Oilatum Daily Junior Lotion Review

People who have read Mellow Mummy over the years will know that both Holly and (especially) Lara suffer from dry skin on their arms and legs.  I have got their eczema under control over the years by switching to only non-bio detergents and by trying to use natural and organic shampoos, bubble baths and shower gels.  Ordinarily, I tend to steer clear of high street brands when I'm looking for a moisturiser for the girls but Oilatum sent me a sample of their Oilatum Daily Junior Lotion to try out on the girls because they wanted to show me how gentle it was on children and babies.

Oilatum Daily Junior Lotion is quite thick.  Holly loves the texture and will actively seek it out in the evenings to apply to herself.  Lara isn't so keen on the feeling of it, she is very much like her Daddy and only likes using body moisturisers which absorb really quickly - this one does take quite some time and you can feel it on their skin afterwards.

That feeling afterwards is a thin layer of mineral oil which is designed to act as a barrier to prevent further drying of the skin.  I have a mild allergic reaction to some mineral oils but I tried the Oilatum Daily Junior Lotion on my own skin and had no problem at all - in fact, I've found it to be one of the best body lotions I've tried in a very long time and I REALLY like the feeling of the skin on my arms when I wake up in the morning after using it.  Shhhhh... don't tell Holly!

The lotion has a gentle scent that reminds me a little of baby talcs.  I would say that it is a perfect product for Holly who has had occasional dry skin since being a baby and, on a hot day she certainly finds it a soothing end to the day and part of her daily bedtime ritual.  But for Lara, Oilatum Daily Junior Lotion isn't the right product but thankfully, these days, we don't have many ezcema or dry skin issues we have to tackle any more.

ITCHeze Cooling Spray Review

As you probably know by now, Lara my eldest suffers from mild ezcema. Mr. B suffers from heat rash whenever we go on holiday abroad and so it shouldn't really have come as a surprise to me to find out that Lara also suffered from heat rash too. During the sunny weather at the start of September, Lara would come home from nursery each evening with red, blotchy arms and face where her sensitive skin had reacted badly to the heat.

Lara was offered the chance to try out ITCHeze cooling spray as a form of relief not only from the heat rash but from the ezcema that causes her arms and cheeks to come up red and itchy very regularly.

ITCHeze by Care costs around £7.49 and is available at Tesco. It is a fine pump spray that you mist over the affected area of skin to offer an immediate cooling effect and a longer lasting increase in moisture levels. It is suitable for children and adults alike so, next month when we visit the Canaries, I suspect Mr. B. will be trying ITCHeze out too!

We have used ITCHeze in the evenings on Lara's arms and her cheeks. On her face I don't spray it directly onto her in case it goes in her eyes or nose so I spray it onto my hand and then rub it in. Lara quite enjoys having the cooling spray put onto her arms and it certainly does offer her instant relief from the itching - I think the cooling effect distracts her from the itchiness. On her face however, Lara doesn't like the feeling. The spray leaves quite an oily film on the skin which (just like her father) makes Lara feel uncomfortable although, after several days of use she did at least acknowledge that it was a discomfort worth putting up with to stop her from scratching her cheeks.

I think that ITCHeze cooling spray will really come into its own when we go on holiday. It has been a long time since we have taken Lara on a sun holiday so I expect her skin to panic a bit but hopefully, with this cooling spray we will be well prepared for heat rash in all of the family.  I don't think that I would use it primarily as a moisturiser because we have a number of other products that we use on Lara's skin which are more effective, but as instant relief in a spray, rather than a cream, I think ITCHeze is perfect for Lara.

E45 Junior Review

As you know, my daughter suffers from mild ezcema. I haven't quite put my finger on what causes it yet but her skin was the driest and most blotchy I've ever seen it at the start of December when the weather was cold (this did co-incide with me using a free sample of a different washing liquid). I always look for bath products for Lara that are free from SLS (sodium laureth sulfate) and where possible, man-made-fragrance-free and paraben-free. This month we have been using products from the E45 Junior range.



Our favourite product from the range is the E45 Junior Foaming Bath Milk. Because we use SLS-free products we normally sacrifice a foam bath because SLS is the ingredient that makes things foam. It is so nice to be able to offer Lara bubbles at bath time and not worry about her skin. The bath milk has to be shaken before use to mix the ingredients. The foam is really good and the bath has a milky colour to it when you use it.



Once in the bath, Lara now uses the E45 Junior Hand and Body Wash which is a clear gel with brightly coloured beads that are packed full of mineral oils to condition the skin. It is no good for me as I'm allergic to mineral oils! However, Lara seems to like it and will actively choose this body wash over her existing one. The gel doesn't leave any greasy residue (which many emolliant products do... quite understandably).



