If you have eczema, you understand how frustrating it can be, physically and mentally, to deal with dry, flaky, red, and itchy skin. Eczema affects over 30 million people in the United States alone, including both adults and children. So, it’s vital to know what are the best skincare ingredients for eczema.

For some, their eczema comes and goes, while others may have had eczema as a child or teenager and have suddenly experienced a reoccurrence. However, some people have to manage their eczema until they can figure out what could be causing it, or even indefinitely.

What are the best ingredients for soothing and treating eczema? The best skincare for eczema consists of natural ingredients, moisturizers, and occlusives to protect the skin.

What Causes Eczema?

There are different types of eczema and different potential causes and triggers for each. For example, atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis, two types of eczema, are typically caused by an allergen or irritant. 

Seborrheic dermatitis, which most commonly affects the scalp, is caused by a skin reaction to a natural yeast called Malassezia. Another type of eczema, stasis dermatitis, is the result of poor circulation in the legs.

Eczema has also been linked to food sensitivities and allergies. Although skincare products, food, and even your clothing material can all impact eczema, every individual is different. So working with a healthcare professional to uncover the cause of your eczema is essential.

Best Skincare Ingredients To Look For

Dealing with eczema can be distressing to say the least. While you’re working to better understand your eczema with a healthcare professional, you can adjust your skincare routine and products in the meantime to help calm and moisturize your skin.

Skin with eczema tends to be dry and irritated, so protecting your natural healthy skin barrier with gentle cleansers and the best moisturizer for eczema is essential. Incorporating products that can help protect your skin and lock in moisture—such as emollients, humectants, and occlusives—can help. 

Emollients

Emollients help repair cracked, dry skin and prevent transepidermal water loss—which can lead to dry, irritated skin, or older-looking skin—and include ceramides, colloidal oatmeal, squalene, and coconut oil.

Humectants 

Humectants help draw moisture to the skin and include ingredients such as honey, aloe vera, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid. 

Occlusives Bar

These are ingredients that help create a protective barrier on the skin’s surface. You can combine them with humectants for a better effect. These include argan oil, beeswax, jojoba oil, and candelilla wax.

A few well-known skincare ingredients for different soothing types of eczema include coconut oil, honey, aloe vera, niacinamide—also called vitamin B3—ceramides, and apple cider vinegar. You can look for these ingredients in cleansers, moisturizers, toners, and serums.

As your skin is unique, it’s essential to conduct a skin test to find the best eczema skincare for you. For example, while coconut oil may not bother your skin, apple cider vinegar may be too harsh. Some skincare products for eczema may also contain natural fragrances, such as essential oils. Some people may tolerate these well, while others may have a reaction to them.

It’s essential to continuously evaluate the ingredients in a product and be mindful that synthetic fragrances, preservatives, and even retinol may exacerbate eczema instead of making it better. 

Products To Consider For Eczema

Fortunately, there are many products out there with natural ingredients to help you pick the best eczema cream and moisturizer. The following are a few products you can consider to help pamper your skin until it starts looking and feeling normal again with eczema treatment.

Kopari 100% Organic Coconut Melt

This product has just one ingredient: organic coconut oil. You can use it after bathing on your eczema, whether you experience it on your face or on your body, to help soothe irritated areas and provide a protective layer to discourage skin flaking and itchiness.

Pipette Eczema Lotion

This moisturizer is fragrance-free for sensitive skin and designed to soothe eczema flare-ups; this moisturizer contains colloidal oatmeal, ceramides, glycerin, and plant-based squalene, shea butter sunflower oil, and vitamin E to help eczema-prone skin. This body lotion is suitable for both face and body use and is even suitable for children.

Naturopathica Calendula Essential Hydrating Cream

Aloe vera, calendula, rose flower water, lavender, and sunflower seed oil mingle in this moisturizer, which you can use on the face and neck to help restore moisture to dry and flaky skin and soothe eczema-prone areas.

Cocokind Skin Butter

With just four ingredients—shea butter, coconut oil, beeswax, and lavender oil—this skin butter exclusively uses organic ingredients. It is intended for use on parts of the body other than the face that has eczema flare-ups.

Honest Eczema Soothing Therapy Balm

Although designed for babies, this balm can be used for adults too! With colloidal oatmeal, beeswax, shea butter, coconut oil, aloe, glycerin, and squalene, this balm is packed with soothing and moisture-restoring ingredients that can help soothe eczema. You can apply where needed, as needed.

Green Goo Skin Repair Healing Salve

With healing botanical oils such as rosehip, helichrysum, yarrow, and chamomile, this salve also contains beeswax, aloe vera, sunflower oil, coconut oil, vitamin E, and olive fruit oil to nourish and protect skin affected by eczema. You can use this healing salve anywhere you need it!

OSEA Atmosphere Protection Cream

If you want to stay away from heavy eczema creams and salves —for example, if you have oily or acne-prone skin in addition to eczema—consider this lightweight moisturizer, which contains shea butter, jojoba and avocado oil, vitamin E, chamomile, and lavender to help calm skin. Use after cleansing, toning, and serums for best results.

Download Our Free Checklist While You’re Here

While you’re here, grab our free checklist of the no-no ingredients you always want to avoid when looking for any type of skincare product, including the best skincare for eczema. Do YOU struggle with eczema? Let us know what you find helpful in the comments below!