Best Vegan: Splendor Santa Barbara Pure Coconut Oil Soap
Courtesy: Splendor Santa Barbara
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Much better lather than many eczema soaps
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Mild but non-irritating scent from natural ingredients
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Made with coconut oil, not palm oil
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It doesnt last very long
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Handmade bars are not always consistent in amount of scent or oil
Coconut oil has proven to be an anti-inflammatory ingredient, both for topical uses and consumption. It’s the first ingredient in Splendors Pure Coconut Oil Soap, alongside aloe juice, colloidal oats, organic chamomile, and organic calendula. These all-natural ingredients are void of chemical allergens and irritants, creating a creamy soap that moisturizes and calms dry skin.
Key Ingredients: Coconut oil | How to Use: With wet hands, rub the bar until it lathers apply to face, body, or hands, rinse, and dry.
Ready To Head Outside
Sunscreen alone isnt enough to protect your skin against ultraviolet rays. Its just one part of a sun protection program that includes wearing protective clothing and staying out of direct sunlight between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., especially during the summer months.
So, choose, test and use sunscreen wisely, and from all of us at NEA, enjoy your summer in the sun. Your skin will thank you for it!
Range Beauty True Intentions Hydrating Foundation
Range Beauty was born from founder Alicia Scotts own personal struggles with eczema, and the inclusive beauty company became the first Black woman-owned makeup brand to score a deal when it was featured on Shark Tank. This creamy, sheer foundation comes in 21 shades and contains soothing ingredients such as calendula, chamomile and green tea for simultaneous coverage and treatment.
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Sunscreen For Eczema Skin
Eczema is super normal. In fact, 30 million Americans have it. This means your skin is more vulnerable to the suns harmful rays. Sunscreen is important, but finding the right one that wont make your eczema flare up is even more important.
If you have eczema, youll want to look for mineral-based sunscreens. That means theyre formulated with zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. Avoid sunscreens that contain alcohol, fragrances and preservatives. Always choose an SPF 30 or higher and look for the broad spectrum label.
Not to brag, but the National Eczema Association gave several Neutrogena® mineral sunscreens their seal of approval including Pure & Free® Liquid Sunscreen, Sensitive Skin Sunscreen Lotion SPF 60+ and Pure & Free® Baby Faces Ultra Gentle Sunscreen.
Best Hand Cream: Cerave Therapeutic Hand Cream
This hand cream contains dimethicone, which Dr. Hayag describes as a skin protectant that blocks cold wind and other irritants from wreaking havoc on your delicate skin. The drugstore-favorite formula, which has been accepted by the National Eczema Association, also has hyaluronic acid and ceramides, both of which help maintain the skin’s natural moisture. (
“I have eczema, so I’m pretty picky about what I put on my skin,” , who said that this is the “only moisturizer” they’ll use on their hands. “When I saw this, I decided to try it for my dry, often cracked, itchy, over-washed hands. It works great! I love that it absorbs quickly, so there’s no greasy feeling âââ just leaves my hands feeling soft and moisturized.”
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What Ingredients To Avoid In Eczema Creams
Of course, there are ingredients youll want to avoid too, Dendy Engelman, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Medical Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery, tells SELF. Ingredients to watch out for include fragrances, exfoliating acids , harsh soaps, and retinol, she says: These can further irritate the skin by drying them out.
Dr. Nada Elbuluk, M.D., director of the Skin of Color Center and Pigmentary Program at USC, also notes to look at ingredients lists for anything you might be allergic to, because that will also cause a flare-up. I also recommend avoiding physical exfoliants and even certain fabrics such as wool, which can make eczema worse, she says.
So what are the absolute best eczema creams to hydrate, strengthen, and protect against flare-ups? We asked dermatologists to tell us what moisturizers they commonly recommend to their eczema patients. Heres what they suggest.
All products featured on SELF are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
How Much Sunscreen Should I Use
To ensure that you maximize a sunscreens full potential, apply one ounce about a shot glass full to your face and the exposed parts of your body. Most people tend to apply only half or a quarter of that amount, which means the SPF theyre getting is lower than it should be. During a long day at the beach, use around a quarter to a half of an eight ounce tube or bottle. Dr. Yu advised that liberal application is important, especially since a sunburn can potentially worsen atopic dermatitis, provoking the itch/scratch cycle.
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Best For Dry Skin: Cln Bodywash
Courtesy of Amazon
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For use in treatment of eczema, folliculitis, and acne
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Safe for anyone 6 months and older
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Cleanses without disrupting skin barrier
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Some users reported breakouts or rashes after use
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More costly than other eczema soaps
CLns BodyWash is designed to reduce redness, dryness, and flakiness. It’s a cleanser that is safe for daily use, preserved with sodium hypochlorite for a strong but calming sensation for your eczema. This body wash does not contain any parabens, steroids, or fragrances, so it’s a great choice for both adults and children.
This product is recommended by the National Eczema Association.
Key Ingredients: Sodium hypochlorite | How to Use: Wet skin and pump small amount of soap into hands lather, massage into skin, rinse, and dry.
