My Top Skincare Products for Dry Skin and Psoriasis - 2013

Yes, I have psoriasis.  It's one of those things that no one in their right mind would announce because it's embarrassing and not pretty.  This disease consumes your mind because the discomfort constantly lingers.  But if you suffer from it and are like me -- always frantically scouring the internet for remedies or opinions on products that might provide relief -- then perhaps this "best of " list might help you in your search for better skin...


I have been suffering from psoriasis -- an auto-immune disease that causes skin cells to die off at a faster rate than normal which creates scaly, itchy, and flaky plaque -- for most of my life.  Aside from topical creams prescribed by my doctor, I am constantly on the hunt for relief from over-the-counter lotions and skincare products.  Currently there is no cure for psoriasis, and the topical creams that I've tried only provides temporary relief.  Diet and exercise is crucial in improving the conditions of psoriasis so I try to stay active, eat healthy, and cut out the things that make my skin flare (no smoking, sugary foods, spicy foods, etc.).  Through trial and error, I've found some products that have helped keep my dry skin moisturized while helping my condition stay neutral.

I look for products that will leave my skin soft and moisturized for a long period of time and lotions that are thick enough to feel like it works but thin enough to feel like I don't have glue on.  I also like products that absorb fast rather than staying on the top of my skin.  The following skincare products have helped my dry skin tremendously but please note that it may not work for everyone.  If you suffer from psoriasis or any other kind of skin condition, please consult with your doctor/dermatologist for help.  With that said, here is my list for the best skincare products for my psoriasis/dry skin condition:

BEST HOLY GRAIL PRODUCT FOR DRY SKIN/PSORIASIS
I cannot live without my Baby Aquaphor!  I use this all year long, even in the hot months of where I live.  I don't use this as a lotion; this ointment is best applied directly to my psoriasis-prone areas BEFORE I apply lotion.  I don't like the feeling of thick ointments on my skin but this one seems to absorb fairly quickly and makes my skin feel breathable.  It also seems to heal my scratches and lessens the appearance of scars.  When you have dry, itchy skin like I do, you probably have scratches and scabs from excessive itching.  This product moisturizes, protects, and heals my skin.  After application, it doesn't make my skin flaky and itchy, nor does it make the psoriasis scales thicker.  I honestly feel like this product has improved the elasticity of my skin as well.  I like to buy Baby Aquaphor because I use this on my children.  It also works great when you mix it with regular lotion for extra moisturizing.

 
Baby Aquaphor

BEST ALL-AROUND LOTION
Cetaphil was my lotion of choice back in the day, which is a great product for dry/psoriasis/eczema skin, but after years of using it, I felt that it wasn't as effective and didn't moisturize enough.  I've also tried Eucerin, Vaseline, Nivea, Jergens, Sarna, and many other lotions before determining that Gold Bond helps the most in not only moisturizing, but keeping my skin feel soft and moisturized throughout the day.  The entire line of Gold Bond is great.  It's fast absorbing, thick enough for my dry skin, and smells great (almost like a fresh yellow cake right after you bake it).  The most important thing is that it helps scaly plaque to remain moisturized which in turn reduces flakiness.

 
Gold Bond Ultimate Healing w/ Aloe lotion

BEST ALL-AROUND LOTION (runner up)
It's no secret that Lush makes fantastic products, so when I read about Lush's Dream Cream and how it has helped people with eczema and dry skin, I had to try it.  The product is Lush's best selling lotion and is designed to sooth and cool even the driest and sensitive of skin.  I found this lotion quite therapeutic in that heals and soothes my dry, chapped skin fairly quickly, plus it relieves itchiness because it has oats milk in it.  It gives a "holistic" scent due to the lavender and oats, which I don't mind.  I do wish it was a tad creamier, because while it does the job of healing and soothing, the moisturizing doesn't last that long and I find myself having to reapply often.  But the thin consistency is perfect for warmer months when you don't want to lather on too much.


Lush Dream Cream

BEST BODY BUTTER
I have two different body butters that I love: Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Baby Eczema Therapy and Yes To Carrots Nourishing Super Rich Body Butter (whew... that's a mouthful, and that's what she said).  I wish I could love The Body Shop's body butters as well but their strong scents do not work well with my dry, sensitive skin, so these are my go-to body butters.

Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Baby Eczema Therapy works great in the hotter months.  It reminds me of cocoa butter cream but better in that it absorbs fast and keeps my skin moisturized, whereas Palmer's cocoa butter cream and oil feels like it's sitting on top of my skin and it makes my psoriasis more itchy and flaky.  Shea moisture is thick enough to moisturize but thin enough for hot weather; it doesn't make me feel "dirty" after all the heat and sweat from the hot days.  I usually put this on before I put on regular lotion, but it can be used alone and all over the body.



Yes to Carrots Nourishing Super Rich Body Butter is probably my favorite body butter and works best during the dryer, colder months.  I love to use this after showering at night and use it alone (no need for Aquaphor unless my skin feels extra dry).  This product is great because it leaves my skin soft for 10+ hours, it's thick enough to moisturize and it absorbs fast.  The smell almost reminds me of the scent of L'Oreal's facial lotion products -- that fresh, somewhat sweet scent of facial products.  Not floral-y, but not overpowering or musky.  It's hard to explain the scent, but one thing it doesn't smell like are carrots.



