Payot
Soothing Aromatic Balm
face balm
Payot
face balm
Added Last edited
Fit by skin type
General, ingredient-based — not your personalized match.
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Take the skin testThe localised emergency balm for reactive, irritated skin. This salve with its singular galenic form draws on the combined virtues of phytotherapy and aromatherapy, blending licorice extract, sesame and corn oils, and thyme and lavender essential oils. Its pharmaceutical compound-like texture acts as a genuine emergency care: applied locally, it soothes irritation and reduces temporary redness on demand.
Soothing Aromatic Balm is a rich balm from Payot. Its job is UV protection, with the rest of the formula working on hydration. The ingredient list runs to 16 ingredients, each broken down in full below.
By its ingredient list the formula reads as rich: occlusives and butters sit high enough in the order to give it real weight on skin. The oils in it point to a dewy, emollient finish rather than a matte one. Hydration is handled by Paraffinum Liquidum, Cera Microcristallina and Cetyl Alcohol, humectants that pull water into the upper layers of skin rather than sealing it there.
It is a mineral sunscreen, filtering with Zinc Oxide. Between them those filters cover UVB, UVA II and UVA I, so the formula is broad-spectrum in the meaningful sense: it reaches past 340 nm, where the ageing wavelengths sit. Every filter in the formula is photostable, so its protection does not fall away over the first hour in the sun — reapplication is still about sweat, water and rubbing rather than degradation.
Hydration: High. Ingredients that pull and hold water in the upper layers of skin, and here that comes from Paraffinum Liquidum, Cera Microcristallina and Cetyl Alcohol.
Soothing: Moderate. Ingredients aimed at visible redness and reactivity, and here that comes from Zinc Oxide and Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate.
Oil control: Moderate. Ingredients that moderate sebum or absorb shine, and here that comes from Zinc Oxide.
On richness alone it suits Dry and Combination (dry) skin best, and is the least natural fit for Combination (oily) and Oily skin. A few ingredients carry irritation flags, so reactive skin should patch test before using it on the whole face.
The formula contributes little or nothing on barrier support, antioxidant protection, brightening and tone and cell renewal. That is not a fault — most products are not meant to do everything — but if one of those is your priority, this is not the product that will address it.
Reading the full list, the formula is no drying alcohol, paraben-free, silicone-free, microplastic-free, sulfate-free and dye-free. Those claims come from the ingredient list itself, not from the packaging. It does contain fragrance and essential oils, worth knowing if your skin reacts to any of them.
Use it in the morning. In a routine it goes taken with food. Follow the dose on the pack and check interactions with anything you already take. It carries UV filters, so it belongs in your morning routine.
This summary is generated from the product's ingredient list. It is not a review, it is not the brand's own marketing claims, and it does not replace advice from a dermatologist.
Drawn purely from the ingredient list
Scored on how rich or light the formula reads from its INCI order.
A few ingredients here carry irritation flags. Reactive skin should patch test on the jawline for a few days before using it on the whole face.
Based on the curated benefits documented for this product's ingredients.
Attracts and locks in moisture to keep skin plump and dewy
Boosts collagen and cell turnover to reduce fine lines and wrinkles
Calms redness, irritation, and inflammation for sensitive skin
Brightens and balances complexion for a more uniform appearance
Regulates sebum production to reduce shine and greasiness
None of the ingredients in this formula are associated with these benefits. This is not unusual, as most products are designed to target a limited number of concerns.
Mineral filter system · broad-spectrum through UVA I
The only single filter that covers the whole UVB–UVA1 range on its own. Scatters and absorbs rather than purely absorbing, and can leave a white cast at high loads.
The actives, UV filters and benefit-carrying ingredients in this formula, in the order they are listed.
1st on the list, which puts it at an estimated 10–40% of the formula.
Paraffin oils. Liquid hydrocarbons from petroleum
2nd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.
Microcristallina Cera Microcrystalline Wax (U.S.)
3rd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.
Zinc oxide (CI 77947)
7th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
Hexadecan-1-ol
13th on the list, which puts it at an estimated under 1% of the formula.
Olean-12-en-29-oic acid, 3-hydroxy-11-oxo-, octadecyl ester, (3.beta.,20.beta.)-
Each axis is scored from the ingredients present and how high up the list they sit.
Ingredients that pull and hold water in the upper layers of skin
Lipids and repair signals that support skin barrier integrity
Ingredients that mop up free radicals from UV and pollution
Ingredients that moderate sebum or absorb shine
Ingredients that act on uneven tone and post-inflammatory marks
Ingredients aimed at visible redness and reactivity
Retinoids, acids and enzymes that speed surface turnover
Peptides and growth factors that signal for collagen support
Every filter in this formula is photostable
"Active" here means an ingredient carrying a recorded active type or a recognised UV filter.
Solvents, emollients, texture agents and preservatives — the formula that carries the actives.
Read from the full ingredient list. A brand's own claim may differ.
Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol
Paraffinum Liquidum
Judged by the same curated rules our routine checker uses. It reads the ingredients, not the label.
