
|
|
Madecassic Acid
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Asiatic Acid
(Skin Conditioning, Stabilising) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Adenosine
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
B
|
Cetearyl Glucoside
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
|
|
daucus carota sativa root extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sorbitan Isostearate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
9
|
A
|
Retinol
(Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
1
|
|
Propanediol
(Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
|
Madecassoside
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
2
|
|
Beta-Carotene
(Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
|
|
CENTELLA ASIATICA FLOWER/LEAF/STEM EXTRACT
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
|
|
Decapeptide-4
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
2
|
|
Sodium Oleate
(Sufactant, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
EWG flags hazard, not real-world risk — ratings don't account for how much of an ingredient a product contains. Treat these as things to research, not verdicts. How we score →
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.
Topical retinoids (retinol, retinaldehyde, retinyl esters) are widely advised against in pregnancy as a precaution. The strongest evidence is for ORAL retinoids; topical absorption is low, but most clinicians err on the side of caution.
This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
Most studied between 0.1% and 1%. Higher is not automatically better — irritation climbs with dose, so a well-formulated lower strength is often the sweet spot.
Retinol
Most research uses 2–5%; some formulas go to 10%. Very high levels can cause flushing in sensitive skin.
Niacinamide
INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.
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