IHADA Medicated Balm 20g - fragrance-free soothing balm for dry sensitive reactive skin

IHADA Medicated Balm 20g

$14.21
$14.21
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IHADA Medicated Balm 20g - fragrance-free soothing balm for dry sensitive reactive skin
IHADA Medicated Balm 20g
IHADA

IHADA Medicated Balm 20g

$14.21
$14.21
In stock
  • ✅ Medicated quasi-drug — glycyrrhetinic acid stearyl anti-inflammatory
  • ✅ Melts at skin temperature — spreads like oil, seals like balm
  • ✅ Sugar squalane base — lightweight, non-waxy finish
  • ✅ @cosme Hall of Fame — Best Balm multiple years running
  • ✅ Multi-use: face, lips, cuticles, dry body patches
  • ✅ Free from fragrance, alcohol, parabens, and colorants

🛡️ 100% Authentic – Japan domestic version
🚚 Ships from Tokyo
✨ Fresh stock
🛍️ Same product sold in Japanese beauty stores

Description

IHADA Medicated Balm is a concentrated barrier-sealing balm for dry patches, irritated skin zones, and daily moisture-lock on sensitive skin. At skin temperature it melts instantly from a soft solid into a silky, oil-like film — spreading effortlessly without the heaviness or stickiness typically associated with petrolatum products. A Japan-domestic quasi-drug (医薬部外品) sold at Matsumotokiyoshi, it has been a perennial @cosme Best Balm award winner and Hall of Fame inductee since its launch.

The single medicated active is glycyrrhetinic acid stearyl — a lipid-soluble form of licorice-derived anti-inflammatory that penetrates the skin barrier more effectively than water-soluble glycyrrhizate, making it particularly suited to deep sealing work on heavily stressed or chapped areas. Sugar squalane forms the base alongside ultra-pure petrolatum, giving the balm an unusually clean skin-feel — not waxy, not greasy, but a thin, barely-there film that holds overnight or through the day under makeup.

The 20g jar is compact enough for a bag or desk drawer. Suitable for face, lips, cuticles, and dry body patches. Unfragranced and neutral enough for use on children. For users already in the IHADA routine, the balm is the ideal fourth step after lotion, emulsion, and moisturiser — targeting any residual dry zones with a concentrated dose of barrier protection.

Key Ingredients
  • Glycyrrhetinic Acid Stearyl — lipid-soluble medicated active derived from licorice; penetrates the barrier layer to reduce inflammation from within, more effective for deep dry-zone repair than water-soluble glycyrrhizate
  • Ultra-Pure Petrolatum — IHADA's highly refined petrolatum; forms a uniform occlusive film that prevents moisture evaporation without the heaviness of standard petrolatum
  • Sugar Squalane — plant-derived emollient that gives the balm its silky, oil-like melt-on-skin texture and contributes to the non-sticky finish
  • Alpha-Olefin Oligomer — lightweight synthetic emollient that reduces the waxy feel of petrolatum and helps the balm spread evenly at body temperature

HOW TO USE
  1. After completing your skincare routine (lotion and emulsion), take a pearl-sized amount on your fingertip.
  2. Dot onto 4 points — both cheeks, forehead, chin — or directly onto dry patches.
  3. Blend gently. The warmth of your fingers will melt the balm into a thin, barely visible film.
  4. Use as the final step in your morning or evening routine. Can also be applied directly to lips, cuticles, or dry body areas at any time.
  5. Pro tip: In very cold or dry environments, apply a pea-sized amount over your entire face as a final winter shield — it disappears into the skin within 2–3 minutes and holds moisture significantly longer than a moisturiser alone.

FAQ

How is this different from regular petroleum jelly (Vaseline)?

Standard petroleum jelly is unrefined and has a thick, greasy texture that sits on the skin surface. IHADA's ultra-pure petrolatum is processed to remove impurities and blended with sugar squalane and alpha-olefin oligomer to eliminate the heaviness. The result spreads like an oil and absorbs into a thin film — offering the same occlusive barrier protection with a completely different skin feel.

Can I use this on my lips?

Yes — the balm is one of the most popular Japanese drugstore lip treatments precisely because the fragrance-free, additive-free formula is safe for lip application and the texture seals in moisture without the waxy residue of conventional lip balms. Many users in Japan apply it to lips as the final step of their evening routine.

Is this the same as the IHADA Medicated Night Pack?

No — they serve related but different functions. The Night Pack is a cream-balm hybrid formulated to be applied all over the face as a sleeping mask 2–3 times a week. The Balm is a more concentrated, oil-dominant product for targeted spot treatment or finishing — it can be used daily on specific dry zones and has a different active ingredient (glycyrrhetinic acid stearyl vs. tranexamic acid in the Night Pack).

Is this suitable for eczema-prone skin?

Yes. The formula is allergy-tested, non-comedogenic, and entirely free from the most common sensitising ingredients — fragrance, alcohol, parabens, and colorants. It is one of the most recommended Japanese pharmacist picks for managing eczema-adjacent dryness, particularly on the hands, nose folds, and around the mouth where eczema flares are common.

Is this the Japan-domestic version?

Yes. This is the Japan-domestic quasi-drug formula (医薬部外品) sold at Matsumotokiyoshi and major Japanese drugstores. TokyoShelf sources directly from Tokyo drugstores — every unit is the genuine domestic formula, not a travel exclusive or grey-market alternative.

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