BEST HAND CREAM
Oh my $&@#!%^! gaaaaw!  When I first applied L'Occitane Dry Skin Hand Cream, I wanted to faint and drown in a pool of L'Occitane lotion... it's that good.  I know it's silly but I was so stingy with this product that I tried not to use it much, that way I could keep it forever.  The hand cream comes from L'Occitane's Shea Butter line and the travel size comes in 1 ounce of product for $12.  You can also get the 5.2 oz size for approximately $28.  The cream is on the pricey side, hence the light usage on my part.  But products are worth the pretty penny, particular this hand cream.  I wash my hands excessively throughout the day which make my hands super dry.  One application and my hands feel brand new again.  It is super absorbent and leaves your skin feeling soft and hydrated for a long, long time.  If I was rich enough I'd use this all over my body, but alas, my wallet does not agree and if it did this list might not exist because this product would just take the cake in all categories.


L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream

BEST HAND AND FACE CREAM
First Aid Beauty's Ultra Repair Cream works great during colder months.  For me, I love applying it at night to my hands and parts of my face where I have dry patches.  My face is actually oily/combo, but I do have dry patches due to psoriaris from time to time.  This lotion does not clog poors and actually absorbs very well for it being on the thick side.  I wake up feeling moisturized and not parched.  It also seems to reduce the flakiness of my dry patches.


First Aid Beauty's Ultra Repair Cream

BEST SOAP PRODUCTS
I've used a very, very long list of body soaps and scrubs and have found relief in the following products.  My skin's moisture is replenished by these products but I want to note that they do not get rid of my psoriasis (none of these products do).

Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Baby Eczema Bar Soap (what's up with these long a$% names?) is A W E S O M E!!!  I bought this for my kids, as they have mild eczema, and fell in love with it when I felt it on my skin.  This soap really moisturizes well and keeps your skin staying soft hours after your shower/bath.  It's made with natural ingredients and seems to work well on my sensitive/temperament skin.  I am madly in the with the smell, which is almost like a coconut butter/baked cake smell.



Grandpa's Wonder Pine Tar Soap - As I was compiling my list of best products, this one product slipped my mind until I looked at the previous product above.  How could I forget about this soap!  Grandpa's Wonder Pine Tar Soap helped me tremendously with my psoriasis.  If you aren't familiar with the skin condition, psoriasis makes a person itch SO BAD, SO MUCH, to the point where it consumes every sense in your body and you just want to rip your skin off.  I experienced horrible flare ups post postpartum and if it wasn't for this soap, I would've probably skinned myself.  The soap provides a ton of lather so it feels like you're getting really cleaned without stripping the moisture from your skin.  It also leaves your skin soft and most importantly, it reliefs the itch accompanied by psoriasis, eczema, poison oak, and even bug bites.  Now, as a warning, the smell is incredibly strong, as if you've rolled around in campfire.  But when I get out of the shower and put on my usual lotions, I don't notice the smell.  I'm not sensitive to smell so if you are, you might want to reconsider using this.  But honestly, if you're itching really bad and are desperate for something that works, the smell shouldn't be a factor.


Grandpa's Wonder Pine Tar Soap (picture from grandpabrands.com)

BEST BATH SOAK
There seems to be a lot of Shea Moisture products on this list, but there's a reason: they're all fantastic!  I don't take baths often but when I do, I love using the Eczema, Psoriasis & Dry Skin Relief Soak.  This has been heaven sent for my family because we all suffer from some sort of skin condition and/or dry skin.  Soaking with this in a warm bath will help tremendously as far as moisture replenishment and itch relief is concerned.  My only regret about using this product is not taking baths as often.  This bath soak is a must for those looking for relief and the title says it all.  Not to mention the wonderfully sweet and buttery-ness of the scent.


Shea Moisture Argan Oil & Raw Shea Eczema, Psoriasis & Dry Skin Relief Soak

BEST BODY WASH
Body washes are products I haven't ventured too far in because when I find a good soap (like the ones mentioned above) I tent to stick with them for my whole body.  But when I started using Yes to Cucumbers, I fell in love.  The best thing about it is that it's not harsh.  The body washes that I've tried feel like they strip my skin, but this product is mild yet leaves my skin feeling cleansed.  The scent of cucumber is fresh, clean, and not strong at all.  It moisturizes my skin and keeps it soft when coupled with the Yes to Carrots body butter (mentioned above).


Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Body Wash

And there you have it! These are my go-to products after many months and years of testing other products.  Again, I want to note that these products are not intended to cure psoriasis or eczema.  These products have helped keep my skin moisturized without flaring up my psoriasis, and they have helped neutralize my condition by reducing itchiness, flakiness, and redness.  I intentionally left out hair/shampoo products because I might put them in a different "best of" list.  Comment below if you are interested in seeing a top shampoo/hair products list.

And as always, this review is based entirely off of my own opinion.  I was not paid to write about any of the products mentioned and I've purchased every single product myself.  These are 100% my honest opinion and my main goal is to provide insight to what might work for those who experience the same things that I am.  Good luck on your journey to better health and skincare!