10 best eczema creams that will soothe and hydrate your skin

Formulated especially for those who suffer from atopic eczema, Dermatology M combines the power of Chinese medicine with science to treat skin without steroids. The founder, Dr Mazin, strongly believes that you can manage eczema on a long-term basis without any steroids at all. This is because steroid use is a palliative treatment, not a curative one, though you should always check in with your individual doctor or dermatologist.

The eczema cream stars a popular traditional Chinese medicine ingredient called qing dai to soothe dryness and itching. You might also see this written as 青黛 or indigo naturalis.

The cream’s texture is deliciously silky, so I use it on my hands and carry on with my day as normal, without covering everything in grease. I also like that it’s a multitasker – there’s nothing worse than travelling and having to pack five different creams just to keep your eczema under control. This can be used for your hands, face and body – just slather it on wherever you want, let it absorb and voila. Instant itch-ease, no steroids required.

I would be lost without this Aveeno cream. In fact, my doctor prescribes this to me each month – though it’s available online and over the counter too – and it actually manages to make the thought of heading to a chemist fill me with excitement. That’s how good it is. I always have a bottle handy on my desk to keep my hands nourished throughout the day; I feel like I can’t type unless I’ve applied this first. The cream comes in a huge bottle with a pump, making it super easy to slather onto larger areas of skin too – ideal post-shower.

Oats act as anti-inflammatories when applied topically, and this unscented formula uses oats in a three-pronged approach: oat extract soothes and hydrates; oat oil helps retain moisture via skin-identical fatty acids and ceramides; and oat flour offers itch relief and hydrates. It also calls on ceramides to repair and strengthen the skin barrier by forming a protective layer that helps to lock in moisture. If you’re unsure of what to spend your hard-earned pennies on, this formula is a solid choice that’s easy to find and won’t let you down.

Imagine your skin being enveloped by a cloud. Well, that’s what using Glossier’s after baume feels like. I genuinely look forward to applying this every single day. Glossier’s meteoric rise to Instagram domination needs no introduction, and – in an ever-changing social landscape (here’s looking at you, TikTok) – newer additions to the brand’s arsenal have kept it at the forefront of the beauty sphere.

The consistency of this product feels a bit like a cold cream, and the delicious millennial pink and minty green jar all add to the experience and allure. I like to use this nightly after my acne treatments to instantly soothe inflammation and lock in moisture. It’s ideal for sensitive skin, and it’s non-comedogenic, so it’s perfect for blemish-prone skin as well.

It’s rich in buttery, cushiony, plant-based ingredients, such as glycerin, cupuaçu butter, babassu oil, linoleic acid and green microalgae extract, which all work to retain moisture, feed the skin with antioxidants, and re-balance the skin’s microbiome. The final cocktail instantly absorbs and never feels greasy – an elite combo.

Searching for a hand cream that can soothe itchy and sore skin has been trial and error for me – but in 2021, I discovered Nursem and it’s been a mainstay in my bathroom.

This bundle is a one-stop shop for all hand-based eczema woes, featuring a soap, a standard and travel-sized hand cream, as well as a thicker cream for overnight use. The large soap and cream look incredibly chic sink-side (Aēsop who?) and make washing your hands during flare-ups so much less stressful. The ultra-gentle hand wash cleans just like regular soap, but the ingredients protect the skin barrier and lift microbes. It does contain fragrance in the form of essential oils though, and while I’ve found this to be a good hand wash for me, it might irritate some. On the other hand (if you’ll excuse the pun), the creams are completely fragrance-free and will soothe, condition and regenerate skin on sore, reactive hands.

I was so excited to try Dr.Jart+’s cicapair tiger grass colour correcting treatment when it went viral a few years back for neutralising redness and soothing skin, so imagine my disappointment when I couldn’t use it because I’m too...brown. As far as skin tones go, mine isn’t very deep at all. In fact, my e.l.f cosmetics foundation shade is “light 280”. Yet, Dr.Jart+’s green-hued cream appeared ashy on my skin.

Enter the Rosalique three-in-one anti-redness miracle formula SPF50. It’s fragrance-free and conceals redness with its green, colour-correcting hue while also soothing and hydrating skin with panthenol (also known as pro-vitamin B5), shea butter, urea and anti-inflammatory chamomile.

Although not made specifically for eczema sufferers (it’s made for those with rosacea or keratosis pilaris), I find this formula is great for soothing any post-flare-up redness, and it’s particularly handy for those days when my eczema is too severe for make-up. I love that it’s an SPF too, and it also plays well under foundation. It’s buildable and versatile, but I’m not sure how it would fare on darker skin tones.

