The Facial Skin Care Products That We're Using!

The best way to start your day is waking up with an eczema flare-up on your face. NOT! Finding products that work on your face eczema isn't an ideal trial and error process. Also, what works on one area of your body might not work on another. So, we asked our team of advocates which facial skin care products they use and if they had any tips for finding some. Here's what they had to say:

What facial cleanser do you use?

• Jeff: I use CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser for normal to dry skin
• Liz: Dove sensitive skin soap
• Sarah H: I use Origins Mega-Mushroom Micellar Cleanser. It is one of the only things that actually seems to get my face clean without irritating it or increasing redness. It even decreases redness with regular use.
• Karen: Jill uses Neutrogena cleansing wipes. It only takes one. She uses one side to remove mascara and the other to wipe off makeup. There is very little stinging, and almost no redness.
• Larissa: I use Badger Balm's unscented cleansing oil. Since it is an oil, it is effective at removing makeup or impurities from the skin but doesn't dry it out. It is made of 100% organic ingredients so you can rest assured that you know exactly what you are putting on your skin. With ingredients like sea buckthorn, it is also effective at soothing flaring areas.
• Terry: Kensington Apothecary Rose Milk Cleanser - good for dry, mature sensitive skin. Might not be helpful for oily skin or skin with oozing, weeping rashes, though.
• Ashley: Dove Derma Series Face Wash
• Abi: I use Earthley’s charcoal soap for my face. It cleans my face incredibly and it helps pull out the deep blackheads.

What facial moisturizer do you use?

• Jeff: I use either the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream or CeraVe Healing Ointment depending on the severity of my skin.
• Noreen: I use Shea Moisture brand Coconut Oil
• Liz: Prescription: Ammonium Lactate Lotion
• Sarah H: Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Lotion
• Terry: The Herb Farm Nourishing Rose Face Cream - good for dry, flaky, mature skin. I also make my own moisturizing balms sometimes. My herbal skincare line is called Alabata Beauty.
• Ashley: Dove Derma Series Face Cream and Molecule32 Revive Face Cream

Moistrue Bomb by Belif

Karen: Jill uses the Moisture Bomb by Belif. It is the first one she found that instantly brings relief. It seems to hydrate from the inside out. It's priced and designed for facial use, but she spends the bucks to use it on her neck, chest, and arms. It's a super soothing lotion that has an instant cooling effect for her.

An array of moisturizers

Larissa: I have a few different moisturizers that I use depending on my skin's condition. Most often I use Badger Balm's organic sensitive skin facial oil followed by their beauty balm. The facial oil soaks in quickly to thirsty skin and makes the skin feel instantly hydrated. The beauty balm adds an extra layer of moisture and helps create a barrier and soothe extra dry patches. I've also come to like Sana Organics Flora facial nectar. It contains 17 different organic oils who all work in tandem to create a nourishing oil. It is gentle on flaring skin and keeps it hydrated really well. You can also add it to other moisturizers for an added boost. My final go-to facial moisturizer at the moment is from Sam's Soulutions. He makes all his products by hand in small batches. His nourishing face cream is a lovely whipped texture made of all-natural ingredients. I like to use this after doing a mask or gentle exfoliation. It makes my skin instantly feel rejuvenated and refreshed. The geranium oil gives it a light, clean scent.

What other facial care products do you use?

Do charcoal face masks help?

Karen: She uses the charcoal face mask. So far, she has tried a couple of brands. One is from a discount store and is made by Garnier. The other is a health food store brand, but she literally has never had a flare from one. She tries to get one with few ingredients. Even the single-use masks work for her.

What face masks do we use?

Larissa: I just recently started using a bentonite clay mask. I read of its benefits for eczema so I thought I would give it a try. It does a great job of calming itchiness and brings circulation back to the face. While it makes your face red at first (this is normal from the increased circulation) once it calms I've noticed a clearing of redness as well.

Another mask I use is pure aloe vera leaf. When my skin feels hot, irritated and itchy, slicing into a fresh aloe vera leaf and placing it on my face brings so much relief! The natural cooling effect of the aloe calms the itch and redness while also bringing in hydration. The best part is that it doesn't have to be rinsed off either. You can just massage the remaining juice into the skin.

I also keep a rose water mist in my purse and medicine cabinet. If I ever need a little extra hydration or boost, I spritz a couple of times and I'm good to go. This also works as a toner.

Finally sunscreen! This is so so important and can be such a challenge to find a good one! For years I used Neutrogena until one day on vacation when my skin decided to have a reaction to it. I was then forced to find an alternative. Badger Balm makes amazing mineral-based sunscreens! They come in a variety of strengths and variations (waterproof, baby, etc) and are made of nearly entirely organic ingredients.

Does creosote bush salve, rose water, and serums work?

