As I have eczema, I understand the struggle of finding the best eczema treatment and moisturizing skin regularly to manage eczema symptoms.
Eczema, or dermatitis, is a common skin condition characterized by redness, flaking, itchy skin and other symptoms. It actually encompasses a variety of skin conditions, including atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis and dyshidrotic eczema. As such, each case of eczema is unique to the individual, so my experience with treating eczema may not be the same as yours. Consult a dermatologist for eczema treatment and medical advice.
With my eczema-prone, dry and sensitive skin type, I’m often on the lookout for the best cream to add to my skin care routine. Lately, I’ve wanted to expand my options, so I decided to turn to some well-loved K-Beauty moisturizers to repair my damaged skin barrier!
Here’s a list of ingredients I look for when picking the perfect cream to moisturize my dry and cracked skin:
Ingredients to reach for if you have eczema-prone skin
- Humectants: Ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide attract moisture to the skin’s surface, keeping skin moisturized.
- Emollients: Ingredients like ceramides, squalane and dimethicone make skin smooth and soft by filling in gaps between skin cells. They also help reinforce the skin barrier to prevent moisture loss.
- Occlusives: Ingredients like petrolatum, shea butter and mineral oil cover skin in a protective film, keeping moisture locked inside. Some of these ingredients also function as emollients that soften skin. Moisturizers heavy on occlusives are usually thicker in texture.
- Soothing ingredients: In addition to causing dry skin, eczema also leads to flare-ups and sensitive skin. Skin-soothers like colloidal oatmeal, panthenol (Vitamin B5) and centella asiatica extract help calm irritation and cool redness from inflamed skin.
Ingredients to avoid
- Alcohol: According to the FDA, the term “alcohol-free” refers to the absence of ethanol in cosmetics labeling, so scan the ingredients list for “ethyl alcohol” or “ethanol” to make sure the product is made without it. Ethanol dries out skin, causing itchiness and eczema flare-ups. Don’t get it confused with ingredients like stearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol, which are actually beneficial emollients commonly found in eczema creams!
- Fragrance: This ingredient is usually a red flag for those with sensitive skin. “Fragrance” is non-specific and can contain small amounts of all sorts of ingredients that potentially cause allergic reactions and contact dermatitis. Play it safe by reaching for fragrance-free products that list ingredients you can identify clearly!
All three creams that I selected are alcohol-free and fragrance-free, and contain a combination of beneficial humectant, emollient and soothing ingredients. Let’s have a look at these three moisture-barrier-repairing creams from popular Korean skin care brands!
SOME BY MI − Beta Panthenol Repair Cream
Ingredient breakdown
The Beta Panthenol Repair Cream is packed with SOME BY MI’s patented Beta-Panthenol™, which contains skin barrier-improving beta-sitosterol as well as 50,000ppm of soothing and moisturizing panthenol. Formulated with glycerin and squalane, the formula provides hydrating effects. It contains natural emollients like safflower seed oil and sunflower oil to lock moisture in skin.
My experience
The cream felt lightweight and absorbed quickly in my skin, which meant it didn’t feel noticeable on skin after a short amount of time. I personally prefer a richer cream that stays on skin for a longer period for lasting hydration to my very dry skin, but this product would work great for those who are looking for a more lightweight moisturizer with a non-greasy finish. Its light texture was perfect for using under makeup during the day. I noticed a very clean and mild fruity scent upon application, thanks to melon and banana extracts, but it fades quickly after the cream absorbs into skin.
Cos De BAHA − C1 Ceramide 1% Cream
Ingredient breakdown
Formulated with emollient ceramide NP, Cos De BAHA‘s C1 Ceramide 1% Cream softens skin and supports the skin barrier. The sensitive skin-friendly formula is loaded with natural soothing ingredients such as centella asiatica extract, centella-derived madecassoside, aloe leaf extract and green tea leaf extract. It also contains humectant ingredients glycerin, niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate for ample moisture. Tocopherol (Vitamin E) offers antioxidant and moisturizing benefits.
My experience
With moisture-locking ingredient ceramide NP and its thick consistency, this cream was effective in keeping my skin soft and staving off dryness for longer. It’s packed with soothing ingredients that helped calm constantly flaky and irritated areas of my face like my forehead and upper lip area. My qualm with this product is its small size at 45ml, but it makes the cream easy to carry around for on-the-go reapplication.
Goodal − Vegan Rice Milk Moisturizing Cream
Ingredient breakdown
Goodal’s Vegan Rice Milk Moisturizing Cream is formulated with glycerin and ceramide NP, humectant and emollient ingredients that are naturally found in skin for thorough hydration. The cream also contains caprylic/capric triglyceride, a common emollient derived from coconut oil and glycerin, and it’s suitable for all skin types. Enriched with hydrogenated rice bran oil and Vegan Rice Milk™ (rice extract), the formula retains moisture for soft skin. It’s alcohol-free and fragrance-free.
My experience
This cream felt rich and absorbed into my skin quickly, leaving a smooth matte finish. It’s fragrance-free, but I noticed a gentle rice smell that was pleasant. Because of its thick consistency, the cream softened rough skin on my eczema-prone hands as well. It comes in a relatively large-size tube (70ml) but can still be carried in my bag easily. I also appreciate Goodal’s sustainability efforts, as the cream is vegan and comes in recycled paper packaging.
Verdict
Out of all the products I tested, I’m most likely to reach for Goodal’s Vegan Rice Milk Moisturizing Cream for its larger volume (70ml) and heavy texture as I often apply cream in a thick layer over dry skin all over my body. I had a similarly great experience with the highly soothing powers of Cos De BAHA’s C1 Ceramide 1% Cream, but the product’s small size wasn’t as appealing to me. I’m also likely to use SOME BY MI’s Beta Panthenol Repair Cream again as a lightweight daytime face cream. Overall, these three creams from K-Beauty brands were great at moisturizing my dry and eczema-prone skin thanks to their beneficial ingredients and gentle formulations.
