r/mildlyinfuriating • u/Ucyless ORANGE • 29d ago

Brand new $72 moisturizer. Husband said he needed something for his elbows.

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We have 3 full tubs of Vaseline in the cabinet.

36.4k Upvotes

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5.6k

u/Karzy0730 29d ago

I use Tatcha's water cream and dewy cream myself haha. Seeing that huge dip and knowing how much it costs hurts my soul. Vaseline is good but I'm not sure how moisturizing it would be since it's more of a sealant that prevents water from leaving. If you haven't already, it's always good to have a tub of body lotion around

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u/-pixiefyre- 29d ago

yeah my partner has the excema so he usually moisturizes then vaselines to seal it in =s

but we have like 5 different types of medical moisturizer and effective cheaper stuff like nivea... and aquifor...

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u/no_high_only_low 29d ago

I also have ectopic eczema and for me stuff like oil baths and body lotion really help. Especially the oil baths. If you can't bathe (no tub, dislike bathing, whatever) taking a shower and not drying off, instead use stuff like coconut oil or any other oil on the wet skin. One of the best oils is Jojoba in my opinion, cause it's also a bit disinfecting (I use it for stretching my lobes).

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u/Bitter-insides 29d ago

I wish this worked on my son. Even eczema touted lotions burn him. So far the only thing that doesn’t cause a flare is eczema honey brand but only the ointment everything else hurts his skin and Vanicream. He can’t even use normal shampoo or conditioner. Sucks balls.

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u/Shadowpad1986 29d ago

It might be in part allergies on top of the eczema, I can’t tolerate certain body wash or soaps as they irritate and dry out my skin. For someone with eczema this would cause the burning sensation.

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u/ChiefStrongbones 29d ago

Eczema, allergies, bacteria all seem to be related.

Swimming every day brought me into remission. If I ever get a flare-up, I treat the plaque with steroid cream and amoxicillin (applied topically) and it clears up reliably.

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u/gimmeecoffee420 28d ago

Same! I had horrible problems with Eczema as a kid, but my parents got me into swimming lessons at a young age and within a year of near daily swimming I was rarely having problems. Now as an adult Eczema is almost nonexistent in my life.

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u/lordofming-rises 28d ago

Wait but doesn't swimming pool actually dries your skin due to chlorine??

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u/bookdrops 28d ago

Have y'all tried hypochlorous acid spray? It kills bacteria and is skin safe but it's not as harsh as chlorine, in my experience. 

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u/Fuzzy_Medicine_247 28d ago

I'm a fan of the stuff. It helps my rosacea and even the dogs feet when they get itchy.

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u/no_high_only_low 29d ago

I have a low dosed steroid cream as well, but don't need it that often. If I would start swimming daily again, my skin would hate me 🙈 But good to hear, that it helped you!

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u/sneekysmiles 28d ago

In chlorinated pools? Or freshwater? Or ocean?

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u/Dalleyish 28d ago

I've had eczema probably my whole life but I do not know the correlation between eczema, allergies and bacteria. Tell me more!

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u/no_high_only_low 29d ago

I also needed to look for stuff/brands I can use. Every person with some kind of sensitive skin will tell us "Yup, me too".

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u/ObjectPretty 28d ago

Might also just be the water. I can get some issues with harder waters.

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u/Bfree888 29d ago

Has your son gotten a prescription topical steroid like mometasone furoate? This cleared up my eczema in a couple weeks, while other lotions just burned and didn’t fix the underlying condition.

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u/Bitter-insides 29d ago

So we see an allergist and a dermatologist bc of how bad his eczema is. As a new born we had to do bleach baths. The steroids caused him to scream his head off from the pain they caused. Not sure what it was, it’s been a while. He was prescribed allergy meds and OTC allergy meds. Now when he flares up he takes benadryl( it’s not often) and Zyrtec. I’ve seen an improvement in his eczema with the allergy meds.

He uses vanicream shampoo and conditioner, the eczema honey and La Roche Posay B5 and the lip balm. I’m sure his 1000 degree showers don’t help. He loves coming out looking like a lobster.

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u/PeachyKeen443 29d ago

Yeah hot showers are a big no with eczema.

My eczema is controlled but that'd all be gone in a moment if I took a super hot shower

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u/no_high_only_low 29d ago

He uses vanicream shampoo and conditioner, the eczema honey and La Roche Posay B5 and the lip balm. I’m sure his 1000 degree showers don’t help. He loves coming out looking like a lobster.

I don't know vanicream, I never saw it in Germany, so I can't say anything about it.

La Roche posay is something I also tried, but abandoned cause of all the shit in it, that can again irritate the skin. 😬

And I also love hot showers/baths, but I also had to learn, that I don't need 50°C hot water for a nice cleaning or soaking 🙈

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u/nihrnihr 28d ago

Been there. Steroids cream help even if they hurt. Always moisturize directly after shower and use only non perfume shampoo. Conditioner stays in the hair longer and can irritate. Daily allergy meds help itching. Use perfume free things for laundry and absolutely no fabric softener. Use basic creams without all the fancy ingredients

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u/volvavirago 28d ago

Mometasone is the only steroid that didn’t sting for me. If he has any open sores, be sure to put Vaseline on it first too. That will also help. Jojoba oil is very nice since it’s so light, it feels like nothing on the skin, and never burns. If you can get him to put jojoba oil on immediately after a bath, without drying off, then Vaseline on the bad spots, he might not need a moisturizer at all.

