Moon Balm
Deeply Hydrating Moisturiser 50 ml
Under the moon, skin finds peace. Soothing, smoothing, deeply hydrating and packed with barrier-loving ingredients, Moon Balm is a multifunctional moisturiser made to gently tackle several common skin troubles at once, from dryness and redness to enlarged pores and breakouts.
The truly unique formula combines skin-calming, redness-fading powerhouses like centella, purslane and guaiazulene (blue chamomille) with a skin-identical blend of lipids, fatty acids and ceramides to strengthen and restore the skin barrier.
Like the moon itself, Moon Balm also holds a next-to-magical super-power. We added a clinically tested retinol molecule that delivers all the skin-transforming benefits – like improving texture and regulating sebum – but without irritation.
The balmy cream works its magic from skin’s deepest layers to the outer barrier, leaving skin calm, dewy and more even-looking.
All skin will love Moon Balm, but ideal for combination to dry, redness-prone and/or acne-prone skin. Tested on sensitive skin.
Formulated without fragrance. Vegan ofc. 50 ml.
Under the moon, skin finds peace. Soothing, smoothing, deeply hydrating and packed with barrier-loving ingredients, Moon Balm is a multifunctional moisturiser made to gently tackle several common skin troubles at once, from dryness and redness to enlarged pores and breakouts.
The truly unique formula combines skin-calming, redness-fading powerhouses like centella, purslane and guaiazulene (blue chamomille) with a skin-identical blend of lipids, fatty acids and ceramides to strengthen and restore the skin barrier.
Like the moon itself, Moon Balm also holds a next-to-magical super-power. We added a clinically tested retinol molecule that delivers all the skin-transforming benefits – like improving texture and regulating sebum – but without irritation.
The balmy cream works its magic from skin’s deepest layers to the outer barrier, leaving skin calm, dewy and more even-looking.
All skin will love Moon Balm, but ideal for combination to dry, redness-prone and/or acne-prone skin. Tested on sensitive skin.
Formulated without fragrance. Vegan ofc. 50 ml.
for skin types
- Acne-prone
- Combination
- Dry
- Sensitive
- All
for concerns
- Post-pimple redness
- Uneven skin tone
- Redness
- Dry Skin
Description
A multifunctional moisturiser made to gently tackle several common skin troubles at once, from dryness and redness to enlarged pores and breakouts.
Why we love it
WHY WE LOVE MOON BALM
Team Common Clouds are obsessed with Moon Balm, and you' understand why!
IT'S BIG ON RESULTS – AND KINDNESS
First we wanted to create quite a simple, repairing moisturiser. Then our chemist discovered a next-gen retinol molecule that give the results you WANT, but without the side-effects you DON'T want. Let's look into it below...
IT'S YOUR BARRIER'S BESTIE
Healthy skin starts with a healthy skin barrier. Our lipid barrier is made up by lipids, fatty acids and ceramides (think of them like your skin's building bricks) that keep all the nasty stuff out and lock moisture inside your skin. It's like a friendly skin police! Moon Balm contains a potent blend of lipids, ceramides and fatty acids that maintains a healthy barrier and helps to repair a damaged one.
IT'S GIVING DEEEEP HYDRATION
A very-low molecular weight hyaluronic acid travels deep into your skin, where it both delivers and binds moisture. We also included good-old glycerine that attracts and holds on to moisture, leaving skin supple, bouncy and ready to stand against outer stress.
IT FADES REDNESS
Redness is a common concern at Common Clouds HQ, so our chemist was briefed to formulate a cream that helps to neutralise our flushed skins. Centella, purslane, quaiazulene and soidum retinoyl hyaluronate have all been proven to calm redness, including redness associated with acne and rosacea.
IT'S A RETINOL (KIND OF!) FOR RETINOL SCEPTICS
First, a history lesson. Retinol – the most famous member of the large Vitamin A-family – is one a the greatest and most researched ingredients in the world of dermatology.
In the late 19050s, retinoic acid (the last conversion step of before vitamin-A can bind to the skin – it's complicated!) started to gain wide recognition as an acne treatment, but soon it was noted that not only did patients' skin clear up. It aslo became more plumped and seemed to age backwards. Further studies concluded that Vitamin A-derivates promoted several healthy skin functions, like cell turnover and collagen production. Since the 1980s, retinol has been a cosmetic power-players.
However, retinol and retinoids can initially irritate and dry out skin and might not be an option for sensitive skin.
Moon Balm includes a new molecule (sodium retinoyl hyaluronate) that combines hydrating hyaluronic acid with retinoic acid. The molecule structure delivers both hyaluronic acid and retinoic acid deep into the skin layers, where the retinoic acid can get to work without causing any irritation on the way. It's also highly effective (actually, retinoic acid is up to 20 x more effective than retinol), so only a very low dose is needed to get the results we want. This means even a lower risk to irritate skin. In fact, in tests, none (!) of the testers showed an adverse effects.
This makes Moon Balm the perfect retinol product (although it's not technically a retinol) for retinol newbies and people with sensitive skin. However, if you are a retinol veteran, we can also promise that you'll love Moon Balm. It's a democratic retinol cream that loves everyone!
How to use
Apply on cleansed skin.
You can use Moon Balm as a moisturiser day and night, but it’s truly transforming, repairing magic comes into play when you sleep.
PRO TIP!
"If you are new to vitamin-A/retinol, start with using Moon Balm 3 nights per week. We use it every night (and are obsessed!), but it's always important to listen to your skin when introducing new products."
