Showing posts with label psoriasis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label psoriasis. Show all posts

Monday, 16 December 2013

Grahams Skincare Review

The colder weather always seems to make the eczema on my children worse, I think it is a mix of the sudden change in temperatures and having the heating on more often. I was recently asked to review a set of products from Grahams Skincare.


Grahams Skincare is new to the UK but it is actually Australia's best selling natural skincare range, with a wide variety of creams, oils, soap and body washes that treat both eczema, psoriasis and other dry skin conditions right from your head down to your toes.

I was sent three products to try, the Eczema cream which is best suited for the kids, the Calendulis Plus cream and the Body Wash.

What I immediately loved was the packaging. The bright yellow really draws you in, it doesn't look like other treatments you receive from the doctors, a bit more fun, I think it would make kids more willing to have the cream put on them.

grahams skincare
grahams skincare




















The products use ingredients such as colloidal oatmeal and manuka honey. The creams are easy to use and non greasy and they have the added bonus that as well as being moisturising, they contain ingredients that make them anti-inflammatory too.

I have to admit I wasn't overly keen on the smell of the Calendulis plus cream but it did stop my skin from flaking so I think I would be willing to put up with the scent.

The eczema cream did stop my kids skin from being as dry as it was however it didn't actually make a great change to my children's skin conditions overall, I think maybe because they need something a bit stronger at the moment because their eczema is quite severe.

We all loved the body wash, the smell of the manuka honey really came through and it left your skin smelling wonderful too. I was impressed at how soft our skin felt after washing.

Overall I really liked the products however the price does put me off, the eczema cream is £21.99 for 75g, the bodywash is £16.50 for 250ml and the calendulis plus cream is £16.95 for 50g. All quite expensive compared to other skincare products that I have used in the past but if they work then I think you would be willing to pay the price.

xxxx

Disclaimer : These products were sent to me free of charge for reviewing purposes however all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Friday, 27 September 2013

QV skincare Review

In this house everyone except my eldest daughter suffers from some sort of skin complaint, mainly eczema but Daddy Hazelden suffers from psoriasis. This is not surprising because around 54% of the population is affected by these sorts of conditions, I know from my own experience that it is extremely hard to break away from the cycle of itching and scratching.

I find a lot of creams a pain because they tend to work for one family member and not another, there is a lot of trial and error when it comes to finsing one suitable for all of us and in the process it ends up costing us a small fortune and lot gets wasted.

qv skincare logo


I was asked about 4 weeks ago to review the QV skincare range. QV is the number one moisturiese in Australia and is actually the sister company to SunSense, which is a company known for providing great protection from the sun.

Many experts agree that the best way to treat conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis is a total emollient therapy, this broken down means a two stage routine of both cleansing and moisturising the skin, providing round the clock care.

I was sent five different products to test out : bath oil, gentle wash, skin lotion, cream and intensive ointment.

qv skincare range

All QV products are free from fragrance, colour, lanolin and propylene glycol. Each product contains glycerol, this is a humectant that helps the skin to retain moisture. All of these factors help stop irritation from occuring and provide a non greasy treatment that won't block your pores.

To help you decide on which product is best for you, QV have provided a grading system, one being dry and four being very dry and sensitive, I love this idea as it means you can buy products to suit the individual rather than one cream works for all.



Along with the products, QV provided a really helpful information booklet for parents as well as a lovely chart and set of stickers. This has being really helpful as it reminds the children to put on their cream both in the morning and evening, a great way of letting them be a bit more independent and means that they won't forget to do it. QV have though of everything as you can even buy an app which helps show your children how to apply the cream.

We have been using the bath oil in the bath every day and we have taken to using the gentle wash as a hand wash. Both products leave the skin smooth and soft to the touch and it has definitely eased the urge to scratch all of the time.

We found the intensive cream slightly harder to apply than the other creams as it came out more as a wax, we had to soften it inbetween our fingers before applying it, however it did its job well, it dulled down the severe redness on Freya's arms within a couple of days of using it and the nice thing is once it had got better we could switch to the normal cream.

With prices of products starting from just £3.99, I think these products are great for families as they provide something for any degree of skin complaint meaning you can buy all your products from the same place.

xxxx

Disclaimer : These products were sent to me free of charge for reviewing purposes however all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wednesday, 4 September 2013

Moo Goo Skincare Review

A while back a wrote a post about the eczema on Layla's face and the fact that myself and Freya also suffer from eczema to different degrees.