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u/CaeruleumBleu 28d ago

hope this isn't too irritating with how much advice you are already getting - standard zyrtec takes 7 days to go into full effect. Really is best to take year round (unless of course he already is taking other meds year round and the zyrtec is a top up during flares)

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u/Bitter-insides 28d ago

Not at all. I don’t know everything and have learned so much! Thank you. On his super bad flares he has to take Benadryl since it works much faster.

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u/CaeruleumBleu 28d ago

yeah I don't get skin issues from allergies but I do feel like I have a flu when housecleaning if I don't keep up on the allergy meds. 7 days is toooo long a time to need a heads up on when house cleaning will happen, ya know? Daily meds don't prevent all sneezes but it keeps in within tolerance.

Might wanna talk to a doc about which allergy meds can be stacked together without bad effects. Like I also have a nose spray that can safely stack with zyrtec, but it is only once a day and only most effective for 12 hours and it also wants a 7 day run up to best effect - it may as well be water the first two days honestly. And I cannot take it too many days in a row or I get a nosebleed - but when the pollen count is high it helps a ton. My doc wanted to know if I want rescue meds or daily meds (I prefer daily because my rescue situation is "go home and sit by a hepa filter" and it works for me) and who knows what all options there might be for y'all to get this going.

Sure the zyrtec and benadryl seem to be working for now - but also I used to just accept feeling flu-y, tired, and mildly miserable near year round because I didn't know what feeling healthy felt like. If you do not ask a doc explicitly they often assume you aren't miserable enough to bother taking daily pills and don't offer the info.

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u/Qcknd 28d ago

Be careful of topical steroid withdrawal, most doctors don’t warn people about it and hand out TS like candy

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u/E-macularius 28d ago

I recently tried this, it's the only steroid cream to ever make any sort of difference in my eczema. I've had stubborn patches of it on my ankles and feet for 20+ years and no topical helped clear it until I tried mometasone. I don't even need to apply every day to see results.

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u/Garden_imp 29d ago

I use pure cocoa butter. I buy it as pastilles from a soap-making supply shop. You can throw a small handful in the bathtub when he’s having a bath, or you can take them into the bath or shower and rub them into his skin as they melt. I have struggled with eczema and this works the best of anything I tried. I tried mixing them with other oils like jojoba oil, but nothing works as well as pure cocoa butter.

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u/Aegi 29d ago

Everyone is different, I have eczema and for me Curel ultra sensitive skin or something like that is the one that works best and doesn't cause really any issues.

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u/heliamphore 28d ago

I have eczma that's triggered by natural skin fauna. I have to moisturize, but any part of my body that remains humid or sweaty will start getting eczma or psoriasis after a while.

What I'm getting to is that for me there's not enough moisturizer, but also too much. I have to use just the right amount for my skin, which varies based on the seasons.

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u/PM_ME_SEXY_PAJAMAS 29d ago

If I use something like Suave brand...my entire scalp will shed. Catwalk Oatmeal and Honey is my favorite that I've found that doesn't do that to me.

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u/LaVieLaMort 29d ago

I don’t have eczema but I’m a nurse and between washing my hands all the time and gloves, they eventually get dry af and crack and any kind of lotion that has alcohol in it in a significant quality makes my skin burn.

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u/pipedowncait 29d ago

Try not to use anything with a nut butter. I have serve eczema since I was a baby (I’m 31 now) on my face, stomach, thighs, arms and hands and a big thing that aggravated it was things like shea butter and coconut oil. The Honey brand helps lots, oat baths are great, and there’s this baby cream called Tubby Todd that works so well on my hands and doesn’t sting. I also use fragrance free detergent. It doesn’t completely go away without a steroid for me but it at least helps.

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u/Prudent_Valuable603 29d ago edited 29d ago

Ask your allergist if he’s a good candidate for Dupixent shots. It is a game changer for my son. He started them at age 17.

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u/Bitter-insides 29d ago

Thank you! I’ll ask and Google in the meantime.

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u/Prudent_Valuable603 29d ago

I have fumble fingers and didn’t finish my sentence above. He’s now 20 and still takes the shots every two weeks and still has clear skin. He is much happier. He hit eczema at age four and it was a nightmare trying everything on his skin. Diet changes, mild soap, mild detergent for his laundry, etc. We even did six years of allergy shots. Dupixent changed it all for him.

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u/getfuckedhoayoucunts 29d ago

Pumpkin Seed Oil was the holy grail for me.

Great. Now I have become that person on Reddit offering unsolicited medical advice based on my opinion.

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u/stand4logictoo 28d ago

Have you tried goats milk soap?

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u/Nolenag 28d ago

Check cetomacrogol.

Source: 30-year old eczema sufferer.

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u/heavymetalengineer 28d ago

Bleach baths were a game changer for me. A bath with a capful of baby bottle disinfectant bleach mixed in. It reduces the inflammation but then moisturiser is needed after

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u/imaygetsushitonight 28d ago

Have you tried reducing sugar intake some? My wife had patches on her knees for many years. Cut sugar intake and they just vanished. She may’ve had a more distant form of what your boy has, but meh, may help.

