Review| Dr Organics

Dr. Organic as the name might suggest sell organic products, which are paraben, SLS, artificial colour and fragrance free, also vegan and vegetarian. The have a number of lines including Organic Moroccan Argan Oil, Organic Manuka Honey and Organic Pomegranate among many others. As well as selling a variety of face products the brand also sells hair and body products. And the best bit – not that pricey! These 50ml jars of face cream sells for £8.49* complete in a rather expensive looking glass jar – which I love.

I came across this brand while reading a fellow blogger’s website and thought why not give it a try.

Manuka Honey Rescue Day Cream

The Dr. Organics website says this about the Manuka Honey range:
“Manuka Honey’s wonderful properties make it a powerful and effective ingredient in skincare products. As a moisturiser it restores and hydrates dry, cracked and damaged skin enhancing natural cell regeneration and improving skin tone, creating younger and softer looking skin. Manuka Honey also nourishes and revitalises the scalp and helps in maintaining healthy looking hair.”

This is a great product. This really has worked wonders for my skin, really hydrates it and leaves it so soft. You only have to use a tiny bit at a time, the first time I used it I put on far to much and ended up with really greasy skin. Being an emollient cream I find that you just need a tiny dab a little on your cheeks, chin and forhead then rub it in and after a while it sets in – a little goes a long way. So I would say that you definitely get your moneys worth. I would only reccomend this product to people with really dry skin, and even then, use it sparingly, not suitable for people with combination skin.

There were some claims when I read online about this product that it would help get rid of redness, and although it has got rid of my dry skin I still have a patch of red skin on my cupids bow. However my skin looks brighter, clear and healthy, which in my book is all fantastic I haven’t had that for a while.

Virgin Coconut Oil Nourishing Night Cream

The Dr. Organics website says this about the Organic Coconut Virgin Oil range:
“A moisture surge overnight rescue with Organic Virgin Oil. It improves firmness and tone and protects against cell damaging free radicals. It is ideal for a deep penetrating overnight hydration. Leaving the skin more supple with a youthful appearance, stimulating the contraction of collagen fibres and protects the skin support tissue.”

I wake up with a lovely complexion every morning when I use this. I was thoroughly impressed with this cream, it’s thick in the jar, making it feel luxurious and rich – it is however not as thick and the manuka honey rescue cream. But melts perfectly into the skin to give a coverage that isn’t to heavy. The jar says this is also anti-aging, but that’s something very hard to test not having many wrinkles myself.

I’ve found both of these creams really effective for my skin, I have however gotten some blemishes while using these creams but nothing major, I feel that the look and texture of my new found skin out weights this problem. I would say if you have seriously dehydrated and dry skin on your face and neck the Manuka Honey cream will be perfect for you, I only had slight dryness and this has done more than enough – although the smell isn’t my favourite thing, I think it’s a Love/Hate smell but its not big deal.

However both of these creams are on the thicker side and with summer coming I would love to try out another of their creams that is slightly lighter but that still gives great effects.

I brought these creams from my local Holland and Barratt store but you can also purchase them online (click here).

Have you tried out any of the Dr. Organics products? Let me know how you found them.

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Tried & Tested| Body Moisturisers

Another tried and tested post, here are a number of moisturisers I have in my collection. I’ve reviewed each of them in a short but sweet way. I hope you enjoy…

Diprobase Cream Emollient:

Currently this is my daily moisturiser. On a prescription from the doctor this is an emollient cream meant to help treat eczema and other dry skin conditions. It helps to moisturise and protect the skin as well as soothing and relieving dry and redness causes my skin conditions. I use everyday after having a shower of bath. I find moisturisers work better when the skin is wet because it soaks in more, in my experience; I do something find when putting moisturisers on dry skin it can make me feel dirty and the skin feel especially heavy but this can go on dry skin without irritation to the skin, and soaks in just as well as having a shower.

Aloe Vera Gel: Olea

I’d never used a gel before but when my parents were holidaying in Greece they brought this back for me by someone who recommended it the shop. Its an all natural product and came with a pamphlet that explained all about the brand. I really enjoyed using this, it hydrated my skin, helped soothe my red itchy skin and left my skin the softest its ever been. This was only a small tube – my parents didn’t know if I would react to it or not, so small is always a good to go for if its a new product – I’ve repurchased another brand of the same product, also natural and I’m seeing the same effects on my skin. Currently I put this on as I get out of the shower/bath do my face moisturising/cleansing etc and then put on my diprobase cream. My skin has never felt so good. Great Combo!!
(My new gel was from Dr. Organic which can be brought online or at Holland and Barrett and was about £5 something)

Garnier Body Intensive 7 Days

When this first came out I went online to get a sample before they all ran out and it really hydrated my skin. However personally this is better for my body and legs, where my skin is less sensitive and dry. It leaves your skin hydrated and soft. On my arms and neck where I have the bulk of my eczema and dry skin it wasn’t enough. But is is a great light moisturiser for the summer.
(This can be purchased at any local drug store for around £1.99)
Cyclax Moistura, Super Rich Moisturising Lotion

This cream was given to my by my Gran who also suffers from an itchy skin condition. I found the smell of this to be quite overpowering, its a very ‘perfumed’ fragranced cream, but it hydrates well. But like the Garnier cream this was better for my body and legs rather than my arms. It has a light smooth textures and would be great for people who just needed a little hydration in the winter months.
(This retails about £4.99 I haven’t seen it in any drug stores but it can be found online.)

Clarins Body Rich Moisturising Body Lotion

LOVE THIS LOTION! Great hydration, I love all Clarins products. I found when I first started using this it helped clear my skin, hydrated and soothed my skin and had a great scent. Its not a majorly thick cream, but in the middle of light and thick, going on very smoothy. But it is on the expensive side (£24-30) and hate over spending when I have so many other products to use up but I definitely think I will be repurchasing this product.