– Maria Ahlgren, co-founder and Beauty Director
Ingredients
HERO INGREDIENTS
CENTELLA ASIATICA
Ultra-calming, anti-inflammatory and redness-soothing, Centella is THE must-have ingredient for sensitive and moody skin types. In Moon Balm we super-charged it's calming powers with sky-blue guaiazulene to soothe redness and irritation.
CERAMIDE BLEND
Trust us, your skin barrier will LOVE being in the hands of this dream-team. Skin-identical ceramides, cholesterol and phytosphingosine protect your skin barrier and restore functional damage, so that your barrier can do what it's meant to do – lock important moisture inside the skin and keep unwanted irritants out.
SODIUM RETINOYL HYALURONATE
Two skincare superstars – Hyaluronic Acid and Retinoic Acid esters – are fused into one revolutionary molecule that gives all the skin-transforming benefits of a both hyaluronic acid and retinol, but without irritation.
Sodium Retinoyl Hyaluronate serves the best of two worlds:
* Brings hydration deep into the skin, thanks to very low-weight hyaluronic acid.
* Regulates sebum production and reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines – two key drivers of acne breakouts. In vivo tests showed significant visual improvement in acne-prone skin in 6 weeks*.
* Reduces skin redness
* Reduces pore size by 25%*
* Improves skin texture by 43%*
* Stimulates collagen – skin's very own bounce protein – and fibronectin, a component in our skin that is vital for wound and tissue healing.
* In vivo tests on 16 persons aged 15-33 with acne-prone skin
PURSLANE (PORTULACA OLERACEA)
Purslane (Portulaca Oleracea) is a traditional medicinal plant used for it's wound-healing, skin-calming and anti-inflammatory powers. It's rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, hydrating polysaccharides amino acids and skin beneficial minerals.
GUAIAZULENE
Moon Balm's sky-blue colour comes from guaiazulene, an extract from blue chamomille that is recognised for soothing skin and easing the red swelling stages of acne breakouts.
FULL INGREDIENT LIST:
Aqua, Glycerin, Propanediol, C12-13 Alkyl Lactate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Olive Oil Decyl Esters, Cetearyl Alcohol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Sodium Retinoyl Hyaluronate, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Glycosphingolipids, Allantoin, Guaiazulene, Glycolipids, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Glyceryl Stearate, Jojoba Esters, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Squalene, Amorphophallus Konjac Root Extract, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil, Beta-Sitosterol, Squalane, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polysorbate 60, Polyglycerin-3, Sorbitan Isostearate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Carbomer
MOON BALM FAQ
What does retinol do?
Retinol is one a the greatest and most researched ingredients in the world of dermatology. Technically, retinol is only one of many
vitamin A-derivatives that are converted via chemical processes into
biologically available vitamin A (retinoic acid) in the skin.
Retinol offers a smorgasbord of benefits, such as:
Stimulating collagen and elastin and increasing cell turnover to create more smooth and even skin. This is why you'll often see retinol in products targeted at aging skin.
Reversing sun damage, such as hyperpigmentation and loss of collagen.
Regulating sebum production in the sebaceous glands to minimise acne – this function is what put vitamin A on the map to start with.
Reducing the look of post-blemish scarring and hyperpigmentation.
Thickening the dermis, so skin looks fuller and plumped.
Is retinol good for acne?
YES YES and YES! Vitamin A is the golden standard in treating acne since the 1950s (!). Vitamin A is the active component both in topical acne creams and oral medication (like Isotretinoin).
In an in vivo-study on the retinol molecule used in Moon Balm (0,1% sodium retinoyl hyaluronate), the look of acne was significally improved in 6 weeks, and sebum was decreased by 36%.
Can teenagers use Moon Balm?
Yes, teenagers who are experiencing breakouts or acne can safely use Moon Balm and get the blemish-calming effefcts from a gentle retinol. When using (non-prescriptive) retinol on teenage skin, it's important that the retinol molecule used is clinically tested and doesn't increase the risk of sun burn, since many teenagers don't yet have the habit of using sunscreen daily ;) In Moon Balm, we used clinically tested Sodium Retinoyl Hyaluronate, which is a great option for young skin since it's gentle, non-irritating and non-drying.
Can I use Moon Balm day and night?
You CAN, but here's the thing. Retinol molecules are often sensitive to the sun, and becomes less effective when exposed to UV-light.
You can use Moon Balm in the morning to get all the soothing, hydrating and barrier-loving effects of the other ingredients (like centella, purslane, ceramides and squalane), but the retinoic acid molecule works best at night, under the moon ;)
With that said, Moon Balm is a great, lightweight everyday moisturiser that sits great under SPF and makeup.
Can I use Moon Balm when I'm pregnant?
Pregnant women should be careful about high levels of vitamin A. However, the major sources of Vitamin A comes from diet and supplements.
If you're pregnant and looking for a an effective way to treat breakouts and troubled skin, azelaic acid is your best choice. Our redness-fading, hyperpigmentation-busting serum Cloud Milk contains 10% azelaic acid, and works a charm on hormonal, fluctuating skin. Learn more about retinol and pregnancy HERE!
Can I use Moon Balm with Cloud Water?
Cloud Water and Moon Balm are a match made in heaven to balance and calm skin, unclog pores (Cloud Water, prevent new breakouts and help to fade post-blemish marks.
However, if you are sensitive or new to active skincare, we suggest that you use them in separate routines. For example Moon Balm at night
and Cloud Water in the morning, or on alternate days (skin cycling).
As is always the case with skincare, it's a case of "trial and error" and you have to find what works best for YOU.