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With the exception of the hydrating serum which I talked about previously in my hyaluronic acid post, I honestly can’t believe it’s taken me this long to talk about other amazing products within the First Aid Beauty (FAB) Ultra Repair range. I’ve decided to make this a mini-series to go over them one by one.
A brief backstory of FAB: Founder and CEO Lilli Gordon started out in the finance industry and decided to change her career path by tapping into the beauty industry. As someone with sensitive skin, she set out to create a brand in 2009 that offers fundamental, workhorse products which everyone can really rely on generally and also for specific, emergency problems, sort of like your first aid kit at home. The amazing thing about the brand is that every product is developed to be safe for sensitive skin. I mean, this is kind of rare to see in other brands.
Ultra Repair Cream is a true FAB cult-classic, their hero product from the brand. It’s sold 4 units every minute every day in the US. This is very impressive! And I can see why.
What is it?
A face and body moisturizer.
What it does
Provides instant relief and long-term hydration with key ingredients such as:
- Colloidal Oatmeal: FDA-designated skin protectant that can help relieves itching and minor irritation, a great ingredient for dry, irritated, inflamed or eczema-prone skin. It
- Shea Butter: An emollient rich in vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids regenerates, moisturises and soothes the skin while protecting it from external factors such as UV rays or harsh weather
- Ceramide 3: Helps to hydrate the skin and repair the skin barrier.
- FAB Antioxidant Booster: Helps to tackle environmental aggressors with Licorice Root, Feverfew and White Tea extracts.
Full Ingredients list
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: Colloidal Oatmeal — 0.5%
INACTIVE INGREDIENTS: Water/Aqua/Eau, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Squalane, Allantoin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceramide 3, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Disodium Edta, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol.
Note there is one essential oil ingredient (marked in bold), so if you are sensitive to that then be careful. Also, there are a few ingredients that are deemed as fungal acne triggers or with a high comedogenic rating of 2 or 3 (marked in italic), so those who are acne-prone might also need to watch out.
This product is Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Soy-Free, Vegan-friendly, Nano-Free. It is formulated without Alcohol, Artificial Colorants, Artificial Fragrance, Lanolin, Mineral Oil, Parabens, Petrolatum, Phthalates, Propylene Glycol, Sulfates, Talc, Formaldehydes, Oxybenzone, Coal Tar, Hydroquinone, Triclocarbon, Ethanol, Ethyl Alcohol, Denatured Alcohol.
Who’s it for
Suitable for all skin types but best for normal and dry skin types, with concerns on dryness, flakiness, redness or even eczema.
Everything else
Packaging
A very convenient plastic tube.
Colour, Texture & Scent
The texture of this cream although it’s described as whipped, it’s very dense. It’s basically a thick cream but it has no heavy or greasy feel. If you know Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped cream, then this has a very comparable texture. I find it very easily blendable and absorbs into the skin very nicely. It leaves a slight sheen on the skin once it’s applied but gradually it disappears. When my skin is feeling exceptionally dehydrated, then it absorbs right away. There’s a very faint minty scent, most likely coming from the Eucalyptus, barely noticeable whether it’s to the nose or feel.
How to use it
Apply to face and/or body at least twice daily or as needed to restore and soothe dry, uncomfortable skin.
First Aid Beauty instruction
I like using this in the evenings as I prefer using something slightly lighter in the mornings; however, I’ve also tried using this in the mornings when my skin is feeling particularly parched and it works well under makeup as well. Probably because this is not in a squeezy tube or a pump, I do find myself using varying amount every time, more than a pea-size most times. Nevertheless, it never feels I’m overloading it to my skin. It’s very comfortable and supple.
My thoughts and experience
I’ve repurchased this Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration at least a couple of times. This is something I just want to have in my stash. With my skin being quite temperamental, prone to redness and dry patches, basically a fragile skin barrier. This has helped me so much I honestly can’t live without. The colloidal oatmeal is a hero ingredient for me in tackling my skin concerns. I don’t use it on a daily basis, only when my skin needs it. My skin feels immediately more comfortable and soothed after applying it, and the redness also appears to dial down gradually. There are skincare products out there that are catered for sensitive skin in the sense that they are gentle but not necessarily healing and soothing. This cream heals my skin whether it’s tackling with dehydration or inflammation, I can see results from it.
Since this cream is targeted to normal to dry skin types, I can see why there are a lot of ingredients that are not oily acne-prone skin types friendly. While I haven’t experienced any adverse effect such as breakouts or noticeable clogged pores from using this in the period of compromised skin barriers, this might be different if my skin is back to functioning at its optimal level ie. back to my own natural sebum production rate. I think it’ll be too rich when my skin is back to its oily self. Bear in mind that, my skin leans more combo/oily than an oil slick. So, if you have very oily skin and active breakouts, you might want to find a small sample to test this out first.
Would I repurchase? For sure. This is really one I have as first aid kit for skincare. Also, not to mention this tub is truly value for money. You get so much product at an affordable price point.
Available: £25/170g -UK (LookFantastic | FeelUnique | BeautyExpert)*
Have you tried this before? What is your experience?