I Love… Raspberry & Blackberry

Another product given to me by my boyfriend. He’s always getting me things to help with my eczema, he hates watching me itch etc. it is horrible. But anyways this has a great scent – you smell like a dessert which is excellent ha ha and it is a good moisturiser, I really liked it. I found it to be a strange texture however, it almost has a jelly look to it but its creamy at the same time – its quite hard to explain but it doesn’t really matter. (This retails around £2-3)

Coconut Body Butter: The Body Shop

This is one of my all time favourites. I’ve always had a pot of this in my draw, I have tried other body butters, but I aways return to body shop. Its application is good, not sticky and I dont have to spend loads of time rubbing it in. The results are instant with my skin displaying immediate softness and rehydration. It brings the smell of Summer to the cold of Winter especially during the winter months when my skin is suffering from the cold and I use this more and more.
(Depending what size you want this can be brought from £5 – £13 – but the body shop always has offers on).

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Eczema Kit Product #1

Now I’ve mentioned this product in my 1st Haul post previously but since I’ve been using it for a while now, it has slowly become a staple in my daily ‘help my eczema routine’ kit lol.

This is just one of my current products which I think will remain – it is the Dermol 200 emollient shower cream.

My doctor recommended this to me when I went to see him about my skin and I have to say I don’t know why I hadn’t used it before. You can get this on prescription but it can be cheaper if you buy it – if you google it there are many stores that do sell it (unfortunately Boots isn’t one of them). It can also be brought in a bath version, I just shower more so this one made more sense to me. But the basic premise of this product is that its a moisturising cream you put on in the shower!

Now this is a total multi-tool product, it is suppose to be used instead of a shower gel, but I’ve used it as a shower gel, a face wash, a moisturising mask, a cleanser after my make-up is off AND a moisturiser – that’s a lot of uses!

Now when I say I’ve used it as a moisturiser I mean just that, it can be used for both in the shower and after. Which I have found beneficial lately with my skin being so dry, like most of you.

It is an emollient, which is in a lot of eczema products from the doctors – for example it is in my diprobase cream, it is suppose to be super hydrating to help with dry skin and people with eczema or dermatitis.

Now I will say the standard ‘what works for me may not work for you’ line but for me this has been a perfect base for the rest of my products.

It even has a clever lid that when you take it off can be transferred to the top of the product so it hangs in the shower just like a normal shower gel. It has a squeezy dispenser so that none of the formula falls out (it looks a bit scary in this picture – right).

Thanks

Laura x

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Eczema Fact Sheet

As you known I suffer from eczema and have done since I was 18months old. For those of you who don’t really know what it is I thought I’d created a little fact sheet about it. 

All the images used are of my skin!

WHAT IS ECZEMA?

Eczema, in some cases also known as dermatitis, is a common and non-contagious skin condition. Its severity varies and it is characterised by patches of hot, itchy, scaly skin which may produce weeping blisters and a clear discharge. With repeated scratching, skin can become raw and bleed; thickening or discolouration of the skin may also occur.

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WHERE DOES IT APPEAR?

Eczema affects males and females equally and can be found anywhere on the body; although in young children it is most likely to appear on the face, inside elbows and behind the knees. Most prevalent during childhood and puberty, studies indicate that eczema is on the increase: a report by the University of Bristol showed that one in three children have suffered from it by the time they are three and a half years old, which represents a trebling of cases since the 1970s.

My doctor said I would most likely grow out of the severity of the ‘attacks’ but I still suffer greatly, even more so now (with no new reason why). My eczema can be found on my face, neck, arms and most recently my hands.

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WHAT TRIGGERS IT?

There is no specific single cause of eczema, though in some cases it is thought to be hereditary. Common triggers are:

• Allergies
• Stress
• Food sensitivity
• Side effects of drugs
• Reactions to washing detergents, soap, bath additives and house mite dust droppings
• Extreme weather conditions and central heating may also be contributing factors

I’m allergic to dogs and I now think to my cat, my eczema also does get worst when I’m stressed. I’ve tried looking into food sensitivities but haven’t found anything I’ve reacted too, most common sensitivity is to dairy products. I’ve been washing my clothes in the same detergent since my parents found out I had this skin sensitivity and have never had a reaction to it.

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REDUCING ‘ATTACKS’

With the correct treatment and management, the physical effects of eczema can be greatly reduced. A combined internal and external approach can work well, so attention should be paid to diet and supplementation as well as topical treatments. A range of treatments are available, of which emollients, antihistamines, topical steroids and wet wraps are the most widely used.

• a good place to begin is by trying to avoid potential stimulants
• Avoid using soap, perfumed shower gels or bubble baths. You can also bathe using a mild, non-drying emollient lotion recommended by your pharmacist.
• Apply an emollient frequently throughout the day; this not only keeps skin soft and supple, but also helps to disguise the appearance of flaking skin and can reduce severe chapping.
• For those with mild to moderate eczema, the soreness and itching can be calmed with a 1% hydrocortisone cream or ointment (a short-term measure to be used under the direction of your GP or pharmacist).

Vacuum bedrooms daily and dust with a damp cloth as house mite droppings can aggravate eczema. Regularly ‘air dry’ pillows and duvets, and vacuum mattresses monthly. Using a barrier between bedding and sleeper can also help and many sufferers report some improvement using Anti-Allergy Bedcovers/Pillow Cases. As detergents are such a common irritant, clean bed linen, towels and clothes without them on a hot wash, or try a detergent formulated for sensitive skins.

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