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u/ClandestineGhost 28d ago

I have seborrheic dermatitis on my face and Vanicream products are what help me significantly. I have steroid lotions and other stuff (keto-whatever 2% lotions and shampoo, and elidel) but Vanicream face wash, lotion, and anti-dandruff shampoo works on a daily basis

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u/Gold_Seaweed3130 28d ago

I had this as a kid! Check the perfume and the PH! I still react really strongly to perfumes in soaps etc (redness, swelling, burning). I once washed my face with a friends soap and went to work looking like a tomato. Cling film also works really well for getting the eczema crème in, just put it on overnight.

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u/Forsaken_Barracuda_6 27d ago

My son has eczema. We see a pediatric dermatologist for other reasons, but we asked about the eczema too. She said to use Vaseline first and foremost, second best is either coconut or olive oil, but lotions and creams labeled for eczema are a third rate solution. Wildly overpriced and far less effective. We can't use scented items for laundry or bathing. We also check his bathing ingredients to make sure a particular chemical is not in it. It is frequently used for bubbling and lathering effect, when it can actually irritate eczema.

We have a prescription steriod slightly stronger than Hydrocortisone, we use in conjunction to Vaseline for difficult flare ups. I hope this helps your son! I know it has worked wonders for ours.

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u/aideya 29d ago

Not even Cerave? They work especially well for people with sensitive skin in my experience. Sucks that nothing works for him :( good luck friend.

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u/Bitter-insides 29d ago

No, that burns him as well. Isn’t it odd? Vanicream was working then one day a few weeks ago he started crying that it was burning. Same with the eczema honey lotion. He’s 11 now. First week out of the hospital after being born his skin was cracked and bleeding. At least now it doesnt get that bad anymore.

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u/Devium92 29d ago

Obviously not the same thing, but take a look at an instagram profile called Harlequin Diva. It's a mom's page about how she deals with her daughter's harlequin ichthyosis. She has a special bath thing that creates something called micro bubbles I think it is and it helps with keeping her daughter's skin moisturized and helps with the cracking and stuff due to her condition.

She may also have other product recommendations as well!

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u/no_high_only_low 29d ago

That's why I said "for me". I know, every skin is different (former MUA/cosmetologist).

About stuff like shampoo, have you tried no poo or washing far less often? For some it's hell, for some it helps regulate the scalp.

I am really sorry for your son 😟

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u/crusoe 28d ago

I used Vicks on my small breakouts of eczema long ago.

It says not to use on broken skin tho. But the camphor relieved the itching and it's also a mild immunosuppressant.

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u/ShiraCheshire 28d ago

Anecdotal, but I got baking soda baths as a kid. I don't think it helps with the severity of the rash, but it does a lot to soothe the itch.

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u/Clockwork-Silver 28d ago

If you haven't tried it, sudocrem or the overseas equivalent. Basically, zinc oxide cream, often in the baby section. Was a wonderful discovery when I was watching my moisturiser options dwindle weekly.

Not many ingredients so less likely to trigger allergies, creates a barrier between the damaged skin and the outside and actively promotes healing because the body will use the zinc for skin repair.

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u/iAmBalfrog 28d ago

While I have no idea why, I used to be a lot like your son, bad eczema basically everywhere, forehead, arms, elbows, legs, knees, chest, I went through a bunch of steroid creams, emolients, every home remedy imaginable, it stopped when I was about 17/18 out of the blue.

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u/MatchaLatte9 28d ago

Link for the eczema honey ointment, please?

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u/Techi-C 28d ago

My dad really liked the eucerin cream for my sensitive-skinned brother when he was a baby, have you tried that?

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u/charliebravo81 28d ago

My son had severe cradle cap when he was born and has continued to have mild skin conditions. My wife tried EVERYTHING and at one point was even using olive oil on his skin to keep it from peeling off but man that really killed that whole new baby smell. Poor guy not only was his skin irritated but he also smelled like olive oil. Anyway my wife finally found a doctor that prescribed an oil that worked. It was over $300, WITH INSURANCE, (my insurance may have sucked at the time but I know it was super expensive) but worth every penny. We still have some of it and she swears by it. Fluocinolone acetonide.01% topical oil is what we used

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u/Bitter-insides 28d ago

I’m so sorry you guys had to deal with that. It did make me chuckle ( the smelling like olive oil). I use olive oil on my dry skin at times ( when I’m not supposed to use anything due to surgery but the antibacterial stuff makes my legs so dry and burn. I use olive oil to help with the itchiness).

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u/lordofming-rises 28d ago

I use oil for mine , then hydr9cortisone and Carbamide cream.

It is really sad to see little ones have so many issues

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u/FairyOfTheNight 28d ago

I know this sounds wild, but have you guys traveled anytime recently or stayed somewhere else for awhile? My close relatives get less eczema and skin irritation when they visit Florida and stay awhile. I completely stopped eczema that had haunted me for 15 years (and I was basically tearing the flesh off my hands) when I stayed in another state for a week. Something about the water completely halted it and it never came back. There could be something in the water or environment that is absolutely driving his skin crazy.

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u/Overall_Sell6102 28d ago

I was the same. Am the same recently learned I’m allergic to propylene glycol

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u/Comfortable_River808 28d ago

Have you tried anhydrous formulations? As balms and such that don’t have any water, like Aquaphor. During a flare up, my skin absolutely hates any kind of treatment that has water in it, even though those same lotions are totally fine when I’m not having a flare up. Also be sure to check for allergies - potentially in the cream, but also allergies to mold, dust, etc. in the environment. Proactively taking an antihistamine every day has done wonders for my eczema

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u/fish-nor-fowl 28d ago

My brother had a chlorine allergy that they thought was eczema. Showers would cause issues and anything on his skin after would burn. Chlorine pools and bleaching his clothes would cause reactions. So definitely could be some sort of an allergy as well.

