Have you checked the reviews for Pai Chamomile & Rosehip Calming Day Cream?
Half of them swear this moisturiser can soothe their sensitive, even eczema-prone skin. The other half that it turns their skin into a red, irritated mess.
Who the heck is right? I mean, a moisturiser can’t possibly give such completely different results, can it?
If it’s dealing with sensitive skin, YES it can. Here’s why:
What’s In Pai Chamomile & Rosehip Calming Day Cream?
APRICOT, JOJOBA, AND THISTLE OILS TO MOISTURISE SKIN
The bulk of Pai Chamomile & Rosehip Calming Day Cream is made up of sweet almond oil, jojoba oil and thistle oil. They all work by creating a barrier on the skin that prevents moisture loss, keeping skin hydrated for longer.
They may all do the same job, but each oil has something that makes it unique:
- Sweet Almond Oil: It’s commonly used in massage oils because it dries quickly without leaving a greasy residue behind.
- Jojoba Oil: It’s very similar to human sebum, so your skin instantly recognises it and absorbs it quickly. This makes it one of the few oils even oily skin can use without breaking out all over.
- Thistle oil: It has antioxidant and soothing properties that can prevent wrinkles and calm down irritations.
Related: The Best Facial Oils For Oily Skin
LACTOBACILLUS FERMENT TO SOOTHE SKIN
Did you know that thousands of little bacteria live on your skin? Yes, for real.
They’re responsible for keeping your skin in top shape. When the good bacteria outnumber the bad ones, your skin’s clear and healthy. But when they bad guys take over, anything can happen. Acne, irritations, eczema… It’s not pretty.
Adding the good bacteria back into your skin can help. FYI, I’m not talking about live bacteria. Bacteria need to eat to survive and there’s no food in a moisturiser.
Yet, even dead bacteria can help, to an extent. Take Lactobacillus Ferment, the bacteria in Pai Chamomile & Rosehip Calming Day Cream, for example.
A 2012 study shows that it can repair your skin’s barrier, soothe irritations and treat acne. The catch? The study used 5%. Here, there’s a little less.
But hey, every little bit helps, right?
Related: The Truth About Probiotics In Skincare: Do They Really Work?
CHAMOMILE TO REDUCE INFLAMMATION\
I’m sure you know how soothing chamomile is. It’s loaded with anti-inflammatories, including matricine, a-bisabobol, levomenol and chamazulene.
Levomenol and chamazulene are a particularly powerful duo. Together, they soothe allergies, erythema and sunburns. A-bisabol goes the extra mile, too. It reduces inflammation and helps wounds heal faster.
But chamomile is still a member of the daisy family. If you’re allergic to ANY plant in this family, putting chamomile on your skin won’t soothe it. It’ll give you a bad rash… or worse.
Related: Chamomile In Skincare: Benefits, Myths, And Side Effects
LAVENDER AND GERANIUM TO… IRRITATE SKIN?
Why is Pai Chamomile & Rosehip Calming Day Cream soothing for some people and irritating for others?
Chamomile could be it. But then people with allergies are careful to avoid triggers. Must be something else…
Lavender oil and rose geranium oil. These natural oils have fragrant components that can irritate sensitive skin real bad. I don’t know what Pai was thinking in putting them here…
Struggling to find skincare products that don’t irritate your sensitive skin? Download your FREE “Skincare Ingredients To Avoid” cheatsheet to find out what the most common culprits are and cut them out of your skincare routine:
Texture
Rich, thick texture that sinks into my dry skin quickly without leaving a greasy residue behind.
Fragrance
The cream has a faint lavender scent. It’s pleasant and disappears faster. But it could cause all sorts of trouble for sensitive skin.
The thing with sensitive skin is that it’s different for everyone. Even a common allergen like lavender can cause a rash in 50 people and leave another 50 unscathed.
My opinion? If I had sensitive skin, I’d avoid anything with fragrant oils, like lavender, in it. But if you’re curious to try it anyway, get hold of a sample and patch test. Better safe than sorry.
How To Use It
In the AM, in between serum and sunscreen. In the PM, it’s the last step of your skincare routine.
Performance & Personal Opinion
I can’t vouch for how soothing Pai Chamomile & Rosehip Calming Day Cream is. My skin isn’t sensitive or prone to redness (I know, lucky!), but there are goodies here that can do the job.
What I can vouch for is how moisturising it is. As soon as I put it on, this moisturizer makes my skin softer and smoother. The effect lasts all till evening. At no point during the day I feel that tight tell-tale sign my skin needs more moisture.
Oh, it doesn’t break me out either. That’s always a plus.
Who Is This For?
It’s most suitable for dry skin.
Who Is This NOT For?
Sensitive skin, especially if it doesn’t react well to fragrance or essential oils.
Packaging
A white tube with a pump applicator. Sleek and practical.
P.S. The cream above is a sample size. It came in a holiday skincare set I bought with my own money over the Christmas holidays.
Does Pai Chamomile & Rosehip Calming Day Cream Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| This little bottle of calm helps to soothe and moisturise sensitive, eczema and rosacea prone skin. | It contains moisturising and soothing ingredients, but also fragrance extracts and essential oils that can irritate skin. |
| Our calming and hydrating formula minimises the risk of irritation while reducing the appearance of redness. | It contains irritating ingredients that can induce rashes in people who are allergic to them. |
Price & Availability
$60.00/£38.00 at Content, Cult Beauty and Free People
Do You Need It?
No. There are better moisturisers for sensitive skin out there.
Dupes & Alternatives
- Allies Of Skin Multi Nutrient & Dioic Renewing Cream (£95.00)
- Paula’s Choice Probiotic Nutrient Moisturizer ($42.00)
Ingredients
Aqua, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Lactobacillus Ferment, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Rosa Canina Seed Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Water, Cetearyl Glucoside, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil, Sodium Levulinate, Tocopherol, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Sodium Anisate, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Lactic Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract.Naturally Occurring in Essential Oils: Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool. Contains Nut Oil.