Terry:

• Good for itchy, dry skin on the face/anywhere - Creosote Bush Salve 2 oz Tin (I buy this on Etsy)
• Rose water hydrosol to prep dry, sensitive skin for serums and moisturizers - Royal Sense "Feel Better Now" After Shower Spray
• Vitamin C Serum with hyaluronic acid to rebuild collagen, protect against sun damage and hydrate really dehydrated, dry, flaky skin before moisturizers - 100% Pure Vitamin C Serum

Is Earthley a good brand?

Abi: I primarily use Earthley products. Mostly their charcoal soap, Black Drawing Salve, Clear skin essential oil and their deep healing skin serum.

What is my 4-step process?

Jeff: I find that when I'm having a flare, my face clears up best if I use my facial cleanser, a topical steroid (Desonide), a calcineurin inhibitor (Elidel) and lock it all in with CeraVe Healing Ointment.

Typically an allergic reaction and facial eczema flare go hand-in-hand for me. In order to get my skin back on track, I use a 4-step process. First, I make sure to take my allergy medicine daily (eye drops, allergy pills, etc.). Second, I use my CeraVe facial cleanser every morning and every night. Immediately after I have dried my face, I apply my Desonide and Elidel to the affected areas on my face. Once this is done, I lock it all in with my CeraVe Healing Ointment. I typically notice a difference in my skin within a 24-hour period of time.

Do essential oils work?

Noreen: For about a month, I was using a Cocokind facial cleanser called "organic facial cleansing oil" which is made up of avocado oil, coconut oil, tea tree oil, and lavender oil. I would wake up in the morning with a dry, flaky face. rub this oil onto my dry face, then wipe away the flakes with a damp, warm towel. Then I would put on coconut oil. I loved this routine, but, I had a patch test done and learned I'm allergic to fragrances and should stay away from botanicals/essential oils too, which is why I stopped this regimen. I think if you are not allergic to essential oils, this is a great routine! For now, all I do is wash my face with warm water and apply coconut oil to keep things simple.

How can you cut costs?

Sarah H: Facial products are so individual. What bothers one person won't bother another, and what's great for one individual will be horrible for another. So it's all about trial and error. Knowing what to watch out for (parabens, fragrances, etc.) can help narrow down items to try. Whenever possible, I always look for trial sizes of new products instead of a full version, as I usually can tell within just a few uses if it is something that I could potentially try long-term. This helps me reduce the cost of trying more expensive, but potentially more effective products. Also: I always look for anything "natural/organic" that promises or offers "redness relief." For me personally, that's usually a good indicator that it will soothe instead of irritating my skin.

How can you change perspective?

Karen: Working with a makeup or beauty store consultant is helpful. If you are able to get a sample, it's best to try it for a few days before purchasing a full size. Many times, it isn't the most expensive product that works, but the one with the fewest chemically irritating ingredients. Once you find one that works, make sure you stay stocked up. Having to purchase or use an alternate product can be a painful experience, and it may take your skin a while to recover. Through it all, working on self-confidence is important. It's easy to feel frustration or self-pity, and that never helps. Instead, trying to see every setback as a stepping stone gives you even more experience in caring for your skin. Look in the mirror with honesty and find the best parts of yourself. Your skin may be bumpy, white, flaky, or even red, inflamed, and itchy. By focusing on your warm eyes or sweet smile, the skin problems can fade in comparison.

Why should you listen to your body?

Larissa: Facial eczema can be such a struggle! When it comes to calming a facial flare, my first move is to grab my handy dandy ice facial roller. You can find this little beauty on Amazon. It is essentially a facial roller that you can freeze. When my skin is at its reddest and angriest this is the only thing that brings relief. After using the ice roller I may put aloe vera leaves on my face like a mask to continue to soothe and hydrate the skin. Depending on the severity of the flare, I may follow up with an organic moisturizer. It is important to listen to your body when it comes to facial eczema. If a moisturizer makes your skin sting, hold off. If lathering moisturizer on brings you comfort, then keep it hydrated. It is also important to remember that just because something has worked for someone else, it doesn't mean it will work for you. Don't get discouraged and remember that when people give you (even unwanted) recommendations, they are just trying to help!

Is less really more?

Terry: Less is more. Drowning and slathering the skin with products, even good, organic products can be suffocating and create itchiness. Use as little product as possible to get the job done.

Test on a flare-free area

Ashley: Because facial eczema is so sensitive and unique, I am very careful with what I try on my face. Any products that I am interested in, I always try on a flare-free area on my body for a few days to see if anything arises. Then if the results are good and my skin feels good, I will apply it on my face.

Currently, my favorites are Dove Derma Series Face Wash, face night cream, and regular face day cream. Their face wash feels like I am putting lotion on my face which I absolutely love.

I also love using Molecule32 Revive Face Cream. At first, I was hesitant because I did experience an outbreak. But then I learned that this is part of the process as it’s first meant to bring to the surface anything that has been hiding beneath the layer of skin. Then we continuous application, the skin will begin to clear up!