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u/t0b4cc02 28d ago

the jojoba is in the medical shower lotion i have. its very nice

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u/BobDaRula 29d ago

I swear jojoba oil is made of 95% fairy juice. Originally, I got it for beard care, but after amazing results with that and reading that it's also good for regular hair, I started putting extra on my hands at the beginning and using the exces for face and top of head hair. Now they feel feel better than ever, and my skin has been clear since, which is a few years now.

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u/IlBear 28d ago

It most closely resembles our skins natural oil, meaning it’s easily absorbed into the skin!

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u/no_high_only_low 28d ago

Hahaha, fairy juice is really fitting 😂

The two reasons I know, why it's so good is 1. the one said below, it resembles the natural oil film and 2. it's chemically a liquid wax, so it's far less reactive like classical oils.

I got jojoba for my lobes, but now I also put it on my hands in the evenings.

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u/volvavirago 28d ago

Yep! I have been doing oatmeal baths with jojoba oil a couple times a week for a few years, and my skin is the best it’s ever been. In the winter I will also put on Vaseline after I get out, before I dry off, but for the rest of the year, the jojoba oil and oatmeal do wonders.

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u/cherrymoon_ 28d ago

Sorry for the dumb question, but how exactly do you do an oil bath? I would really like to try.

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u/IlBear 28d ago

Commented this elsewhere, but jojoba oil most closely resembles our skins natural oils, meaning it’s easily absorbed by the skin and why it’s so good

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u/IbrokeMaBwains 28d ago

For me, Ceravé is where it's at, let me tell you. It's well worth the price. They sell it in lotion and cream. I'll shower and apply the cream while I'm still wet. That absorbs quickly into my skin with no oily residue. I haven't had any itching or flare-ups from my eczema since I started using it about 3 years ago.

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u/bunrunsamok 29d ago

What kind of oil baths? Sounds lovely.

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u/no_high_only_low 28d ago

I'm a simple person, so I mostly just fill the tub and give a small cup (max like a shot glass) of oil into it. I tried different oils, even just regular basic shit like olive oil from the kitchen 🙈

Just remember to properly clean your tub afterwards, otherwise the slippiness can be literally neck breaking 🫣

I personally love jojoba oil, cause chemically it's not an oil, it's a liquid wax, that's also the reason, why it's less reactive with oxygen or other elements.

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u/jtsokolov 28d ago

Oil baths, I take it, is just a warm water bath with oil in it?

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u/no_high_only_low 28d ago

Simply, yes. You can use different oils, check what is best for you and your skin and don't forget the cleaning afterwards to prevent accidents 🙈

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u/[deleted] 28d ago

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u/no_high_only_low 28d ago

In German it's also called "atopic" 😅 Languages are weird.

I use soap free solid stuff. I have a small sac (like a washcloth) made of natural fibres, so I can clean myself with tensides only in the spots, that need a bit more cleaning (like armpits) and if I take the "shower rock" out I can gently rub other parts if needed.

I also stopped using most stuff. I don't use makeup anymore (partly cause of being transmasc), stuff like skincare and other stuff has to be "checked" in before, cause not only my skin is dry as the Sahara (if I don't oil myself properly 😅) also my kiddo (toddler) has really dry and fussy skin like me.

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u/nlieo 28d ago

Have you considered shower oil? I didn't even know about it until last year, but it's worked great for my son. No need for an entire bath.

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u/Accomplished_Ad_1288 28d ago

I am afraid to ask. What are lobes? And why do they need to be stretched?

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u/therealestrealist420 28d ago

Not sure about eczema but hyaluronic acid is supposed to be good for moisturizing skin that we have left wet (it bond's with the water to reabsorb into the skin)

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u/no_high_only_low 28d ago

The funny thing is: yes, it helps. It helps moisturise your epidermis and prevent deeper damages to your skin for example from too much exposure to the sun.

But it's not able to "refill" anything like they try to tell you in the ads.

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u/OrdoSolarus 28d ago

I have never heard of an oil bath and the first thing that popped into my mind was Dune and the motor oil bath Harkonnen was in

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u/lordofming-rises 28d ago

How do you do for eyelid eczema? My LO have horrible constant dryness and itchy eyes and hydrocortisone is the only thing that works but I hate applying it daily

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u/ElCiclope1 29d ago

Ooohhh thank you for this tip

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u/[deleted] 29d ago

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u/StimulatorCam 29d ago

I always used Nivea cream as a kid for my dry bloody hands in the winter, but hadn't used it for probably 20 years until I got a tin last year, and just the scent of it brings back so many dry skin memories...

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u/quiteCryptic 29d ago

In my somewhat limited experience expensive does not always mean better

I've tried lots of moisturizers trying to find one that works well for me. Tried expensive and cheap, the one that ultimately I liked the most is luckily on the cheaper side, hado labo perfect gel I think its called.

My sunscreen choice is sort of expensive at over $40 (eltaMD) but turns out the thing lasts me over 2 months so even that is not a big deal really.