This mousse is a must-have for a multitude of reasons: it offers factor 50 sun protection for up to six hours; it doesn’t rub off when swimming, sweating or towel-drying; it protects skin from heat, wind and other environmental irritants; it’s hypoallergenic and gentle; it’s vegan; it’s suitable for around the eyes; it’s fragrance-free; it doesn’t clog pores; and it hydrates and brightens skin.

At this point, I feel like I should earn a commission – I’ve recommended this product to anyone who’ll listen, including my mum, who has a literal sun allergy. As well as doing all of the above, the impressive formula comes in a fun mousse form, which is easy to apply but also negates the need for preservatives and will last for ages, even after it’s been opened.

This is by far my favourite SPF on earth – it doesn’t aggravate my acne or eczema; it makes my skin feel hydrated and supple; and it’s a great make-up primer.

Founded by two guys in East London, Arron and Carlton Sheekey, bloome by Donna Marie actually has a really touching backstory. It all began when their mum, Donna Marie, who was struggling with skin cancer. Donna’s treatments left her skin inflamed and sensitive, so her sons set out to create something to ease her pain. The rejuvenating face cream is the result, and it’s the only retinol I’ll ever let near my skin.

While you shouldn’t use retinol on an active eczema flare-up, I like to use this when I have my eczema under control. This isn’t specifically a retinol, per se, but more of a moisturiser that just so happens to have retinol in it and, when I asked the brand if I could use this on my eczema, the response was a resounding “Yes!”

The formula combines anti-inflammatory ingredients to nourish and hydrate skin while protecting it against environmental stressors and strengthening the skin barrier. It works to gently rejuvenate and contiains eczema heroes like plant-based glycerin, allantoin, oat silk, jojoba seed oil, hyaluronic acid and shea butter pepper but, the cannabidiol is the real star of the show.

Research on the use of CBD for eczema is still limited, but The National Eczema Association quotes Peter Lio, clinical assistant professor of dermatology and paediatrics at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, as saying: “CBD has anti-inflammatory, anti-itch and anti-pain properties that make it extremely attractive as a medicinal compound, particularly in dermatology”. He further explains: “Topical CBD is a very promising treatment for eczema… In the correct vehicle, it could also help heal the skin barrier”.

I was lucky enough to meet Danielle Close, the founder of My Skin Feels, by pure happenstance, and I’m so glad that I did. I was instantly drawn to her brand, which is vegan, organic and uses more than 99 per cent natural ingredients, all of which are rescued from the food and drinks industry and would have otherwise gone to waste. All packaging is thoughtfully made with as many recyclable components as possible, and a percentage of the profits is donated to fighting food waste, too.

I personally love the brand’s healthy hydrating moisturiser, and it comes as no surprise to see the likes of shea butter, olive oil and rescued breakfast oats on the ingredient list. The oats undergo a fermentation process to release their rich antioxidant and amino acid content, which in turn soften and balance the skin whilst soothing inflammation.

I find the cream gives my skin a healthy glow that lasts all day and makes me feel super confident. Just be mindful that it does use a “mood-enhancing” blend of essential oils, so definitely do a patch test first if you plan on using it on your eczema.

Eczema around the eyes is such a curse and it feels like every single targeted cream out there encourages a flare-up, leaving your eyes sore and stinging. This one, though, is the antidote to fancy creams that promise the world but leave you crying.

It uses a blend of ceramides, hydrating hyaluronic acid and soothing niacinamide to ultimately help with dark circles and puffiness without compromising your skin health. I love the consistency – it’s lightweight and absorbs quickly, which is perfect when I’m in a rush to do the rest of my routine.

Lastly, I have a non-cream to share with you. This mist made the cut thanks to something that Nursem’s Antonia Philp told me when I asked her how to handle eczema alongside acne. She said: “To avoid [breakouts], try using lighter, water-based formulations when moisturising, and consider alternative cleansing technologies such as HOCI [hypochlorous acid] to limit exposure to drying or irritating soaps”.

As you now know, I’m blessed with both acne and eczema on my face (though both conditions are currently under control, thankfully), which makes me a huge fan of anything containing hypochlorous acid. This antibacterial ingredient helps heal wounds, purify and cleanse. It’s therefore used for many skin conditions, including acne and eczema, because it breaks up the bacteria that can cause flare-ups.

I like to spritz this all over my face, back and legs, which is quick and easy to do, thanks to the spray nozzle.