For a almost a year now, my main body wash has been Necessaire’s Eucalyptus Body Wash. It’s light, not overly stripping, and the eucalyptus scent doesn’t irritate my very sensitive, eczema-prone skin, in the way other body washes — like Le Labo’s — have in the past. Basically, it’s the perfect, neutral, not-too-drying-but-not-too-balmy (overly balmy formulas, like the popular body wash by French brand Cicabiafine, can make my skin feel sticky and itchy) product. But after a week of rashy, itchy, heat-induced eczema flare ups on my arms, I decided I wanted to try out something a bit more hydrating, in the hopes that some extra moisture might help things heal. During a grocery shop at Whole Foods, I decided to investigate their cosmetics aisle in an attempt to find something soothing, and, ideally, cheaper than the Necessaire, which is $25 a bottle.
While perusing the aisles, I spotted a body wash by Weleda. The bottle boasted the formula’s “nourishing, moisture-balancing” properties. Since I’m a longtime fan of Weleda — their cult-favorite Skin Food lotion is one of my favorite products for healing chapped elbows and scaly hands — and since the bottle was a mere $10, I decided to buy it.
I used it that same evening, and fell in love right away. Though it’s rich, it’s not too balmy. It’s extremely gentle (there’s absolutely no stinging or tightness when you step out of the shower), but still works incredibly well — it cleans the body thoroughly, and has never left me feeling still-dirty from my day. The formula incorporates Damascus Rose essential oil, which is great for soothing and calming irritated skin, and also happens to be the world’s best smell — it mixes with the steam to make my dingy little Brooklyn shower feel like a four-star spa. But best of all, after a few days of using it, I noticed my eczema had calmed way down, and the skin on my arms and legs felt more supple and moisturized than ever before.
After I use this in the shower, I step out and put Melaleuca Renew Body Lotion all over, to ensure my skin stays as babylike as possible for someone with my particular set of issues. I love this product so much that I’ve started buying it in bulk on Amazon — something I honestly usually only do with pimple patches. What can I say? I can’t go back to showers that don’t leave me smelling like a literal rose.
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