Meet Skin Mercy: What It Is, What It’s Good For, and How to Use It

Icy temperatures, dry air, sharp winds—winter weather can take a toll on your skin, leaving it irritated, red, and dry. Like, itchy-in-the-morning, cracking-in-the-evening, rough-patches-everywhere dry. And while, yes, parched, stressed skin does crave moisture, just slapping on any old moisturizer usually isn’t enough to get the job done. You need a moisturizer that checks all the boxes: hydrates, soothes, and protects the skin’s barrier (the outermost layer). So, what should you reach for to ensure your skin is soft, soothed, and deeply cushioned? Skin Mercy. 

Skin Mercy is our latest moisturizer, a targeted recovery cream formulated to calm and support irritated skin. It’s also not only helpful during the winter time—it works to keep your skin balanced the rest of the year, too. (We know that dry, sensitive skin can be a year-round concern.)

You may be wondering: what makes Skin Mercy different from a regular moisturizer for sensitive skin? And when would you use it instead of Instant Angel or Air Angel? Below we break down what Skin Mercy does for the skin, who should use it, and how it fits into the rest of your skincare routine.

What Is Skin Mercy Good For?

When your skin barrier is compromised, it loses its ability to hold onto moisture and defend against irritants, triggering dryness, redness, and sensitivity. There are a few causes for an overwhelmed skin barrier—maybe you’re having an eczema flare-up, or perhaps you were an overzealous exfoliator and went a little overboard with the number of acids in your skincare routine. Regardless of the reason, during these emergency skin situations, you need something that’ll calm irritation while also supporting your skin’s barrier. 

Skin Mercy is great for those moments when your skin needs some extra TLC. The treatment moisturizer is formulated with 1% colloidal oatmeal, a tried-and-true, FDA-approved skin protectant that helps calm visible redness, dryness, itch, and irritation often caused by eczema and other sensitivities. Colloidal oatmeal also works overtime to support and help strengthen your skin’s barrier, leaving your skin feeling softer, smoother, and more supple. 

Who Should Use Skin Mercy?

Regardless of your skin type, if your skin is feeling stressed—whether from eczema, over-exfoliation, or a particularly harsh winter—you can add Skin Mercy to your skincare routine. This recovery cream is also great for sensitive skin, for anyone using active ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, or lactic acid, and for those recovering from in-office treatments such as lasers or chemical peels.

With its gentle, soothing formula and colloidal oatmeal, Skin Mercy helps calm, support, and comfort your skin without feeling heavy or overwhelming. Plus, it carries the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance, so you know it meets trusted standards for eczema-prone skin.

How to Use Skin Mercy

Skin Mercy can be applied to cleansed skin after your serums and toners. If you’re using it in the morning, be sure to follow up with sunscreen. If you’re applying in the evening, it should be your final step. It can be used daily during flare-ups or as needed whenever irritation shows up. Pro-tip: Pair it with Deliverance 3-in-1 Repair Serum for the ultimate soothing routine.

Skin Mercy is also a great multitasker. Try applying the soothing moisturizer on other areas of your body that need attention for some relief.

How Skin Mercy Helps Calm Skin Irritation

Skin Mercy works by soothing and comforting irritated or reactive skin while giving your skin barrier the support it needs to recover. With colloidal oatmeal, it calms itching, reduces redness, and supports the skin’s protective layer.

While colloidal oatmeal is definitely the star of the show, Skin Mercy’s pale green aluminum tube holds a full suite of ingredients designed to comfort irritated, sensitive skin. It features a 3% soothing complex—a blend of Tasmanian pepperberry, bisabolol, allantoin, and panthenol—that works alongside 1% colloidal oatmeal to ease itchiness, support the skin barrier, and calm irritation.

10% glycerin helps attract and retain moisture for a plumper, more hydrated feel, while 0.1% licorice root helps protect against environmental and age-related stressors. Together, these ingredients support, soften, and restore skin, helping it feel more resilient and comfortable over time. 

