Body lotion
Vanicream Moisturizing Lotion
Eleven ingredients: water, petrolatum, and plain emulsifiers and humectants. No fragrance, dyes, lanolin, parabens, or botanical extracts. Has the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance.
Worth knowing
- Contains propylene glycol, which stings a few people on broken skin.
Ingredients
Water, Petrolatum, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitol, Ceteareth-20, Simethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-30 Stearate, Sorbic Acid, BHT.
What we ruled out
Perfumed lotions, including 'sensitive' and 'unscented' versions. Fragrance is a common cause of skin allergy, and 'unscented' can mean masking fragrance was added. Read the ingredient list, not the front label.
Scented body lotions sold for 'sensitive skin'. Front-of-pack claims are unreliable: many 'fragrance-free' and 'hypoallergenic' moisturizers still contain fragrance or allergens.
Also good
Plain petroleum jelly. A single ingredient, so the lowest allergy risk, and the best occlusive for cracked hands and heels. Greasy for all-over use.
Sources
- Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin, American Academy of Dermatology
- Eczema: how to select a moisturizer, American Academy of Dermatology
- 'Hypoallergenic' and 'fragrance-free' moisturizer claims are often false (reporting Xu et al., JAMA Dermatology, 2017), NPR (2017)