I have tried so many different products over the years and none of them seem to have any lasting affects.

Whilst searching on the internet I came across a company called Moo Goo, based in Australia, they provide natural skincare products for both adults and infants to help things such as eczema, psoriasis and fungal infections.

Their first ever cream was based on udder creams used in dairy farms. The idea of the udder cream is that it protects and soothes the skin on cows udders, it became great for soothing properties with humans too but it was very greasy. Moo Goo made a non greasy human version of the udder cream and they have been expanding their range ever since to include many products to help the skin and scalp.

I was very kindly sent a few of their products to try on myself and my daughters. The box that the products came in made me smile and I couldn't believe just how many samples they sent.























The smell as I opened the box was lovely, nothing to strong, bit like marshmallows, absolutely scrummy. It came complete with a really helpful booklet that explains all about different types of skin conditions and what products they recommend to help ease the symptoms, as well as telling you about each of their products in a little more depth. We have now been using these products for just over a month so I wanted to write a little bit about each one and tell you our findings.

Eczema and Psoriasis Cream

This is actually an anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal cream but it is also suitable for children with certain skin problems.

I used this on the creases of my 5 year olds elbows and knees and I was really impressed just how quickly it worked.

After only a day of using it there was a significant difference, the redness of the eczema had decreased, so it didn't look half as angry. 

Easy to apply and rubs in with ease, non greasy, Freya was applying it on herself morning and night with no problems.

It hasn't got rid of the eczema completely but Freya was more than pleased because it stopped the persistant itching, which was more annoying to her than the actual sight of it.

Skin Soothing Cream with MSM

This has been my favourite product out of all of the ones we were sent.

A all over moisturiser that really helps to soothe irritable skin. I used this in conjunction with the Eczema and Psoriasis balm on Freya.

I also used this on my own eczema which is situated around my nose.

Containing sweet almond oil and raw coconut oil, not only does it smell divine, it leaves the skin feeling nice and soft.

With the ingredients being all natural, it means you can use the cream as much or as little as you need to.

I have been using this on a daily basis, again it hasn't got rid of the eczema but it has certainly done its job because I no longer have lots of dry flaky skin around my nose, you can still see the eczema but the skin is a lot smoother and no longer sore to touch.

Milky Wash

This is a glucose based cleanser that can be used on both the face and body.

Recommended for those with easily irritated and dry skin.

It was originally invented face wipes and baby wipes. 

Unlike a lot of petroleum based cleansers, this is a very gentle product, suitable for the youngest of children, meaning it works for the whole family.

We have been using it as bubble bath every night. 

The smell is very fresh and it cleans all those mucky little faces and hands with ease.

Milk Shampoo and Cream Conditioner

Suitable for anyone but especially great for those with itchy, flakey or sensitive scalps.

The shampoo avoids scalp irritation and allows the scalp to fix itself. Simple to apply, you only need to use a small amount and it lathers up well.

I was extremely impressed because it managed to clear up the cradle cap on my three year olds scalp and I have been trying since she was born to get rid of it.

The conditioner has ingredients like milk protein and aloe vera in it, really moisturising and nourishing the hair.

The scents were amazing, the shampoo and conditioner really smelt like milk and cream and it not only left your hair smelling nice but your hands too!!

Nappy Balm

Now anyone with a baby has had to deal with nappy rash at some point. Normally caused by a reaction to either urea or by yeast.

Layla is currently teething and her bum has been left really sore because of it.

Moo Goos Nappy Balm is an anti-yeast barrier cream which is made from edible ingredients, so you don't have to worry if your little one some how manages to get it near their mouths, we all know they will chew on anything within arm's reach!!

The balm itself is again non greasy, you only need a tiny amount as it spreads quite far and I'm pleased to say that just like the other products I have tried, it works. 

I have been applying it at every nappy change and since it got rid of the nappy rash, it has kept it at bay, no more red bottoms in sight.

I can't begin to express just how impressed I have been with Moo Goo, a lot of my family suffers with eczema and psoriasis and I will definitely be recommending these products to all of them. 

I have only reviewed a small part of their range, there are many other creams, as well as lip balms, eye serums and deodrant. There is literally something for everyone, even a cream for people with nut allergies. No nasty chemicals and only tested on humans, Moo Goo gets a massive thumbs up from me.

Disclaimer : I was sent these products free of charge for reviewing purposes however all thoughts and opinions are my own.