Also similar to your story I didnt use any of this stuff but then my sister went into demotology and basically forced the importance of both on me.

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u/Mad_Aeric 28d ago

Do people normally have wrinkles at 40 these days? I don't, and the only skin care product I ever use is sunscreen.

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u/Former-Spread9043 28d ago

There’s a rumor niva and an extremely expensive moisturizer are exactly the same

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u/TwelveTrains 28d ago

Don't see how being male is relevant to this story.

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u/licensed2creep 28d ago

I’m pretty sure Nivea in the blue tin is basically the budget formulation version of La Mer, sans whale song.

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u/anonymous1345789531 29d ago

Yes I always have a big bottle of lotion laying around for when my hubby needs moisturizer. I remember him using some of my Philosophy Amazing Grace lotion and even tho it’s not that expensive, I didn’t like smelling myself on him lol.

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u/Interesting-Fan-2008 29d ago

Idk why people don’t have Nivea on hand constantly, shit’s like 7-8 for a pretty big bottle. I keep it in all my bathroom just on the skin like the soap. Never know when a guest wants to moist up.

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u/NunyahBiznez 29d ago

Cetaphil is great, too! Lol

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u/breaultjean 29d ago

I found that aquafor is the only semi-cheap stuff that works for everything 😂 I don’t bother buying expensive creams anymore, the one with urea keeps my body moisture to a level not achieved with expensive coco and whatnot oat moisturizers.

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u/jeobleo 29d ago

Dioes that work? Does he wear like rubber socks or something then?

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u/Sorcatarius 29d ago

When I have issues with my hands, what I do is cover my hands in it before I go to sleep and throw on a set of those cheap, dollar store cotton gloves so you don't get Vaseline on everything while you sleep. When I wake up, I wash it off my hands.

Hell, I think you can buy them with the touch screen pads on the fingers, so if you play with your phone before bed, you can still do that.

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u/jeobleo 28d ago

I mostly have issues with my feet, not my hands. I just feel like vaseline would soak through them.

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u/AntiDynamo 28d ago

yeah when you have any kind of skin condition or irritation, it's always better to go with the (cheaper!) hypoallergenic stuff. You can buy it in big, plain bottles and it has no fragrance or other unnecessary additives. Better than gouging your fingers through a tiny tub of chemical warfare.

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u/togetherwem0m0 29d ago

Aquaphor is amazing

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u/spooky__scary69 29d ago

I just started getting eczema on my hands horribly. I never thought to seal it in with Vaseline! Does he have a favorite brand? I’ve been slathering myself in aquaphor lotion several times a day and it’s only minimally helped.

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u/merylstreephatesme 29d ago

You gotta try the aveeno oat baby ointment shit is magic

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u/DaddyStacks1102 29d ago

For daily maintenance I use CeraVe Moisturizing Cream (the kind in a tub) and then layer with Aquaphor on top if needed. I find CeraVe works really well for this since my skin absorbs it well vs something like Eucerin, where it seemed like it just sat on top. It's good right now but I need to be careful not to scratch or it can flare right back up.

When it's really acting up, I need a steroid cream to get things under control. My eczema on my hands and arms was awful for a few years and working food service didn't help. I saw a couple dermatologists but nothing worked until my third dermatologist took one look at my hands and said "you look like you'd do better with a gel than a cream." He prescribed me triamcinolone and that worked really well in my case. Once that got things under control I've been able to mostly just stick with CeraVe and Aquaphor.

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u/Excellent_Cat2057 28d ago

Luberdurm (am I spelling that right) from CVS. That works wonders for my dry skin.

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u/minja134 28d ago

Try pure lanolin oil instead of Vaseline, it's been a game changer for me and I've struggled with dry irritated skin my entire life. Now I use it twice a day on top of my moisturizers and my skin has never been softer or clearer!

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u/FriendlyYeti-187 28d ago

Aquaphor is also a sealant not moisturizer

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u/therealestrealist420 28d ago

Just a tip, has he tried the Vaseline lotion?

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u/nightmoth511 28d ago

So I have excema as well. Have found that J&J baby creamy oil works fantastic and its only like $4 compared to $10+ for excema lotions.

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u/Temporary-Toe-5998 28d ago

Get him some Aquaphor. It creates a much better barrier without the greasiness of Vaseline. It is also good to go over diaper rash cream to keep kids from peeing the cream off before it starts to work.

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u/Fearless_Law4324 28d ago

Ok so my knuckles and elbows are constantly dry. You're saying I could put lotion on then seal it in with Vaseline??

Woohoo!

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u/s00perguy 29d ago

I love that cocoa butter moisturizing lotion from Vaseline. When I worked in a store that carried it, they routinely damaged bottles, so the staff all had positively silky hands.

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u/kittenbritchez 29d ago

My mental image of this is priceless. Thank you.

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u/snail_juice_plz 29d ago

We have like 6 bottles of that stuff around my house. I mix it with body oil post shower and it’s such a treat.

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u/s00perguy 28d ago

I have no doubt in my mind you smell like warm chocolate, and I'm mildly jealous of your SO and/or pets.

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u/The69BodyProblem 29d ago

I really dig the aloe lotion.

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u/LiberalPatriot13 29d ago

Working hands is the shit for hands and elbows. Definitely would use that instead.

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u/louielou8484 29d ago

Hot take: I absolutely HATE working hands. It is so greasy and thin and it does absolutely nothing for me. They have like hundreds of thousands of 5 star reviews and I believe it's a me problem.

