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Started this blog during the last few weeks of SEM1(AY2014/15) cos' i regained interest in blogging. I blog about anything - news, social issues, music - but mostly about my university life :) Hope my posts will help you to make better life (and module) choices! Currently a Sociology Major. Still fresh. xD  : Amelia Lim, 20 October.+ follow | Email | insta | twitter | fb magic sprinkles: recent updates :
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SkinCare Review
written on Saturday, 4 February 2017 @ 04:10 ✈
BACKGROUNDI have eczema since birth. Your skin is the first layer of defense to foreign objects. People who suffer from eczema have dry skin, which causes it to be easily inflammed and itchy as bacteria easily enters these cracks. It feels really sore and terrible, especially if it's at the joint areas. It's hereditary, and my sis has it too. I'd hate to have my kid to suffer from this. My parents have slightly dry skin, but it isn't as serious as my sis and mine's. I guess it's cos my mum gave birth to me at 40, and the sperm and egg's of a lower quality LOL.
Nowadays, I have been trying out different products to see which one suits me best. Figured out that i should start recording the effects of each product, if not i'll forget. SO here it is: -
I don't trust doctors. My doctor at Novena Skin Center has been giving me steroids for years. Those oral pills work well, but it has pretty bad side effects. I couldn't donate blood because it contains steroids which is harmful for the receiver. My cream contains steroids too. It's called Clobetasol, and you can read about it here: http://patient.info/medicine/clobetasol-propionate-for-severe-inflammatory-skin-conditions
As a user of Clobetasol for years, my skin has dry stretch marks (thinning of the skin caused by steroids) on the previosly inflammed areas, slightly discoloured, and it takes quite some time (months?) for it to grow back to normal skin. It also causes abnormal hair growth. My itchy areas are usually the neck, shoulders, and joints.
Which sucks. I realised how serious these side effects were when i was unable to donate blood. I started to question the effectiveness, and thus i don't trust any skin doctors or those healthcare practitioners at guardian/watson or polyclinics. I decide to become a doctor myself, where I will test these products. Also, because i'm going Korea soon (it's wintertime), I am desperately trying to find the best product - anti-inflammatory and moisturising - for my skin.
Here i will keep track of the products i use, and i hope it can help people who suffer from eczema.
What products am i currently using?
These are the products i've use for a long time and it works for me.
1. Simple Facial Wash
It does not irritate my skin and it's the first facial cleanser i used, and i've been using it since then. It's pretty cheap too, around $12 i think.
2. White Formula自白肌 Super Moist Toner With Hyaluronic Acid 290ml
Following, i apply this toner. It's around $16 if i'm not wrong. It's the first toner i used and i've stuck to it for years. It helps to moisturise my face!
3. QV
QV products are generally affordable and are in the cheaper range of sensitive skin care products.
QV Gentle Wash
I have been using this for years, and it does not irritate my skin. It's the default soap i go back to after trying different products. However, in times where my skin was inflammed, QV does not really reduce the inflammation. I relied more on cream medication to reduce the inflammation.
QV cream
I have to apply cream several times a day, and it's the default cream i use as well. It does its job in the normal skin areas, but for the really dry and inflammed areas, it does not work. My skin still cracks up easily after a few hours. So i have to keep applying it.
Product Reviews
Caveat - what works for me, may not work for you. What works for you, may not work for me.
Because your eczema may be caused by different kinds of irritants - allergies, dust, sun, cold weather etc. Aside from these, your diet and lifestyle affects it as well. Do you drink enough water? Do you get enough sleep?
Price (based on SGD) Cheap: $ - $$ (below $25) Middle Range: $$$ ($26~$35) Expensive: $$$$ - $$$$$ ($40 and up) For quick reference, you can look at the price marking and my rating for the moisturising and anti-inflammatory factor. For quick search, ctrl + F to find the brand you're looking for. Aesop
Price: $$$$$
All Aesop products are paraben free. This means that it's less prone to irritating my skin. Some contain sodium laureth sulfate. Overall, they offer really good customer service, and gave me alot of samples and advised me on how to use it. They didn't pressure me to buy or anything. I would advise you to walk in and get samples to try it for yourself.
But, it's really expensive T.T So it's not a really sustainable choice IMO.
1. Parsely Seed Facial Cleansing Oil $79 for 200ml $53 for 100ml 
When I came back from Cambodia, my thighs were really dry and inflammed for the first time. I don't why, but i suspect it's the dust and dirt. My whole thigh was itchy. I used their sample and it really help to reduce the inflammation. Yes, it's for the face but i used it for other parts of my body and it helped alot. I saw the difference after one to two uses. My skin became less red and itchy and recovered faster. (:
Reducing Inflammation: Excellent!
Moisturising factor: Very Good
2. Fabulous Face Cleanser
$65 for 200ml
$43 for 100ml
I was also given this sample, and because it's not oil based, so it's less moisturising. It felt like a normal cleanser to me so i don't really recommend this.
Reducing Inflammation: Good
Moisturising factor: Good
3. B & Tea Balancing Toner
$75 for 200ml
$45 for 100ml
It was a little stinging when i applied this toner - it's moisturising but i don't see it differing alot from the normal toner i use so i don't think its worth the price.
Reducing Inflammation: Good
Moisturising factor: Very Good
4. Elemental Facial Barrier Cream
Reducing Inflammation:Very Good
Moisturising factor: Good
Aveeno
Price: $$
1. Daily Moisturising Lotion
$18 for 354ml
I just bought this today! Review will be posted at a later date.
Reducing Inflammation:
Moisturising factor:
Avene
Price: $$$ ~ $$$$
Avene has ALOT of products!! So much so i get confused. But it's a brand worth trying out! I think all, or most of their products are paraben free. 1. Avene Thermal Spring Water
2.
3.
4.
Bioderma
Price: $$$$
Bioderma Gel MoussantIt's not widely sold you might not be able to find it. It's around $45 for 500ml.
Reducing Inflammation: Very Good
Moisturising factor: Very Good
Botaneco GardenPrice: $$
Reducing Inflammation: Not Good
Moisturising factor: Not Good
Cetaphil
Price: $
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser Cetaphil irritates my skin. It makes my skin drier and more itchy, and after i switch back to my default QV it was much better.
Reducing Inflammation: Not Good
Moisturising factor: Not Good
EucerinPrice: $$Eucerin Shower Oil
It worked very well at first, it was very moisturising - my skin didn't crack for the first time when i wake up in the morning. But it's not really anti-inflammatory. It mositurises for my dry skin, but if it's inflammed this product does not really help. My shoulder area was smooth after i used it for a few days, and once i switched back to QV, its rough again. During that period, my thighs were inflammed and it did nothing to reduce the inflammation, in fact it got worse. (Which was then i found out about Aesop's parsely seed and it helped alot)
There were many possible variables (maybe it was my diet too that caused the inflammation, may not be eucerin). Due to its high moisturising factor i'm going to try it out again.
Reducing Inflammation: Not really
Moisturising factor: Very Good - Excellent
Nuxe
Physiogel
Price: $$
Sebamed
Price: $$
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