Skinfix - Skincare for Eczema Relief

Poor old Holly is still duffering from dry skin.  I'm trying to remember, but I think Lara's super-dry skin had passed by the time she was 4 and yet Holly, as she approaches her 4th birthday, seems to be suffering with awfully dry skin on her tummy and chest, as well as red blotchy dry hands.  At this age it can be hard to keep on top of dry skin because Holly is so independent that she has to be in charge of deciding when to apply cream, and what cream she will put up with.  Recently we have been trying a new brand called Skinfix which is available exclusively in Boots and which is specifically designed as remedy and prevention of dry skin and eczema for the whole family.

Skinfix products are around 98% natural and yet incredibly powerful.  Take the fragrance-free Eczema balm for instance, it is thick and steroid-free and provides Holly instant relief on the backs of her hands just before she goes to bed (which is when it seems to be most sore).  Holly doesn't like any creams that leave a residue so she was a little hesitant about applying a barrier balm but it does obviously soothe her skin so she is sticking with it.

 

Also in the evenings and mornings we are using Skinfix Soothing Lotion which is a very light fluid which is instantly absorbed and doesn't leave a residue on the skin.  On the first day that we used the Skinfix lotion, when Holly woke up the next morning, her skin was totally different - not dry and bumpy at all but smooth and soft.  Nearly unrecognisable!  Over the past fortnight we have found that we only have to use this lotion every other day to keep on top of the dry skin on her body.  Awesome.  The only problem we have is that because it is fragrance-free, the appeal to Holly isn't that strong so she doesn't actively seek the lotion out herself, we have to remind her.

Skinfix also make this pump-bottle soothing wash.  Due to Holly's particularly dry skin at present, we've really reduced the number of bath-times (we are convinced that our hard water is the cause of Holly's skin problems) but we do encourage Holly to wash with gentle bathtime products during the week.  The Skinfix soothing wash is specially designed for people who suffer from dry and sensitive skin so that it doesn't strip the skin of the oils it needs to stay moist and supple.  The wash is fragrance-free and is made using jojoba oil, aloe vera, apricot kernel and coconut cleansers - all natural ways to stay clean and well moisturised.  Again, the scent of a washing gel is something that really encourages Holly to wash well so she hasn't been that wowed by Skinfix and I'm sure that she probably doesn't even notice the difference that a kind body wash makes to her skin over the brightly coloured, strong-scented kids products she sometimes borrows from her sister...but I do!

Skinfix soothing products can now be found in Boots behind the pharmacy counter.

Childs Farm Bubble Bath for Bucaneers

As you probably know by now, Lara and Holly both have very sensitive skin which dries easily so we try to be careful with which products we use on their skin at bathtimes.  One of our favourite brands, Childs Farm, has just launched a new raspberry-scented Bubble Bath for Bucaneers which is specifically designed for children with sensitive or eczema-prone skin.

Childs Farm 3-in-1 Swim Shampoo has become one of our family staples, due in part to its strong, yet natural scent that the girls both find fun. This Bubble Bath for Bucaneers is no different; the strong raspberry scent comes from raspberry extract and it very much reminds me of our recent visit to the pick-your-own farm in which Holly devoured her own weight in raspberries!  The smell is definitely one that the girls will remember and remind them of bathtimes as they grow older and yet you can feel comfortable knowing that the bubble bath isn't packed full of artificial ingredients which could wreak havoc on their skin.

The girls love the smell, and the bubbles - it just goes to show that a bubble bath doesn't need to be brightly coloured to get the kids interested in it!  Its gentle on the skin and a fun way to finish the day, getting out of the bath smelling summery and fresh.

picking fresh raspberries

Childs Farm bubble bath is available from John Lewis, Ocado and Boots.  Look out for other fun products in their range including hair detangler, hand and body lotion, hand wash, conditioner and hair & body wash.

Oilatum Comfort Skin Tips

It is nearly 6 years since I first became a Mummy - back then, one of the very first things that I became un-mellow about as a parent was Lara's incredibly dry skin. Over the years, I've learned that dry skin is, in fact, very common and because a baby's skin is more delicate than that of an adult, it can be more susceptible to becoming dry and sensitive. I've learned a few tricks of my own for tackling Lara and Holly's dry skin over the years and so I was delighted to be involved in the creation of the Oilatum Comfort Skin Tips.

The Oilatum Daily Junior range is a set of skincare products from Oilatum, the dry skin specialists, but which is specifically designed for babies and small children with dry skin. I have, over the past few months, fallen a bit in love with the Oilatum Daily Junior Moisturising Lotion which I use on Lara, Holly and myself to keep arms and legs feeling smooth.

Oilatum Daily have teamed up with the British Skin Foundation and have listened to mums of children with dry skin in order to create the Oilatum Comfort Skin Tips, 10 easy-to-follow pieces of advice which can help parents to manage the problem of dry skin every day.

You can read the full set of tips at oilatum.co.uk/daily but here are a few of the tips to get you started:-

Tip 2. Try to keep your little one's bath time to 5-10 minutres as too much time spent playing in the bath can cause excess drying out of the skin.

Tip 5. Moisturising cream can be especially effective when your child's skin is damp, so apply it as soon as you've patted them dry to lock all that moisture in.

Top 9. Wash clothes and bedding with non-biological products that are kind to dry, sensitive skin and rinse clothes twice to be extra sure that all traces of soap residue have disappeared.

Childs Farm Bathtime Skincare Review

Lara is absolutely LOVING her swimming lessons at present; I'm sure it is something to do with the stage of development she is at and the realisation that she is control of her strength and power.  After swimming, Lara and I ALWAYS fall out about a shower.  Week in, week out.  I don't know why it has to be such a stressful thing but it almost always ends in tears.  Thankfully, my new buddy is this bottle of Childs Farm Quick Dip! 3 in 1 Swim which at least helps me make the process short and sweet.

Childs Farm Quick Dip! 3 in 1 Swim offers head to toe cleansing for kids - it is a shampoo, conditioner and body wash all in one and the best thing is that it is made with 98% natural ingredients.  One of the reasons why I always insist that Lara showers after swimming is because she suffers from dry skin and ezcema so not only is it important to wash away all the cholorine but it is also important to me that her post-swim routine is as natural and gentle as possible.  Childs Farm toiletries for kids are free from parabens, SLS, mineral oils and artificial colours.

The 3 in 1 Swim has a very sweet scent of strawberries and mint... I found myself standing at the side of the swimming pool this week watching Lara swim while unconsciously sniffing her bottle of Childs Farm shampoo and body wash!!!  I have struggled a bit with the lid on the bottle which seems a bit wonky and so far has leaked inside two of my sports bags but I hope this is a one-off because the lid on our Childs Farm bubble bath seems fine.

After swimming, Lara's long hair does need a bit of attention when it comes to knots and tangles so to avoid another argument in the shower we normally use a spray-in conditioner on her wet hair. The Childs Farm detangling spray is quite a thick spray for help with removal of knots and we get some particularly evil knots after swimming.  I'm really pleased with this detangler; it is very effective compared to other sprays that we've tried and yet it is also 98% natural.  I absolutely love the smell (again, another difference compared to big brand named detangler sprays!), this one is scented with grapefruit oil and tea-tree oil which also has the added benefit of deterring head lice!

Childs Farm is a cartoon on Cartoonito which features Radar the dog and his farmyard friends.  All of the labels on the Childs Farm toiletries products feature images from the cartoons and they all have a strong farmyard theme.  The range features bubble baths, body washes, hand washes and body lotion as well as detangling combs, hair ties and gift bags.  I think its a fun range with a really wide appeal to children from birth right upto pre-teens.