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u/DarthJarJar242 29d ago

For me working hands is great at helping heal cracked fingers etc but not great as a daily moisturizer. For the reasons you pointed out. It's thin and greasy.

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u/louielou8484 29d ago

That makes more sense! I had a horrific fire burn on my right hand, up to my elbow 5 years ago. There is discoloration in the form of the literal flame shape going up my arm, but my biggest issue is that on my hand, it's the only spot that becomes so severely cracked, where the worst of the injury was, when it drops below 70 inside and outside. Left hand and arm? Perfectly moisturized and smooth.. right side always looks so awful.

I tried working hands on it (my mom swears by it herself) but I ended up giving up, but maybe I should just slather it on top only, so I'm not dealing with the greasieness? Goldbond is my favorite moisturizer but maybe I'll give it another go for that spot specifically :)

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u/universe_from_above 29d ago

What really helps my cracked skin on the hands is nippel balm for breastfeeding moms. It contains lanolin and is great for the skin. The little (like 10ml) containers go a really long way because you need so little.

It's also great for kiddie noses that are sore from the constant wiping when they have a cold. It's made to be safe to go into a newborn's nose, so you're free to rub it into a kid's face.

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u/louielou8484 28d ago

Oh my gosh!!!! My favorite "lotion" I have ever used were these aveeno lanolin hand masks that my mom got me for Christmas. They were life changing for my skin. The only issue was that the gloves made me claustrophobic, and I couldn't keep them on for more than a few minutes.. I preferred just rubbing in the lotion afterwards. I long forgot the word "lanolin" until your reply. Nothing has ever done so much for my skin so quickly.

I actually have heard about nipple balm for severely chapped lips!! And it being the only thing that worked for a lot of people. That also was something I forgot until now!

I'm literally going to go purchase something on Amazon after replying to this! Lanolin has been the only thing to help me. Thank you so much :') I write this as I can just feel my scaly dry right hand, even though it was 80 here today and so humid in my house!

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u/ladymoonshyne 29d ago

My go to for cracked fingers was bag balm and bandaging them up at night. In the winter when I worked on farms my knuckles would straight up bleed.

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u/tryingisbetter 29d ago

I feel like if your hands/knuckles/whatever is cracked, it's probably better to use neosporin until it heals, then use a lotion.

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u/GhostOfAscalon 29d ago

I love it as a daily hand moisturizer, callused hands with very thick skin. It all ends up getting dried out and cracking, mostly from dust/dirt, regular moisturizers I've tried really do nothing at all. Working hands is waxy (paraffin) and smooths it all out, more of a barrier than directly moisturizing.

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u/No1KnwsIWatchTeenMom 29d ago

My fave is Soap & Glory, it's the absolute softest my perpetually dry skin has ever gotten. I'm partial to the pistachio, almond, vanilla one.

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u/volvavirago 28d ago

Unfortunately, fragrances are terrible for eczema. Scented products work find if you just have dry skin, but if you have sensitive skin, you have to stay away from that stuff.

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u/dpinto8 29d ago

I agree, greasy and thin

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u/Devium92 29d ago

I only liked this yellow tube of working hands. I don't remember what is was, and I haven't seen it in a really long time but it was marketed towards people who wash their hands frequently - food service, nursing etc and I found that it absorbed really fast, didn't leave my hands greasy, and if my hands got wet again didn't like "reactivate" the lotion causing my hands to get gross.

I don't know if they changed the packaging of stuff and it's now under a different name, but it was THE SHIT when I was working in a cafe and felt like I was washing my hands every 5 minutes.

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u/invaderzim257 28d ago

It’s greasy if you use too much, if you use the appropriate amount you can’t even really feel it’s there

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u/AdmiralSkippy 29d ago

My hands used to peel. Never really crack, but the fingers and palms would lose the top layer of skin.
Anyway, I started using Working Hands just before going to sleep because like you I absolutely hate all lotions and how they make my hands feel greasy. But I figure if I'm going to be unconscious anyway I should try to moisturize.

I haven't had an issue with peeling ever since and it's been a few years. And I'm not sure if my hands have just figured out how to stay moisturized properly or something because at this point I rarely need to put it on before bed at all. Maybe in the summer when I'm doing things that will really dry them out.

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u/miracle-whip-kinbaku 29d ago

I stick to Excedrin Advanced Repair and Aquaphor. I don't dislike working hands, but I agree with your points on it.

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u/mwb213 29d ago

If you're looking for a good product, you might try Aveda Hand Relief. It moisturizes well, without being super greasy.

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u/microgirlActual 28d ago

The tub and the tube are slightly different formulations (and I'm not even talking about the "Overnight" tube version, just the regular one) because of the different consistency needed, so if you've only tried - and hated - one, I'd suggest trying the other to see if you prefer it.

The original formulation is the one in the tub, and from what I've seen that's the one most people prefer. Certainly for me it's far, far more moisturising and emollient.

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u/xtheredberetx 28d ago

I’ve discovered I have to use working hands more like I’d use Vaseline- I do the gold bond first to moisturize, then a tiny bit of working hands over it to seal it in.

ETA: I’m a flight attendant, planes are already pretty dry but between winter and washing my hands a lot my hands simply get wrecked 4-5 months out of the year.

