Whilst my long suffering husband is up a wooden ladder (with a wonky step) painting a bedroom ceiling, I thought I would make myself useful by taking photos of the tools in my beauty regime!
From a previous post you may realise that, although I have had eczema on and off for many years, it has been particularly bad over the past year. So troubling has it been that, one Friday evening, I had to visit the emergency doctor because I could not open my left eye. I promise I do not look like a gargoyle but this year with a little stress, my skin has been very prone to uncontrollable flare-ups.
I have searched high and low for something to give some respite, which for a short-while has included Baby Bottom Butter. Friends and colleagues who also suffer from eczema have made a number of sensible suggestions but to no avail. It would seem I have super, super sensitive skin with a propensity for eczema. I have also trod the medical path, which has included creams likely to cause skin cancer, charming! The only option has been to keep searching until I came upon the reviews for Green People products. All I can say is they have been absolutely amazing, unfortunately a lot of 'natural' products contain essential oils which my facial skin can no longer tolerate, these are essential oil free. I use their 'no scent' cleanser and moisturiser and because of the chemicals in shampoos and conditioners sloshing around my face when I wash my hair I also decided to invest in their 'no scent' shampoo and conditioner. I do have to use these products every day to keep my skin well moisturised and I can't skip a day, just imagine the panic last week when the moisturiser pumped it's last blob of moisture! Using these products has enabled me to use my Clarisonic for the first time in a year, and I have found this allows the moisturiser to sink into my skin a little better.
Whilst certainly not the cheapest on the market the cleanser, shampoo and conditioner are long-lasting, I only wish the moisturiser came in a 100ml size because I do lather it on like whale grease hence the panic last week.
Finally, I have also discovered the best body moisturiser which does contain essential oils which the skin on my body seems to cope with. This comes from a lovely little shop in Whitstable called Mosaic, and is also available in a body wash. The owner of Mosaic suggested to me last week that I should try a dairy-free diet as this had worked for her and her friend's daughter, so I am off out this afternoon to see what I can find as a diary substitute for my coffee because I can't manage taking it without milk. If you have any suggestions that will lull me into thinking I am taking milk with my coffee and tea they will be most gratefully received.
Here's to stress free skin xxx
I have both eczema and psoriasis so read this with interest. I find E45 wash cream quite effective too though it leaves the bath very greasy! Like your blog and am following.
ReplyDeleteI find Oilatum Junior is fantastic for the bath much better than adult version and once under control E45 junior foaming bath milk is less greasy. They probably don't want little children slipping everywhere but adults have to hang on for dear life!
DeleteForgot to say, thanks for following.
DeleteThanks - will try these out.
DeleteIt is interesting to hear that your friend suggested a dairy free diet to help with eczema, as my sister has had eczema most of her life and in recent years has been dairy free which she found helped greatly. She uses a lot of soya products and also almond milk for cereal and drinks.
ReplyDeleteI did look at my diet which is pretty good, apart from a raging sweet tooth. But one thing at a time, dairy first then sugar.
DeleteOh thanks for that review, we are a sensitive skin/eczema family (on and off) and i am always on the lookout for products like this especially cleansers etc....as for make-up thats a problem too? but I have just discovered and love e.l.f (stands for eyes lip face!) all mineral based gorgeous packaging and very cheap highly recommend it to all http://eyeslipsface.co.uk/
ReplyDeleteBestest daisy x
Thanks for the tip, I will give elf a look over. I didn't mention but I have also tried Green People blusher which I found to be pretty good too.
DeleteI didn't find anything to put in my coffee when I stopped having dairy, but now I like it black, and my hubby who was a milk and 2 sugars man now drinks sugarless black tea and coffee! He has almond milk on his cornflakes, I use almond or soy in my porridge and almond on my bran flakes. We don't have eczema but our skin has improved since cutting out meat, fish and dairy and so have our joints. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks Scarlet, I feel my willpower will be tested.
DeleteHi
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post and I'll be sending off these details to my sister who suffers terribly with facial skin problems and numerous allergies. She already has a low dairy foods intake so the problem is not coming from there. Perhaps she'll be able to use the Green People products and wear make-up again after years of not being able to support make up.
keep well
Amanda :-)
Thanks Amanda. I hope it works for her but as I say it is a matter of trial and error, my colleagues were terribly helpful but nothing worked. I used Trilogy products up until last March and I swear they were fantastic for my skin but the heady combination of a little bit of stress or as my husband would call it 'first world' problems has now put that brand out of bounds. Best of luck.