Eucerin Eczema Relief Cream $7 Original Price: $9
Eucerins Eczema Relief Cream for eczema-prone skin is excellent at reducing flare-ups thanks to its ingredients of colloidal oatmeal, which treats redness and swelling, and ceramides that help to repair the skin barrier, Dr. Mack said.
Not to mention, the less-than-$10 ticket price on this formula cant be beaten.
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Should I Use A Product That Earned The National Eczema Foundation Seal Of Approval
The National Eczema Association created the Seal of Approval acceptance program to help sensitive-skinned consumers properly select skincare.
The NEA Seal of Approval criteria includes a list of ingredients that are known for causing irritation, Dr. Mack explains. The Seal of Approval review panel evaluates ingredient and formulation data. Lastly, the Seal of Acceptance makes the products ideal for sensitive skin types easily identifiable.
Best Overall: Cetaphil Deep Cleansing Bar
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Specialized formula for sensitive skin
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Like a cleanser and moisturizer in one
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Can be used daily
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Bar soap can be harder to lather
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Some users complain of leftover residue after washing
What do buyers say? 85% of 16,400+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 5 stars.
We chose this mild, non-alkaline bar as our top pick because it was specifically designed for dry, sensitive skin. It moisturizes and cleans your skin simultaneously, making it an excellent choice for full-body cleansing. Its neutral pH formula and lack of harsh detergents allow your skin to heal without stripping away any natural oils or barriers, making it safe for adults and children alike.
Key Ingredients: Glycerin | How to Use: After wetting face and hands, work soap into a lather, wash face, and rinse.
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What The Experts Say
A patient with eczema or atopic dermatitis has an impaired skin barrier: the proteins that make up the skin’s barrier are mutated, which means they let too much moisture out of the skin and too many environmental like allergens into the skin.Caren Campbell, M.D.,San Francisco-based board-certified dermatologist
What Were Looking For
Ingredients: Serious cases of eczema will require prescription treatments, but some patients can get by with an over-the-counter one filled with emollient, humectant ingredients like ceramides, petrolatum, shea butter, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and squalene, which will rehydrate and restore any dry, cracked skin caused by eczema, according to Dr. Corey L. Hartman, founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, Alabama. For eczema-prone skin, hydration is the name of the game, he says. And since eczema is essentially just inflammation of the skin, products with additional ingredients like colloidal oatmeal and petroleum will soothe and protect the skin from further damage or irritation.
Price: Eczema treatments tend to be on the affordable side, but weve noted how much youre getting in each bottle or tube and how much it costs per ounce.
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Neutrogena Rapid Tone Repair Night Moisturizer
This Neutrogena moisturizer promises to improve the look of skin discoloration and dark spots in just one week. The formula consists of pure retinol combined with emollients, silicones, and humectants. Vitamin C is claimed to be a key ingredient in this moisturizer, however, the formula contains a very low amount of this ingredient. In fact, this Neutrogena moisturizer contains more fragrance than vitamin C!
The Neutrogena Hydro Boost Line
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel: This innovative and affordable skincare line starts with the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel. This intriguing product has a weightless formula that instantly provides intense moisture while rebuilding the barrier of skin helping to lock hydration in place. Once applied, the lightweight Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel absorbs quickly and completely, leaving nothing behind but soft, healthy skin. Of course, the magic behind the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel formulation is its star ingredient hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid works within the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel as a sponge and can absorb 1000 times its weight in water. With this amazing ability, hyaluronic acid provides a continuous stream of moisture enabling the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel to provide 48 hours of hydration to skin. The Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel is also formulated with antioxidant olive extract which provides a layer of protection and moisture. Other notable attributes of the hydrating Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel is its oil-free, dye-free, and non-comedogenic so it wont clog pores. This makes the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel a great option for all skin types.
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Best Prescription Eczema Creams
Dr. Hayag often prescribes topical steroid creams to her clients due to their effectiveness in rapidly treating redness, inflammation, and itchiness. Specifically, she likes calcineurin inhibitors such as tacrolimus and pimecrolimus for reducing the immune response that causes these irritations. These are great non-steroidal creams that help maintain control of eczema and decrease the number of eczema flare-ups, she adds.
She also recommends crisaborale as a non-steroidal cream that can be used in children as young as 2 years old, and mupiricin ointment, which is a topical prescription antibiotic for staph infections commonly found in eczema patients. (
What Type Of Shampoo Is Best For Scalp Eczema
The best shampoo for scalp eczema is gentle and free of allergens or irritants that are contributing to their eczema, says Dr. Farber. You should avoid any ingredients that could be irritating and cause the inflammation on your scalp to get worse, like fragrance, harsh detergents like sodium lauryl sulfate, and methylisothiazolinone . Dr. Farber also notes that certain ingredients in hair dye, like paraphenylenediamine, can cause rashes for some.
