After experiencing a months-long eczema flare up this summer, I began to lose hope that my skin would ever return to its naturally plump, healthy-looking state. Moreover, I began to lose hope that I’d be able to try new beauty products like I used to. With the horrible state of my skin, I was thankful that IOPE gifted me their Derma Gentle Cica Cream for review.

However, did this K-beauty cream actually help to nourish my skin without causing further inflammation or damage? Keep reading to find out.

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Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links (*). If you purchase by clicking on my links, I may be compensated at no additional cost to you.

A Little Bit About IOPE

IOPE is a Korean skincare brand that belongs to the AmorePacific corporation. According to the brand’s website, they define themselves by their research and technology.

As a brand, IOPE provides labs-based functional skincare solutions targeted to specific skin concerns. As a brand IOPE seeks to provide the most effective, safe, plant-based solutions to treat skin.

IOPE Derma Gentle Cica Cream Claims

According to IOPE, this cream was formulated especially for sensitive skin. In fact, the brand put this cream through dermatology, allergy, eye irritation replacement, and sensitivity tests. Here’s what IOPE says about their cream:

The concentrated cream gently envelops sensitive skin, while effective ingredients such as madecassoside, panthenol, and cypress tree extracts help soothe the skin, improve damage from dryness, and strengthen the skin’s barrier as necessary for sensitive skin.

Packaging & Price

The IOPE Derma Gentle Cica Cream comes in a lightweight white and blue plastic tube. Also, this cream retails for $32.00.

Is Iope Vegan & Cruelty-Free?

Although IOPE promises to provide plant-based formulas, it is unclear whether the brand is Vegan or Cruelty-Free. Sadly, many K-Beauty brands are not Cruelty-Free. However, the Derma Gentle Cica Cream is 10-free. This means the formula is free from:

1. Parabens
2. Animal-originated ingredients
3. Colorants
4. Fragrances
5. Mineral oil
6. Polyacrylamides
7. Imidazolidinyl urea
8. Triethanolamine
9. Silicone
10. Surfactants containing PEG

Iope Derma Gentle Cica Cream Ingredient Analysis

Ingredient	Benefit
Cypress Tree Leaf Extract	Plant derived soothing ingredient obtained from cypress trees
Madecassoside	One of the index components of centella asiatica, which is often referred to as an effective ingredient that treats damage from dryness
Panthenol	An effective ingredient that protects and strengthens the skin’s barrier

Full Ingredient list here: Purified water, propanediol, squalane, cetearyl alcohol, polyglyceryl-10, polyglyceryl-3 methylglucose distearate, vitellaria paradoxa (shea butter), caprylic/capric triglyceride, chamaecyparis obtusa leaf extract, panthenol, allantoin, madecassoside, glyceryl stearate, glyceryl caprylate, di-C12-13 alkyl malate, butylene glycol, stearic acid, ethylhexylglycerin, hydrogenated lecithin, hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, hydroxypropyl starch phosphate, disodium EDTA

Application & Experience for Oily, Sensitive Skin

According to the IOPE website, this nourishing cream can be applied day or night. Additionally, it can be applied as a first step prior to layering another moisturizer. However, this cream may be worn as a standalone moisturizer. But what was my experience?

First, A Little Bit About My Skin

First, my skin has been oily and acne-prone skin my entire life. As a result, my skin has been exposed to countless harsh solutions and medications. Therefore, I never assumed my skin was sensitive. In fact, I’d say that my skin felt ‘durable.’ Moreover, neither fragrance nor astringents irritated my skin.

Over the last few years, I experienced a few incidences of major skin irritation to products. However, I experienced a particularly horrifying bout of eczema after bad reaction to Simple’s “Kind to Skin” Moisturizing Face Wash. Kind of ironic that the ”sensitive” skincare ”experts” products did this to me, huh?

In fact, the inflammation, lead to an eczema flare up that lasted months. As result, my naturally oily, plump skin became red, dry, flakey, and ”crusty.” Moreover, my skin looked and felt angry. It simultaneously hurt and itched. Also, it even felt like it was ”seeping” liquid during particularly bad flare up days.

As result, I’ve experienced extreme sensitivity to fragranced skincare products as well as ultra-thick creams. In fact, formerly tried-and-true products even cause reactions now!

And Now, About My Experience

First, I layered the IOPE Derma Gentle Cica Cream on top of my Krave Beauty Great Barrier Relief in an effort to soothe and restore my skin. Texture-wise, the cream feels nourishing without feeling heavy or greasy.

Overall, the formula is moisturizing enough that I discovered that I could wear this cream alone. However, I could still apply a thicker cream overtop if needed.

Within 3 days of steady use each morning and the evening, my skin looked dewy, plump, less textured and wrinkled. Ultimately, my skin’s healthy glow returned.

Where is the Derma Gentle Cica Cream sold?

In the United States, the Derma Gentle Cica Cream is available at Aritaum and Glossybox.

Final Thoughts on the IOPE Gentle Cica Cream

Overall, I am obsessed with the IOPE Gentle Cica Cream due to the way that it helped to naturally restore the appearance of my stressed out skin. Also, the formula feels gentle and nourishing without feeling heavy.

After a summer full of tears, I am beyond happy to have the Cica Cream in my arsenal. Whenever I run out of this cream, I will pick up another tube. Additionally, I intend to purchase more from IOPE’s sensitive’s skincare range.

Finally, I wholeheartedly recommend this cream to anyone with super sensitive skin. All-in-all, this is an incredible product for soothing inflamed, irritated skin.

*Please note: although IOPE gifted this product to me for testing purposes, I was not required to write a dedicated blog post.

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Have you tried the Iope Gentle Cica Cream or any other products from Iope? Also, what is your favorite K-Beauty brand? Please let me know in the comments below.

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