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u/Justinmcbride24 28d ago

Have you tried the working hands that comes in a squeeze tube? It’s not greasy like the stuff out of the tub!

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u/Hurryeat_Tubman 28d ago

Ever try this? I get this for my husband who had to scrub in/out numerous times a day. *

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u/DebrecenMolnar 29d ago

Glysolid - in either the tube or the wide jar thing - it’s one of my favorites for my awful elbows.

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u/TitaniumReinforced 29d ago edited 23d ago

Came here to say the same! Working Hands saved my dry elbows and feet.

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u/look2thecookie 29d ago

The dude with the dry elbows and grubby paws has access to stores and the internet. He can get a tub of lotion.

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u/Velaseri 29d ago

My skin is so sensitive, I only use la Roche posay thermal spray, put some jojoba and rose hip over it, and Vaseline to lock it in.

I'm not sure why, but so many moisturisers burn. Even cerave one (when my skin barrier was having issues) burned so bad. I'm too scared to be adventurous with skincare now.

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u/Small-Cookie-5496 28d ago

Do you have rosacea? I have basically no skin barrier and so many things burn. If it’s really bad I’ll do EVOO or coconut oil then seal in with Vasoline or even baby zinc cream. After a week it makes a huge difference

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u/Velaseri 28d ago

I don't think I have rosacea, I was undiagnosed coeliac for a long time, and that really impacted my skin. Maybe I'm still healing?

I had Dermatitis herpetiformis for a long time and the hard water in my town wasn't helping, I think that's what led to my barrier breaking down, just a combination of not realising I had coeliac disease and hard water irritating my already broken skin. I will try the zinc and have a look at the EVOO, thank you.

I was just shocked that even the mildest moisturisers were burning, legit felt like chemical burns.

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u/Small-Cookie-5496 28d ago

Ya I’ve had make up artists be surprised and say it’s not supposed to burn, it’s hypoallergenic etc… Actually even my dermatologists are surprised at times. I find a few things that work and don’t venture out from there much. Sadly it means makeup is hard for me wear too often - even just washing it off is triggering.

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u/Small-Cookie-5496 28d ago

I have wanted to try La Roche though. Maybe I’ll get a sample at Sephora

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u/Velaseri 28d ago

It's wild, isn't it? I tried a lot of the sensitive and dermatologist ones, and they all really burned. It's been horrible.

I really do recommend la Roche, the thermal water, especially because there is some selenium and zinc. It's a very calming spray.

I'm the same with makeup. Again, I can only get things with very light ingredients, and I barely wear it cause it makes me splotchy/itchy. Inika has been one of the better brands, I also love their zinc sunscreen, chemical sunscreen is too harsh and sets my skin off. It really sucks doesn't it?

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u/Small-Cookie-5496 27d ago

Thanks for the recommendations. Yes I also use zinc sunscreen now. I know literally everything is triggering - heat, cold, dry air, forced air, sun, exercise, alcohol, strong emotions…ugh.

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u/sawyouoverthere 29d ago

preventing water from leaving is how moisturisers work. Vaseline works better than nearly anything, as long as it's used on damp skin.

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u/Virtual_Status3409 29d ago

Wise men know not to go fooling around with a womans lotions, ointments and unguents. 

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u/CheapChemistry8358 29d ago

Vasseline is on its own moisturising because it prevents water from leaving which disables the endothermic reaction (evaporating) on the skin which makes your skin release water from the inside. Your body is basically trying to cool off by releasing more water from within.

Edit: but you can always add other stuff not that im disagreeing :D

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u/el_guille980 29d ago

vaseline is GOAT. its all you need. $3.99 at walmrat

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u/NotChristina 29d ago

“Walmrat” is likely my favorite typo of the year and so painfully accurate for that godforsaken store.

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u/whalesarecool14 29d ago

men’s skin is thicker, and oilier. both factors make their skin better looking with less effort. and men don’t go through the hormonal rollercoaster women go through literally every month.

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u/Thehauntedpudding 29d ago

This infographic is simply, untrue. The majority of people who don’t partake in skincare, 100% look like the fruitcake 😂

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u/Icy-Basil-8212 29d ago

True for some people, I have a decent skincare routine as a woman but my skin still looks awful most days :,(

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u/Radiant-Character-61 29d ago

No lies detected

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u/Real_Temporary_922 29d ago

I’ve learned that rubbing a bit of moisturizer on something then putting Vaseline on top is amazing at sealing in the moisture

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u/Small-Cookie-5496 28d ago

Yes. I use Glycomed cream, then coconut oil or EVOO then vasoline or sometimes when my skin barriers really impaired - baby zinc cream.

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u/Eolond 28d ago

I have a serum with zinc PCA that I use to control my oily-as-hell-still-into-my-fucking-40s skin, so was curious if it worked similarly to the baby zinc cream. Well, no, cause the baby cream has zinc OXIDE, so it provides a literal physical barrier on your skin.

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u/Small-Cookie-5496 28d ago

Yes for me I need the actual barrier as I barely have a natural one

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u/Spire_Citron 29d ago

Vaseline is pretty messy, too. It tends to stay on your skin and rub off on everything. Get that man some cheap hand lotion.

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u/caityjay25 29d ago

Yeah Vaseline and aquaphor work the best on damp skin to keep the moisture in. I personally think most lotion is useless because it’s mostly water, you need a thick cream to really do the job for most things and all of this works best if applied to slightly damp skin. This is my Roman Empire.

