My Pharmacist's Second Product Recommendation

As promised, here is my review of the second product recommended by my wonderful pharmacist. For those of you who have read my previous article, you might remember how knowledgable and helpful my pharmacist was regarding products for my extra dry, inflamed face. He spoke of the skin cycle, which is the 28 days it takes for the skin to renew itself. Upon researching this, I realized I had probably not been allowing enough time for other products to work. It takes at least two skin cycles for something to be fairly tested.

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

After three months; one skin cycle more than the pharmacist recommended, the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream has cleared my face completely but still needs another tiny bit of moisturizer on top of it each time to keep that last bit of dryness away.

Moisturizing success

I’ve tried using it on my other flare areas, but it doesn’t help much with extreme itchiness, only the dryness. It’s main claim to fame for me is it turned my dry, inflamed, flaking face soft and moisturized again. Which is an amazing outcome! I was happy to report back to my pharmacist on how well his first recommendation worked.

La Roche Posay Lipikar Baume AP+

I went back to the drugstore and spent another $30.00 (Canadian) to try his second recommendation: the cosmeceutical La Roche Posay Lipikar Baume AP+.  A cosmeceutical is a cosmetic with medicinal qualities, but not considered a pharmaceutical. It says it spaces out flare-ups of severe dryness. An anti-itching, lipid-replenishing soothing balm.

A lipid-replenishing body wash “freebie”

Luckily, I found it packaged for Christmas with an included free body wash, Lipikar Syndet AP+. The label on that says it’s a lipid-replenishing cream wash, anti-irritation, anti-scratching. That it helps reduce severe dryness starting in the shower. In my opinion, it works about the same as my good old standby, Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash, but at least it hasn’t caused anything negative.

La Roche Posay review

Now on to the result of the pharmacist’s second recommendation. I do like the ease of a pump over a tub, and cost is very similar. I’d been anxious to try the La Roche Posay after reading positive reviews online, but this may not be a true comparison as my face was not inflamed when I started, as it was with the CeraVe. I’ve used it faithfully twice a day on my now calm, eczema-free face for just over the two skin cycles. Even with all the different and exotic foods I’ve eaten and allergens I’ve encountered over the holidays, my face remains supple and moisturized.

The final comparison

I can’t say at the moment if one product is better than the other, as they have both worked. If the La Roche Posay continues to help after a new flare, and keep it that way, without that extra bit of moisturizer, it will be the winner. Or with any luck at all, there won’t be a new flare!

I realize that what works for me, may not work for someone else. In fact, what I find helpful could be disastrous for another. Have you found that one product you swear by? Have you given it the two full skin cycles? Please share in the comments below or even in the stories at this link.