THE BEST BARRIER CREAMS, WHAT THEY DO AND WHY YOU SHOULD WEAR ONE.
WHAT NOW? I hear you ask? Barrier cream, in my humble expertise is a thick cream, ointment or paste type product that you put on your skin to defend it from cold, rubbish weather and everything that that brings ( inflammation, further dehydration, dryness and sensitivity ). I layer this over my regular moisturiser and under SPF ( when the sun is actually out- you can EVEN get SPFs that have barrier cream type qualities/ textures .) I also love to layer them over night serums and moisturiser for some extra nourishment whilst I sleep. These are the best I have found for all skin types including eczema, acne and rosacea.
Apply a pea/ baked bean sized amount of your chosen barrier cream, warm it up by rubbing your fingers together and apply in smoothing motions over the face. You can pat gently onto more textured/ broken skin.
Bepanthen from £3.35
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Like all these barrier creams it’s super basic and you won’t find essential oils in them which can irritate sensitive skin. It’s a nappy rash ointment which means it’s kind to EVERY SINGLE skin type and condition.
It’s super easy to get hold of and is cheap enough to have in your handbag and every bathroom at home, in your desk at work etc. It dries completely clear so you can wear it under makeup or next to it.
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If for day use then very dry and rosacea prone skin, as well as sensitive. It does need working into the skin as it’s a thick and dense consistency, so I’m not sure I’d use it directly on eczema or split skin. It also contains Almond Oil so nut allergy sufferers steer clear- “ Any allergy causing proteins of almond, should be removed during the ingredients refining process, however, we are unable to make any guarantee of this and are unable to recommend that the product is suitable for those with a nut allergy.
We recommend you raise any concerns you may have about using the product with your doctor or pharmacist.” BEPANTHEN. -
Supermarkets, Pharmacies and places like Boots and Superdrug. All in the baby section.
Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream from £13.00
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I love the texture. It feels like an oil/ balm but it’s not claggy or suffocating/ drying/ irritating ( I often feel like that after applying an oil or balm to the skin). It’s absolutely NOT a cream so I’m not sure what’s going on with the title!
I love the way my skin feels SUPER soft as soon as I put it on. It feels protected but also nourished. My Nan was always a massive fan of Royal Jelly and her skin was always soft and plump, this contains it as well as Olive Oil, Beeswax, Propolis and Bee Pollen. ALL natural, cruelty free.
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Sensitive, dry, rosacea and prone. I wouldn’t use it for acne as it feels super greasy on and leaves a lovely sheen which acne prone skins probably won’t like.
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John Lewis has currently sold out, you can usually get the little and large version from there. Sometimes you can get it from Marks and Spencer beauty hall and you can order it online from Look Fantastic.
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The smell indicates otherwise but it’s fragrance free. It’s also amazing at healing a multitude of ailments and the zinc oxide makes it incredible for calming inflammation.
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If you’re of a darker complexion I would stick to wearing it at night because it does leave a slight cast. If your skin is broken be aware that it will sting on application, the sting does go away. Great for acne wearers because of the anti bacterial benzyl alcohol, anti inflammatory Zinc Oxide ( also helps absorb excess oils ) and anti fungal Benyl Cinnamate.
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The anti septic healing and nappy rash cream can be bought from any supermarket, pharmacy and places like Superdrug.
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It’s another one of those incredible skin healing products. Fragrance free, accelerates wound healing, antibacterial, contains skin loving humectants, probiotics, anti aging and prevents water loss- the main component of a great barrier cream.
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Anyone that doesn’t like ‘feeling’ like they have something on their face even though their face needs TLC. It feels more like a cream than a balm and sinks into the skin really nicely. I’ve used this on men with rosacea/ ezcema before for photoshoots and they’ve always said it’s felt nice and soothing but not overly greasy.
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Boots and French/ fancy Pharmacies
