lanolin free

18 December 2012

natural skincare for skin prone to eczema
(Disclaimer - contains *affiliate link/contents is not intended to replace medical advice, for reference only)

My parents will tell you I was born with eczema as it didn't take long before my skin was covered. My most vivid memory was around the age of 9 or 10 when I was covered in severe eczema and scratching until I bleed. Then I developed skin infections to the point I was banned from sports and swimming. The turning point for me was diagnosis of allergies. As an adult I have small eczema patches but nowhere near the extent I had as a child. Currently my triggers are cold weather, stress and sensitivity to ingredients and of course allergies.

Winter Skincare articles are popping up all over the web and whilst it's important for everyone to look their skin, eczema management can often be hard work at this time of year. I decided to gather a list of brands that offer products which may be suitable for anyone prone to eczema or other skin conditions. I personally prefer using products formulated with plant based ingredients and chose to avoid traditional emollients than can be loaded with perfumes, lanolin, urea and paraffin. When choosing a cream, balm or ointment, I carefully consider products containing calendula, chamomile, chickweed and oats as these are known for their soothing properties.

Eczema is a fickle beast and we are all affected differently, it's what makes it so troublesome to treat. It usually takes a bit of trial and error to find the correct product. I'm hopeful that this list gives you a good starting point for finding suitable creams.

Conscious Skincare (opt for fragrance free)
Ere Perez SOS Marmalade (paw paw - papaya is the soothing ingredient)
Fiini Naturally Oat & Honey Balm
Fushi (a range of oils and shea butter)
Green People (opt for Scent free range)
If you are interested in finding out how I manage my skin and eczema, then I have jotted down my personal tips here - 7 Tips for managing Eczema - speaking from personal experience

Sarah x

20 April 2012

EOS hand lotion review sugarpuffish

EOS (evolutionofsmooth.com) is a brand that I think bloggers are familiar with, especially those in the US. You are probably familiar with their sphere lip balms but did you know they make hand lotion? 

It is clear that packaging design is an important element to the brand. The pebble shape is fun and ergonomical, it fits nicely into the palm of your hand. This cream is light, absorbs quickly and does not leave behind a greasy residue. There are three fragrances and I chose Berry Blossom which is a pleasant fragrance.  As the name suggests it is a fruity floral which is not overpowering but does gently linger. 

For me, the downside to this hand lotion is some of the ingredients - Water (Eau), Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Cocoglycerides, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Avena Sativa (Oat) Meal Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Fragrance (Parfum), Carbomer, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, DMDM Hydantoin, Sodium Hydroxide. Patent Pending. 

To quote EOS this cream is 97% natural formula, Paraben-free, Phthalate-free, Lanolin-free, Dye-free, Dermatologist tested, Hypoallergenic, not tested on animals and contains no animal by-products.  I admit it was not until I experience mild irritation that I took a closer look at the ingredients. I doubt the fragrance is natural as "parfum" is listed with no explanation of the origin. I noticed that the lid logo indicates a 36 months open shelf life, this immediately triggers a concern that the product contains some serious preservatives. I have checked the EWG's database to find Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone have been associated with allergic reactions. There were two other ingredients that I think are cause for concern.

DMDM hydantoin is an antimicrobial formaldehyde releaser preservative. People exposed to such formaldehyde-releasing ingredients may develop a formaldehyde allergy or an allergy to the ingredient itself and its decomposition products. In the U.S., approximately 20% of cosmetics and personal care products contain a formaldehyde-releaser and the frequency of contact allergy to these ingredients is much higher among Americans compared to studies in Europe. (source link)

Retinyl palmitate is an ingredient composed of palmitic acid and retinol (Vitamin A). When exposed to UV light, retinol compounds break down and produce toxic free radicals that can damage DNA and cause gene mutations, a precursor to cancer. Recently available data from an FDA study indicate that retinyl palmitate, when applied to the skin in the presence of sunlight, may speed the development of skin tumors and lesions. FDA also raised a concern that extensive, daily skin application of vitamin A creams may build up in the woman's body a high enough level of Vitamin A that may be toxic to the developing foetus. (source link)

I will let you make up your own mind whether to buy this product.  I do advise that if you have eczema on your hands be cautious and patch test (you should do this with all products). Despite my disappointment regarding the ingredients, this is a nice lotion and it does the job I want it to do. I brought this from cutecosmetics.co.uk and paid £7 for 44ml (anyone else think that is expensive?).  In future I will continue to use Dr Organic (review link) and Tisserand (review link) hand creams. 

Have you tried this? What did you think?


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