Best Skincare Products for Dry Skin and Eczema
Following on from my previous blog about dry skin and being an eczema sufferer, I thought I would share the best skincare products for dry skin and eczema. I have been using skincare all my life, and most of my salary has gone into funding an obsession in finding the best skincare products for particularly dry skin.
I also worked in the beauty industry for almost 6 years (for many different brands), accessing every type of skincare product you could imagine and experienced solving many different types of skincare problems through skincare products and skincare routine.
Here are the best skincare products I have personally trialled, used and swear by:
The Cleanser
Bobbi Brown: Soothing Cleansing Oil - £34
I have used this cleansing oil for 6 years now and though I have tried other brands and formulas, I always go back to this cleanser. The oil is great for breaking down stubborn makeup (long-wearing and waterproof formulas included) and is even sensitive enough to use on the eyes. I rub this oil onto my dry skin, and gently massage my face. Though it feels oily at first, it breaks down into a milky formula when it comes into contact with water. The Kukui Nut, Sunflower, Olive and Jojoba Oil is great for moisture and breaking down impurities and Jasmine Extract soothes the skin. I love this product because it’s simple, gentle on the skin and eyes, doesn’t block my pores and gets rid of all impurities without drying out the skin.
La Mer: The Cleansing Micellar Water - £72
I have used this micellar water for just over a year now and again, though I have tried many different micellar waters, I tend to always want this La Mer one as a safety back up. I know there are many cheaper alternatives (without selling your liver on the black market) - one of my favourite drugstore versions is the Garnier Micellar water - BUT for dry skin, I find this is the most moisturising. The problem with micellar water is, though they’re great for cleansing/ double cleansing your skin, skin can often feel dry and tight after use. For example the Bioderma Sensibio leaves it feeling super dry! This La Mer micellar water removes impurities without making skin feel dry thanks to it’s key ingredients of Marine Miecelle Waters and La Mer’s famous Miracle Broth. Though I like to add a mask, overnight moisturiser or oil on my face before bedtime, sometimes I choose to leave it without any product (to give it a breather) and this micellar water still leaves my skin feeling hydrated in the morning.
The Serum
Bobbi Brown: Extra Treatment Lotion - £48
I have been using this treatment lotion for almost 6 years now, and it has literally become one of my ‘can’t live without products’. It has a strange jelly like consistency and the best way to apply it is using your fingers and hands to really work the product into your skin. Ingredients of Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate bind moisture to the skin which literally makes your skin feel super plumped and hydrated. The Trehalose (sugar derived ingredient which gives it the jelly consistency) promotes long-term hydration. Anytime my skin is feel tight and dehydrated, I literally get two drops, pat it onto my skin and can instantly feel the moisturising effects.
Elizabeth Arden: Superstart Skin Renewal Booster - £60
I have used this skin booster product for around 2 years now and I feel it really helps to keep my skin hydrated. This booster primarily helps to strengthen your skin’s barrier to repair and renew. The key ingredients of Flaxseed helps to reduce water loss in the surface of the skin, Fennel strengthens the skin’s moisture barrier and Probiotic Complex strengthens skin’s natural defences. I normally use this booster after the Bobbi Brown Extra Treatment Lotion has sunk in, and then apply two pumps using my hands to work it into the skin.
https://www.elizabetharden.co.uk/elizabeth-arden-superstart-skin-renewal-booster-1001STAN40001.html
The Moisturiser
Bobbi Brown: Extra Repair Moisturizing Balm - £68
This product is perfect when your skin is feeling super dry and tight. If your skin is very dry and flaky, I would recommend wearing this balm as your daily moisturiser. If your skin is dry and slightly flaky, this balm is perfect for overnight use, or on specifically dry areas of the skin only, or during the winters when the cold air is particularly harsh. Since it is a balm and not a cream, the consistency is really thick. Most people try to spread this on their face but without warming up the product first, it’ll just drag on the skin. Scoop a finger sized amount into your hand and really warm it up using the palm of your hands, and massage into your skin to really target the dry and flaky areas. There is a SPF25 version of this balm which is less thick in consistency and then a Moisture Cream which has an even lighter consistency but still hydrates. It has amazing moisturising and anti-ageing ingredients of Primrose Oil, Clary Sage Ferment and Argireline Peptide which helps to boost the skin’s natural collagen production.
Beauty Pie: JapanFusion Supreme Cream - £10.21
Though I haven’t been using this product for long (it’s literally my first jar), it was love at first scoop. If you haven’t already jumped onto the Beauty Pie wagon, it is really worth joining the membership as you get amazingly high quality products for a fraction of the price. For example, this cream would normally retail at £100 but I got it for £10.21 thanks to my BP membership. This cream has literally become my best friend and I have been using it for the last month. I love it because it’s very hydrating but also lightweight. Though it initially feels a little oily (not a bad thing for dry skin), the feeling fades but the hydration remains. It contains high-tech micro-molecular re-energising Pombe Yeast extract, Jabara extract and antioxidants from grape skin to protect. It’s East Asian beauty product at its best. Due to it’s popularity, it is currently sold out but you can sign up to be notified when it’s back in stock - just stock up so that you're not left disappointed. I’m going to do the same!
https://www.beautypie.com/all-skincare/japanfusion/japanfusion-supreme-cream-step-3
The Face Mist
Tatcha: Luminous Dewy Skin Mist - £?
As the name rightly tells you, this face mist makes your skin look luminous and dewy. If you don’t like your skin looking plump and glossy, this mist isn’t for you. I like using this mist after I’ve applied all my skincare products and right before my foundation. If I really want my skin to look GLOWY, I will wet my beautyblender sponge with this mist and use it to apply my foundation. It looks b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l but you will need to mattify certain areas of your face if you want to avoid the ‘greasy’ look. It has ingredients such as Okinawa Red Algae which helps as a moisture magnet and Green Tea, Rice and Algae that restores youthful radiance. The bottle is small and you can use it up super fast if you use it on your beauty blender, but I still think it’s worth the money. The bad news is that it’s near impossible to purchase in the UK. If you ever travel to the Far East or have a friend who’s travelling to the US, stock up if you can. It’s cheaper in dollars than pounds anyway. I know it’s available to purchase on eBay but for the love of God, please never purchase any skincare from eBay! You’ll probably end up with three eyes and a penis on your forehead!
https://www.tatcha.com/product/SKIN-MIST-V2.html
The Exfoliator
Bobbi Brown: Buffing Grains For Face - £33
Anyone who has skincare concerns and doesn’t exfoliate, needs a big wallop around the face. Exfoliation is extremely important as it gets rid of dead skin cells, helps with blood circulation and deeper skincare penetration. I would recommend (no more than) twice weekly exfoliation, because your skin will need a breather in between. I have been using the Bobbi Brown buffing grains for more than 4 years now and I love it because the magic ingredient of Japanese Adzuki Bean is not only gentle, but very effective. I use a tiny sprinkling of the grains, in combination with three pumps of my Soothing Cleansing Oil and gently massage into my skin before rinsing off.
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If you have any products you swear by for dry skin, please comment and let me know. I am always open to trying new products! The above are tried and tested and I promise they’re worth the hype! Also needless to say, I am not being sponsored in any way and all opinions are true and my own. Until next time Xo
