Beauty Tips For Body Care
I've been following Krave Beauty on Instagram since the brand was founded, and have tried everything they offer except for the Beet sunscreen (contains alcohol, descriptions say not suitable for sensitive skin). I participated in their global survey about the "perfect" moisturizer, and talked at length about my love for oatmeal. I've talked about oats in skincare in an extensive post here for those who want to learn more about my passion for Avena sativa.When they announced the Oat So Simple Water Cream, I was drawn to the product because of its limited ingredients list (just 10 ingredients!) and all the marketing language around the "no frills formula" that's "for everyone and anyone." I also like that the product page has an accessible breakdown of each of those ingredients and why they're necessary in the formula. All of that was very attractive to me plus I already trust the brand through my good experiences with the matcha cleanser and kale AHA toner.Some details about my skin:I've been on retinoids (Differin, Adapalene 0.3%, then Tretinoin 0.025%) since March 2018. I have desert-dry, sensitive skin with minor rosacea (subtype one) and seasonal eczema since childhood. It usually crops up on my elbows, knees, and face in the wintertime. This year I've had out-of-the-blue outbreaks on my face, always in the same spot -- about the size of a postage stamp. Eczema runs in the family -- it's a genetic curse.I have been using First Aid Beauty ultra repair cream religiously since Summer 2018, when I found that Vanicream Lite wasn't rich enough for my needs. I love that it contains a more-than-adequate percentage of oats (in the top half of the ingredients list) plus ceramides, squalane, allantoin, green tea, and shea butter. What I don't like about ultra repair cream is the random plant extracts/oils (eucalyptus, chrysanthemum, licorice root) that sometimes irritate my skin when it's especially dry. All the same though, it's a pretty stellar product that I highly recommend in general.THE REVIEW: Krave Oat So Simple Water CreamI ordered this on the launch date. It's $28, which is quite steep for such a small amount of product! It calculates to $10.37 per oz!! For comparison, when I order the 14 oz. tubs of FAB ultra repair cream I can nab it at $2.80 per oz or less (usually via QVC or sales at Sephulta). That's a difficult barrier to entry, but I treated myself because it was my birthday month and I already felt invested in the product.It arrived the same day I left for a trip (car, not plane) and I threw it in my bag. I tried it out that night in conjunction with my other moisturizers (rosehip oil and Stratia liquid gold). It performs exactly like the description: lightweight but still creamy, absorbs incredibly quickly, plays well with my mix-ins, and leaves a subtle film on my skin as a protective layer. In other reviews people mentioned the film as a downside, but I like it when moisturizers help to retain moisture over the long-term. It had no scent and was very pleasant to use.I woke up the next day with two little bumps under my eye and by my nose (my super-dry spots). I figured it could be the result of travel, different humidity level, or sun exposure from the drive. No big deal -- I used it again that morning. As I went about my day, the spots began to itch and grow in size. By the end of the day there were two bumps in each place, and a scaly redness was starting to develop. Despite misgivings (the ingredients list is so short! it must be a coincidence! Liah would never lie to me!) I continued to use it in rotation with my FAB cream through the rest of the week-long trip.Those spots did not go away, and I broke out into actual eczema over the next couple days, despite the high humidity and rain. Reviews started to come in about users breaking out (acne) from this cream, how it wasn't effective enough for dry skin, how the proportion of oat was too low to do anything, how it was overpriced for the quality and efficacy of ingredients. When I got home, I switched to my eczema routine and ceased use for good.Given the high price, high propensity for irritation, and general unsuitability of this product for my skin (the exact skin type featured in all the marketing) I can't recommend this to anybody. HOWEVER, I do want to recommend a tried-and-true product that I've used for several years.TRY THIS PRODUCT INSTEAD: Exederm Eczema Cream MoisturizerLet me introduce the brand Exederm: as the name states, they specialize in products for eczema and dermatitis. They offer moisturizers, cleansers, shampoos, conditioners, and a low-steroid flare control cream. One major thing that you need to understand about this brand is that not all of the items focus on healing the irritation. They focus on not triggering flares to begin with. They claim to exclude "even mild irritants" from all products, based on scientific research about eczema-prone skin.My pharmacist recommended this to me a couple winters ago when he saw the severe eczema on my hand (it was a scaly, swollen lobster claw at that point). I chose the Eczema Cream Moisturizer. On the label, it says "ultra hypoallergenic intensive moisturizer for really sensitive skin." There are no fragrance, color/dyes, parabens, gluten, lanolin, SLS/SLES, propylene glycol, or coconut derived ingredients. It has the seal of acceptance from the National Eczema Association with a 5/5 score from their review panel (I think all of their products have this). I don't know if that seal means anything, but it certainly looks official.The big selling point of this moisturizer is the TEN INGREDIENTS. The very same number as the Krave cream. While it doesn't have oatmeal, this list is as basic and no-frills as it gets. The CosDNA results show a couple of red flags (petroleum, a couple of preservatives) but zero ratings in the "Irritant" column, which is the one I care about the most. If you wanted a cream with oatmeal, the brand has a couple of good options to consider, so definitely search around their website before buying anything. Their baby line is an even safer bet for the ultra-cautious.The feel is bland, scentless, and medium-thickness. Quite similar to Vanicream Lite (which, by the way, only has 11 ingredients, for those who are keeping track). It goes on smoothly, absorbs relatively quickly (not as fast as the Krave cream) and does its job without side effects. After going through three tubes of this (sometimes as my only moisturizer, other times in conjunction with other products) it has never once broken me out or made my dryness worse. Liberal application of this stuff can reverse my eczema when it's in the early stages, and I prefer this to my HG FAB ultra repair cream in the colder months.Full disclosure: I have used steroids (over the counter hydrocortisone and prescription-strength clobetasol) for my hand and body eczema when it gets really bad. I never use steroids on my face, although I know some people do! Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting topical steroids.
Girls Blog 2015
Submitted by caffeinatedlackey
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