Skin Mercy for Eczema-Prone Skin

Skin Mercy is an easy addition to an eczema-supportive routine. It’s an OTC cream with colloidal oatmeal, a gentle ingredient that helps soothe itchy, irritated skin. Perfect for eczema-prone skin, it supports your skin barrier, provides comfort, and helps skin feel calm and protected. It’s not a prescription replacement, just a soothing, recovery-focused moisturizer to reach for when your skin needs a little extra care.

Skin Mercy After Treatments or Active Overuse

Skin Mercy is a go-to for when your skin feels sensitive or worn out after cosmetic treatments or over-exfoliation. Think laser sessions, chemical peels, or using retinoids and acids. All of these situations can leave skin red, reactive, or dry.

That’s where Skin Mercy steps in. It calms, cushions, and helps your skin recover. With soothing ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, it eases irritation while supporting your skin barrier, giving your skin the comfort it needs to bounce back and feel balanced again.

Dieux Skin Mercy vs Dieux Instant Angel vs Dieux Air Angel

The one-size-fits-all approach is outdated when it comes to moisturizers. Your skin’s needs can change from day to day, so don’t be afraid to mix, match, and layer our moisturizers based on how your skin feels.

Skin Mercy vs Instant Angel

Instant Angel, our OG, is a rich—but never heavy—daily moisturizer that works to reinforce and support your skin’s barrier. It’s formulated with moisture-sealing lipids, making it ideal for dry or dehydrated skin. Meanwhile, Skin Mercy is a recovery cream that soothes active irritation, redness, or flare-ups. It’s not a replacement for Instant Angel, but a complement that offers comfort, relief, and protection during your skin’s more irritable moments.

Skin Mercy vs Air Angel

Air Angel is a lightweight gel-cream moisturizer that visibly plumps skin and floods it with hydration. Its breathable formula makes it a great option for oily and acne-prone skin. Skin Mercy, on the other hand, has a thicker texture that provides a protective cocoon of moisture, and is formulated to help calm irritation. 

Can I Layer Skin Mercy with Instant Angel or Air Angel?

Yes, Skin Mercy can be layered with Instant Angel or Air Angel during a flare-up or periods of active irritation. Layer your moisturizers from lightest to richest. 

If you’re pairing Skin Mercy with Air Angel, apply Air Angel first. If you’re combining Skin Mercy with Instant Angel, apply Skin Mercy first, then layer Instant Angel on top.

Skin Mercy FAQs

Is Skin Mercy Good for Sensitive Skin?

Yes! Skin Mercy was formulated specifically for skin that needs a little extra support (a.k.a reactive, easily irritated skin). It’s also fragrance-free and non-sensitizing. 

Can I Use Skin Mercy Every Day?

Skin Mercy can be used daily when your skin is going through a rough patch, like irritation and redness after a treatment or a flare-up. Once your skin feels calm, balanced, and zen, you can switch to using it on an as-needed basis. It’s designed to support compromised skin without overwhelming it.

Is Skin Mercy Fragrance-Free?

Skin Mercy is fragrance-free and formulated without common irritants, so it won’t send sensitive or reactive skin into a spiral.

Does Skin Mercy Help With Skin Redness and Irritation?

Yes—Skin Mercy is clinically proven to provide powerful relief from redness, itch, and irritation. When your skin is feeling stressed, sensitive, or just plain overwhelmed, this recovery cream focuses on bringing skin back to a happier, more balanced place.

That said, it’s important to think of Skin Mercy as a recovery moisturizer, not a medical treatment. It’s there to support your skin when it needs extra kindness, like after irritation, overdoing actives, or environmental stress. Listen to what your skin needs and respond gently.

Skin Mercy: A Recovery Cream for Real Skin Moments

Skin Mercy is a targeted recovery cream made for those moments when your skin needs a little extra forgiveness—after over-exfoliation, irritation, stress, or simply an off day. Rich but intentional, it focuses on calming, restoring, and supporting the skin barrier rather than forcing skin into a one-size-fits-all routine.

Your skin isn’t static, so your moisturizers shouldn’t be either. Instead of rigid rules or a single “holy grail,” listen to what your skin is asking for in real time—lighter hydration when things feel balanced, deeper support when skin feels overwhelmed.

Think of Skin Mercy as an essential piece in a thoughtful moisturizer wardrobe: not for every moment, but exactly the right one when your skin needs soothing, calming, and recovery.