DeleteSo sorry to hear about the skin troubles, it sounds very nasty. I was also told that cutting out dairy can help (I had bad acne and generally have sensitive, itch prone skin) although it made no difference to me, using water based moisturisers instead of oil based made a bigger difference. I've heard that almond or hazelnut milk is meant to be a great alternative to dairy.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip, Jo. My investigations have uncovered that most of these alternatives contain additives ie salt,sugar, rapeseed oil etc. Guess which one I liked the best, yes the one containing sugar! Considering I normally buy organic milk, my research may take a little longer or as one who shall remain nameless has suggested 'just give up coffee'.
DeleteI'm glad you have found some products to suit your skin, we too have to but natural products but they are so expensive! Have you tried rice or soy milk? :) x
ReplyDeleteRice, Oat and another one but not Soy yet. I have found them all too sweet and even though I normally have skimmed milk (or as my Father would say your buying water you know) I find them all too thin in coffee.
Deletetry the unsweetened soya milk, I find that better!
DeleteMy DH also has problem skin, made worse when he's having a flare up of a condition he has (not skin related). We've just started using the Green People scent free shampoo and it is having some positive effect. It's only early days but we're feeling positive about it.
ReplyDeleteAlmond and hazelnut milk are great for cereal and things like that but I don't rate any dairy free alternative other than soy for hot drinks. We've tried most of them - soy, coconut, rice, hazelnut, almond...
Best of luck with the shampoo, I do hope it works out. Soy I will try but I may just cut back on hot beverages.
Delete~ Hi there...Glad you are getting lots of suggestions.I used to work in a health shop and quite honestly it isn't easy to find a product with out some sort of essential oils..Do you find it flares up worse with stress and anxiety? Always difficult as we all have our fair share of this...I started taking omega (not fish oils) 3 6 9 for mine and treating from the inside...Which I imagine you already do. Good luck! be a difficult move cutting out milk in your coffee....What about herbal teas? ~ with kind thoughts..Maria x
ReplyDeleteYou are right about finding essential oils in everything. When you think about it however 'natural', they are pretty potent.
DeleteI have Seborrhoeric Dermatitis which gives me a lot of jip on and off so know a little of what you must suffer. I haven't tried green people but will give it a go, thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi there,
ReplyDeleteAfter a 1960s/70s childhood of severe infantile eczema (mum oiled my skin with olive oil - yum) I dreamed of clear skin. Two of my children showed signs (1 at age one) I put them on evening primrose oil capsules (popped and squeezed into their yoghurt or weetabix) and their childhood has not been blighted as mine was.
As an adult I recommend a minimum of 2000mg per day, this would take 2 to 4 weeks to start showing an effect. For a female, evening primrose or indeed starflower oil, which is three times stronger, is good for skin generally and of course the 'ladies things'.
Much love and gentle hugs
Susan x
I might just try that, like you say you have to wait for it to work though. I tried Udos oil but I confess I didn't give it much time. The olive oil treatment made me smile, bless you, you probably would not have looked out of place in a salad!
DeleteBless her heart she thought she was moisturising my skin, when in reality the oil just stayed on top making me want to rip my skin off. They also kept my fingernails short so that I had to scratch (I hate that word) harder to get relief. I remember the Oilatum baths too. Now my skin is really tough and I need the really sharp needles at injection times (shudder). And just to add to the attractiveness, my eyebrows are wonky where I scratched at my face.
ReplyDeleteI am very glad to say that now I only suffer from stress eczema or occasional sun burn rashes (hah sun, remember that?).
If the evening primrose oil works I think you can get it on prescription if your doc is willing.
Susan x
Hi, yes I use the green conditioner and it's lovely! a bit pricey but essential! have you tried the Allergenics, non steriod cream? this worked for me when I needed it. The only other products I use on my skin is Jason vitamin E oil, the light one. It's great nothing else, because this seems to do everything! I do drink soya milk but not in my coffee. It sounds difficult, hope this is helpfull, Heather x
ReplyDeleteThanks Heather, Allergenics was one of the first alernatives I tried. Unfortunately even that irritated my skin but I hear good things about vitamin E oil, so will look out for the Jason version.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI have just discover your blog through "Just a little Less" and came upon this post. I have also problem with a persistent eczema and I am far much better for the past weeks. Amongst others I have read that eczema is also a result of gut issue. So I have reduce gluten and dairies products and I have included probiotics everyday. I also used coconut oil to help smooth the skin and relieve the itching. Do not hesitate to contact me should you wish more info. I wish you the best with this eczema!