What is the difference between CØLM and ZZ-Creme — and which one suits your skin?

Two creams — one ambition, two approaches

Both CØLM Redness Relieving Cream and ZZ-Creme are night treatments for skin with persistent redness and inflammation. They share the foundation: zinc oxide and sulfur. Two ingredients with well-documented anti-inflammatory effects that have been used in dermatological treatment for decades.

Both creams are applied as the last step in the evening routine and work while you sleep — precisely the period when the skin is most receptive to treatment. Both have shown good effects against rosacea, perioral dermatitis (inflammatory condition with rash around the mouth and nose), acne, and Demodex mites. Many also experience improvement with seborrheic eczema, a condition driven by inflammation and overactive sebaceous glands — which both ingredients effectively suppress.

The difference lies in what is formulated around the active ingredients. And that affects who the product suits best.

What exactly is in them?

In cosmetics, ingredients are listed in order of concentration — from highest to lowest. This reveals more than many product descriptions do. Here, the two creams are clearly built on different philosophies.

CØLM Redness Relieving Cream is formulated minimally. The ingredient list is short and precise: Aqua, glycerin, sulfur, zinc oxide — followed by a series of well-documented carriers and stabilizers. No unnecessary fragrance components, no complex plant extracts, no ingredients without a specific function. Menthol is included but appears last on the list — indicating a very low concentration.

ZZ-Creme is formulated more broadly. The ingredient list is significantly longer and includes wheat germ oil, salicylic acid, and a higher concentration of menthol. These are ingredients that each have a function, but overall the formula is more intensive.

Menthol — the difference you feel on your skin

Menthol is the reason for the characteristic cooling, slightly stinging sensation that many recognize from ZZ-Creme. For most, it is a pleasant, soothing experience — and for skin that is warm and irritated during rosacea flare-ups, it can feel like relief.

But menthol is not neutral. A higher concentration can feel too intense for some skin — especially skin with very low tolerance, skin that is already strongly irritated, or skin new to these types of treatments. Burning sensations and temporary worsening are more pronounced the more menthol there is in the formula.

Here CØLM Redness Relieving Cream is different. The cream still provides a cool, soothing sensation upon application — but more subtle, because menthol is present at a lower concentration. The same basic mechanism, but with a milder sensory profile. This makes it easier to tolerate for those who react strongly to menthol, and for those who are introducing a new treatment into their routine.

The result is that CØLM Redness Relieving Cream can be tolerated by a broader group. It is not “weaker” in its active ingredients — it is milder in its overall sensory experience.

Milder formula. More cream. Lower price.

CØLM Redness Relieving Cream — 30 ml for 449 DKK. A precise night treatment with low menthol content, formulated for sensitive and redness-prone skin.

See CØLM Redness Relieving Cream →

Price and quantity — what do you get for your money?

Here are the numbers as they are. CØLM Redness Relieving Cream costs 449 DKK and contains 30 ml. ZZ-Creme costs 479 DKK and contains 20 ml.

This means two things. First, CØLM is 30 DKK cheaper. Second, it contains 50% more cream. Calculated per milliliter, CØLM costs about 15 DKK, while ZZ-Creme is just under 24 DKK per ml. For a product used daily — and typically over months — this is a difference that really matters in the long run.

This is not an argument that ZZ-Creme isn’t worth its price. It’s simply a factual observation: you get more for less with CØLM.

Rosacea, perioral dermatitis, acne, and seborrheic eczema — both creams are excellent

Here is the important message: regardless of which of these conditions you are dealing with, both creams are solid choices. It’s not a question of which one works — but which one suits your skin and your preferences.

In rosacea, zinc oxide reduces inflammation and forms a protective barrier, while sulfur regulates the microbial activity that can drive the condition. Both creams provide this. The same applies to perioral dermatitis, where the combination of zinc oxide and sulfur is well documented against the inflammation and rash that characterize the condition.

In acne, sulfur helps regulate sebum production and cleanse pores, while zinc oxide reduces redness and inflammation. In seborrheic dermatitis, both ingredients work against the inflammation and overstimulation of the sebaceous glands that drive the condition — many users experience noticeable improvement.

You can read more about what zinc oxide and sulfur precisely do for rosacea in our more in-depth review of the active ingredients.

When should you seek medical help?

These creams are skincare products — not medicine. If you experience severe worsening, widespread reactions, pain, or symptoms that spread, you should always contact your doctor. The same applies if the condition does not respond after 4-6 weeks of consistent use, or if you are unsure about your diagnosis. A dermatologist can provide an accurate diagnosis and the appropriate treatment plan — and these two things do not have to be mutually exclusive.

Try CØLM Redness Relieving Cream

30 ml for 449 DKK. A precise night cream with zinc oxide and sulfur — mild enough for sensitive skin, effective enough to be felt.

See CØLM Redness Relieving Cream →