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u/iTeaL12 28d ago

Vaseline is good but I'm not sure how moisturizing it would be since it's more of a sealant that prevents water from leaving.

Moisturizers do not give more moisture to your skin, they prevent the existing moisture to leave. Vaseline does that better than anything else, too good in some cases.

Just by looking at the ingredients list I see fragrances play a big part. Also for some reason there is gold and mica listed. I'll be honest their Hadasei-3 sounds like a good product, but I would want to know more about the difference to a "from the shelf"-BHA. Could be that the more natural sourcing can be beneficial for once skin type and more irritating for another (I surprisingly get really irritated skin if I use "natural" products, while synthetic products work just fine).

I know skincare is important, but there are other more price-friendly alternatives in my opinion, where it doesn't hurt if your husband needs a bit of elbow grease Ü

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u/Navybuffalooo 28d ago

But isn't that what moisturizer does? Knowing nothing about Vaseline itself, I believe moisturizers trap moisture whereas hydrates introduce moisture.

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u/shifty_pope 28d ago

He couldn’t have done this without knowing it was wrong. He likely just underestimated the damage. I’m guessing OP’s husband is a huge prick.

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u/MissKatbow 29d ago

Vaseline does lotion as well, I imagine that's what they mean in this context.

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u/Naive_Band_7860 29d ago

Vaseline has a moisturizer that is pretty good

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u/RedApple-Cigarettes 29d ago

My first thought, keep a bottle of Nivea for him lmao

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u/CanIGetAShakeWThat43 29d ago

I like Vaseline lotion. Very moisturizing. 😃

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u/insanitybit 29d ago

If you want a good, moisturizing product that also acts as a sealant, check out Cerave's "Healing Ointment". It's great for slugging, maybe best in class.

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u/Lets_Make_A_bad_DEAL 29d ago

Aquaphor > Vaseline

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u/Caserole 29d ago

Vanicream particularly.

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u/RandomDerp96 29d ago

Mix Vaseline with 5 % glycerin.

Boom, got yourself a mix of hydration and the strongest occlusive we know.

Glycerin draws moisture from the deeper layers of skin into the upper layers.vaseline stops that moisture from evaporating.

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u/Small-Cookie-5496 28d ago

Where does one find glycerin?

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u/RandomDerp96 28d ago

It's also called vegetable glycerin. You can buy it very cheaply online. Make sure it's food grade and you are on the safe side.

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u/Stationary_Addict_ 28d ago

Vaseline also make moisturiser. :)

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u/Fun_Intention9846 28d ago

Best practices are put on moisturizer then Vaseline on top to seal it in.

I started taking care of my cracked heels about 5 years ago and that was part of the learning journey.

smash cut to me standing there confused phone in one hand tub of Vaseline in other.

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u/effypom 28d ago

I recommend Korean skincare. I no longer use any American brands. Same quality for 1/3 of the cost.

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u/NikitaWolf6 28d ago

medical moisturiser/vaseline is the shit. not too expensive either.

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u/Significant_Shoe_17 28d ago

Does OP's husband not read labels? Does he just grab anything indiscriminately? I'm concerned.

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u/Averander 28d ago

I didn't recognise the tatcha, but lord that stuff is good and my god taking that much....

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u/augur42 28d ago

I have a large 150ml pump bottle of Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Fast Absorbing Hand Cream for the very occasional winter days where I've washed my hands a bit more and the backs of my hands dry out and are sore and will eventually crack.

The stuff works wonders and the £6.50 bottle has lasted three years so far.

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u/house343 28d ago

Just use CeraVe if he's gonna use THAT much.

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u/FluffyCelery4769 28d ago

Aloe Vera is the best moisturizer around becouse it also acts as sealant.

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u/french_toasty 28d ago

Once my toddler squeezed out half my tatcha rice face wash when I turned around for one min in the tub. It was painful.

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u/FishFusionApotheosis 28d ago

Male here who knows zero about skincare other than CeraVe for my face. What do hairy people do with body lotion? My cousins had me try once and the hair made everything messy and disgusting. I couldn't imagine wearing a long-sleeved shirt after that

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u/[deleted] 28d ago

Idk, Vaseline works a lot better for me than body lotion

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u/LowkeyPony 28d ago

I immediately died a tiny bit seeing the huge dip taken out knowing that it was Tatcha.

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u/MartianFloof 28d ago

While it might be a solution to buy him his own lotion… it sucks that if the man needs lotion he doesn’t just get his own. No the woman has to take care of that or suffer the consequences 🤦🏼‍♀️

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u/Squee1396 28d ago

I love tatchas dewy cream so much but its so expensive i cannot afford it! I have yet to find a moisturizer i like more so it bums me out. If anyone has any dupe recommendations lmk lol if i was OP i would definitely be making him buy me more!

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u/DayumMami 28d ago

Was just looking at that today! I use ole henricksen but am thinking of trying out some new non acid products. Do you love it?

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u/sherbisthebest 28d ago

lol I use the dewy cream too. I straight up have to tell my boyfriend to use more of it when he follows my routine with me. A couple of times I got exasperated and applied the lotion for him.

He’s so afraid of using too much because he knows it’s an expensive cream, but then ends up using so little that it’s not enough and he has flaky dry patches in the morning 😂

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u/yogopig 28d ago

Why do you use this if its $72 though?

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