What ingredients should you look for? For dry, compromised scalps, look for hydrating ingredients like glycerin, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid that can help keep your moisture barrier strong, says Dr. Farber, while itchy, inflamed scalps will do best with soothing aloe, chamomile, and oatmeal. Still, its important to note that some eczema cases will need more than just a gentle shampoo to get rid of itchiness and flakes: More severe eczema will often require a steroid or other prescription medication, says Dr. Farber, which brings us to
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Best For Feet: Love Lori Foot Finish Foot Cream
“Urea, which is a humectant, can be very helpful in terms of keeping the feet smooth,” Dr. Markowitz says of this foot cream’s all-star ingredient. The fast-absorbing formula provides instant relief and works to heal dry, cracked, and itchy skin by repairing the moisture barrier, which helps kick-start its renewal process. In addition to soothing dryness in eczema-prone skin, it can also be used as a remedy for calluses and corns.
“Great for eczema,” . “It dries it up and helps with itching in the acute stage, and keeps it moisturized enough that it doesn’t crack and turn fire engine red when in the subacute stage. I have a really bad flare-up right now, but this urea cream is keeping it from driving me absolutely insane.”
The Science Behind Neutrogena Hydro Boost
The Neutrogena Hydro Boost skincare line differs from your typical hydrating moisturizers in the science it employs behind each and every product in the line. The goal of the Neutrogena Hydro Boost line is two fold. First the Neutrogena Hydro Boost products work to boost hydration within in the skin using prominent skincare ingredient hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid works within the Neutrogena Hydro Boost line to provide a powerful punch of hydration, leaving skin fully moisturized and supple. Next, once applied, the Neutrogena Hydro Boost products absorb into skin instantly locking in moisture. Whats great about the Neutrogena Hydro Boost skincare line is its designed to work daily with both morning and night applications. You can apply any of your Neutrogena Hydro Boost products in the morning after cleansing and before your normal makeup application for intensely hydrated skin that lasts throughout the day. You can also opt to apply your Neutrogena Hydro Boost products at night after cleansing for skin that looks healthy and fresh in the morning.
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Is There A Way To Prevent Eczema
You can prevent eczema by avoiding triggers, for some, skin irritants like dry heat, wool, harsh soaps, fabric softeners and sweating may lead to flares, Dr. Libby said.
Dilute bleach baths using a quarter cup of bleach in a half tub of water and thoroughly mixing is also a mainstay of eczema prevention and treatment, as they have been found to reduce eczema symptoms by reducing bacterial load and inflammation on the skin, she adds.
How Often Should I Use It
Apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before sun exposure to allow the ingredients to fully bind to your skin. Make sure to reapply the same shot glass dose every two hours and also immediately after swimming, toweling off or working up a sweat. Dr. Yu explained that what most people dont understand is that REAPPLICATION of sunscreen is whats important. Most sunscreens have a water resistant time on the bottle. Its either 40 minutes or 80 minutes. That means after 40 or 80 minutes, you have to reapply otherwise the sunscreen is no longer protecting you.
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Should I Test A Sunscreen Product Before I Use It
A small number of people are prone to photoallergic contact dermatitis, a skin reaction that occurs when the sun activates an ingredient found in sunscreen, perfume or medication. If you experience such a reaction, you can request a patch test from an allergist or dermatologist to identify the problematic ingredient and avoid products that contain it.
To test a sunscreen product, apply a small amount to the inside of your wrist or the crook of your elbow. Dont wash the area for 24-48 hours and watch for any allergic reaction such as itchiness, redness, flaking, pain, a rash or breakout of any kind. Dr. Yu explained that oxybenzone and avobenzone are two common allergens in sunscreen that have been linked to allergic contact dermatitis, so its best to avoid products with those ingredients.
Best For Face: Avne Cicalfate Restorative Skin Cream
If you’re having a flare-up on your face, this cream should be your go-to. “It contains zinc oxide and copper oxide which promote a healthy healing environment, and because it is a thicker formula, it protects damaged, irritated skin from external irritants,” says Dr. Hayag. This cream is especially good for healthcare workers with facial mask irritation during the coronavirus pandemic, she points out. (
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Which Neutrogena Face Wash Is Best
Earlier we mentioned just two of the best sellers from the Neutrogena face wash collection: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Daily Gel Cream Exfoliating Cleanser and Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash. But the brands face wash and toner collection actually consists of almost 100 different products, which makes choosing the right one pretty daunting.
The Liquid Neutrogena face wash would be our top pick because its fragrance free and contains a basic formula of surfactants to clear away excess oil, dirt, and other impurities. However, if youre struggling with clogged pores and acne breakouts, the Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash would be a better option since the formula contains 2% salicylic acid.
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She Applies Eye Cream Morning And Night
“It’s always a good idea to use an eye cream both AM and PMalthough I also sometimes skip this step when Im in a hurry! Undereye cream is a place where I suggest splurging if you can as wellthe skin is so thin so you want to make sure the product is safe but also effective! I opt for something that is hydrating and helps with the integrity of the skin as ‘dark circles’ may just be the blue tint from the vessels underneath the thin skin.”
SENTÉ Illuminé Eye Cream
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