After her bath I religiously cover Lara's skin with moisturiser. It is when I forget (or to do this that Lara's skin is at it's worst. I must say that the E45 Junior Moisturising Lotion is the product from the range with which I am least impressed which is strange because E45 would be the first brand I would think of for an adult's dry skin. I didn't find the lotion to be very effective - Lara's skin absorbed the lotion quickly and it didn't feel much less dry after use.

Cetaphil Sensitive Skincare Review

Regular followers will know my quest to find skincare products for Lara that don't irritate her skin. As a baby we did find a few products we tried and loved but as Lara grows older her needs change. These days I'd describe her skin condition as 'dry' and 'irritated' rather than as ezcema. As an active toddler she now gets pretty grubby at nursery and in the garden so she needs REAL products, not baby products to keep her skin clean but moisturised. For the past month we have both been reviewing Cetaphil skincare products to see how they suit our skin.

Although the thick Cetaphil Moisturising Cream seems ideal for Lara's skin, and the thinner Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion is perfect for my skin; it is the cleansing product's from Cetaphil's range that have most impressed me.



Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

This cleanser is suitable for the face or body. I wouldn't use it on Lara because its packed full of alcohol, parabens and SLS but for me its fine. It's great to have a soap-free alternative to the daily face-washes that I normally use because it is less drying on my skin. You can use this gentle skin cleanser from Cetaphil as you would a traditional facial cleanser or make-up remover, wiping it away after use. Alternatively you can rinse it off with water (which is what I've tended to do as my skin feels cleaner after use). At present my skin has a natural pregnant glow to it and is pretty much looking after itself but after the pregnancy I can really see myself relying on a sensitive skin cleanser like this to bring me back from the post-hormonal brink.



Cetaphil Restoraderm Skin Restoring Body Wash

The Cetaphil Restoraderm body wash is what we are currently using on Lara's skin at bathtime. It is suitable for all skin types but is specifically designed for those with dry, sensitive skin or with ezcema. It looks like a milky lotion but actually does provide a light lather when you use it.

The bodywash is fragrance free which is disappointing for a toddler but it something I am coming to terms with in terms of caring for Lara's skin. The thing that i really like about this bodywash is that it really does leave our skin feeling soft and moist afterwards and yet it does also feel clean. Usually, when I use one of Lara's specialist bathtime products, they leave an oily feeling on my skin (yes, I know that is the point, but its not a feeling I enjoy). This one doesn't leave that greasy feeling.

I'm really happy with the effect that the Restoraderm bodywash has had on Lara's dry skin on her arms and legs.

Cetaphil can be bought from Boots and other large pharmacies.

The Sunday Review: Method Kid Body Wash & Shampoo

We have been using the Method Kids bathtime products for some months now – they are Mellow Daddy's favourite to use on Lara at bath time because they are brightly coloured and fun-smelling.

MethodKid make products from largely natural ingredients (99%) for children (I reviewed MethodBaby products some time ago on Mellow Mummy, they were a hit with us right from day one).

We have been using the Squeaky Green Body Wash and 3-in-1 Shampoo.

The Squeaky Green body wash is the next step up from the Method Baby body wash. It is a very light texture for a baby wash because it isn't made from the normal petro-chemicals used in bath products. We love it because it is gentle on Lara's skin. Lara likes it because of the bright green bottle that she likes to squeeze - it is in the sampe of a tiny little creature of some sort! Daddy likes it because of the smell of crisp apples (actually, I find the fragrance too strong and a bit artificial). Both Mummy and Daddy like the fact that the bottle doesn't have a lid – the body wash is dispensed from a squeezy valve in the bottom of the bottle which means you don't have to faff about with lids when you are in charge of bathime.

The 3-in-1 Shampoo and body wash comes in a similar bottle. We tried the fuzzy peach scent which, once again, is a fun, vibrant fragrance that kids and dads love, but which I find a bit in-your-face. The Shampoo is a very similar product to the body wash and in fact can be used as a body wash too. I take it with us when we are staying away from home, or when we go to the swimming pool because it means we don't have to take a separate shampoo for Lara.

I'm a big fan of the Method environmentally-friendly approach to cleaning and washing products. I've tried plenty of their products – some I love, some I don't rate at all but the Method Kids products are high on my list of must-haves. I think Method have found a good balance between the green, healthy cosmetics market and the bright, bathtime fun that kids expect.

We buy our Method products from Waitrose but some of their range are available in several different supermarkets and in Boots as well.