Nothing in this formula belongs to a group our rules can put in conflict, so it layers freely. Order still matters — thinnest texture first.
Flags to check, not verdicts. None of this is medical advice — if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or treating a skin condition, ask a doctor.
Most ingredients do more than one job, so these counts add up to more than the 16 ingredients on the label.
Sets the thickness, spread and stability of the formula
Changes how the product smells or looks
Softens and smooths by filling gaps between skin cells
Forms a film that slows water loss
Dissolves and carries everything else
Calms visible redness and irritation
Keeps the product free of microbial growth
Lifts oil and dirt, or holds oil and water together
Absorbs or scatters ultraviolet light
Every ingredient on the label, in order, with what it does and roughly how much of it is likely to be there.
1st on the list, which puts it at an estimated 10–40% of the formula.
Paraffin oils. Liquid hydrocarbons from petroleum
2nd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.
Microcristallina Cera Microcrystalline Wax (U.S.)
3rd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.
Zinc oxide (CI 77947)
4th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
1-Octadecanaminium, N,N-dimethyl-N-octadecyl-, chloride, reaction products with hectorite
5th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
Paraffin is a solid mixture of hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum characterized by relatively large crystals.
6th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
Corn oil, oxidized.
7th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
Hexadecan-1-ol
8th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
Hydrocarbon waxes (petroleum), chemically neutralized. A complex combination of hydrocarbons produced by a treating process to remove acidic materials. It consists predominantly of saturated straight chain hydrocarbons having carbon numbers predominantly in the range of C20 through C50
9th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax is a wax obtained from the peel of the fruit of Rhus verniciflua, Anacardiaceae .
10th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
Sesamum Indicum Oil Unsaponifiables is the fraction of sesame oil which is not saponified in the refining recovery of sesame oil fatty acids, Sesamum indicum L., Pedaliaceae
11th on the list, which puts it at an estimated under 1% of the formula.
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil is the volatile oil obtained from the flowers of the Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, Labiatae. ISO 8902:2009
12th on the list, which puts it at an estimated under 1% of the formula.
Thymus Saturejoides Oil is the volatile oil obtained from the whole plant, Thymus saturejoides, laminaceae.
13th on the list, which puts it at an estimated under 1% of the formula.
Olean-12-en-29-oic acid, 3-hydroxy-11-oxo-, octadecyl ester, (3.beta.,20.beta.)-
14th on the list, which puts it at an estimated under 1% of the formula.
3,7-Dimethyl octa-1,6-diene-3-ol
15th on the list, which puts it at an estimated under 1% of the formula.
1-Methyl-4-Isopropenylcyclohexene; dipentene
16th on the list, which puts it at an estimated under 1% of the formula.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Products in the same category that share this formula's distinguishing ingredients.
Bioderma
Shares 2 key ingredients with Soothing Aromatic Balm: Paraffinum Liquidum, Cera Microcristallina
PARAFFINUM LIQUIDUM, CERA MICROCRISTALLINA, ZINC OXIDE, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, PARAFFIN, OXIDIZED CORN OIL, CETYL ALCOHOL, OZOKERITE, RHUS VERNICIFLUA PEEL WAX, SESAMUM INDICUM OIL UNSAPONIFIABLES, LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA OIL, THYMUS SATUREJOIDES OIL, STEARYL GLYCYRRHETINATE, LINALOOL, LIMONENE, GERANIOL.
As needed, on irritated areas, morning or evening.
Judged on how rich the formula reads from its ingredient list, it suits Dry, Combination (dry) skin best. It is the least natural fit for Combination (oily), Oily skin.
Some ingredients here carry irritation flags, so sensitive skin should patch test on the jawline for a few days before applying it to the whole face.
No ingredient in this formula is a recognised food source for malassezia, the yeast behind fungal acne.
Nothing in this formula is on the standard pregnancy-caution list. That is not medical clearance — check anything you use daily with your doctor or midwife.
No — it contains Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol.
No. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is no drying alcohol.
Yes. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is silicone-free.
Yes — it contains Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol.
Yes. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is paraben-free.
It layers well with Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), Retinoids (retinol, retinal), AHAs (glycolic, lactic), BHA (salicylic acid), PHAs (gluconolactone), Benzoyl peroxide.
Use it in the morning, taken with food.
It lists 16 ingredients, of which 1 are recorded as actives.
Payot.
It filters UV with Zinc Oxide (zinc oxide).
Yes. Its filters cover UVB, UVA II and UVA I, so protection reaches past 340 nm into the deep-UVA range associated with ageing and pigmentation.
Possibly. It filters with mineral UV filters, which sit on the surface and can leave a visible cast on deeper skin tones, especially at high SPF.
It contains none of the filters named in the Hawaii and Key West reef legislation (oxybenzone and octinoxate). "Reef safe" is not a regulated term, so treat that as a fact about the filter list rather than a certification.
Yes. Let it set for a couple of minutes before foundation so it does not pill, and reapply over makeup with a stick or powder rather than rubbing more in.
Every two hours of sun exposure, and immediately after swimming, sweating heavily or towelling off.
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