Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Bottom Line: A medium-weight cream with Natural Moisturizing Factors and barrier-strengthening ingredients to help repair and moisturize very dry skin. According to the EWG, parabens can act like the hormone estrogen in the body and disrupt the normal function of hormone systems affecting male and female reproductive system functioning, reproductive development, fertility, and birth outcomes. Parabens are easily absorbed into the skin, which means that continuously using products that contain parabens could lead to elevated estrogen levels.

If you have sensitive skin, you will want to make sure that your balm is free of common irritants like fragrances, dyes, and parabens. There are many options out there—including those listed in this article—that are sensitive-skin-friendly, but a good rule of thumb is the fewer ingredients, the better. How We Selected Petrolatum is also an excellent ingredient to use on compromised skin since it functions as a skin protectant. It protects the skin after an injury by replicating the occlusive properties of the stratum corneum. For example, the formula includes a high concentration of both glycerin and urea. These are both excellent ingredients for increasing the skin’s hydration. Additional ingredients that bind moisture to the skin include lactic acid, sodium PCA, and amino acids. Since occlusive ingredients form a protective barrier on the surface of skin, they are best for those with very dry skin and conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Applying an occlusive moisturizer immediately after bathing can be an effective way to trap additional water in the skin.The formula also includes emollients to soften skin, as well as one ceramide and cholesterol to help strengthen the skin’s barrier function. These ingredients are especially important for the skin on your hands since it can become stripped from frequent hand washing and external factors like very cold temperatures and harsh wind.

Therefore, using skin care products that replenish the components of the NMF — such as urea in Eucerin Urea Repair Face Cream — can help to reduce dryness and tightness to keep it soft, smooth and healthy.

Your Eczema Relief Journey Starts Now

With over 100 years of experience in science-led skincare and support from both pharmacists and dermatologists to treat conditions including dry skin, sensitive skin and ageing skin. With a wide assortment that includes face masks, face washes, cleansers, serums and body lotions to name a few, Eucerin is one of the world’s most trusted dermatological brands. Both brands are made from the same German-based company, Beiersdorf Inc. It’s a global skin care company that also owns Nivea, Coppertone, and Labello. Eucerin Foot Cream has a very similar formula as the Eucerin Hand Cream, with key ingredients like urea, glycerin, sodium PCA, amino acids, emollients, ceramide NP, and cholesterol. Applying products with petrolatum to a skin injury provides the newly formed stratum corneum with improved occlusion and aids in retaining optimum water levels. When the skin is properly hydrated, the risk of scar formation decreases. According to the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, avenanthramides are the principle polyphenolic antioxidants in oats that provide anti-inflammatory, anti-redness, anti-itch, and antihistamine effects when applied to the skin. Therefore, colloidal oatmeal is an excellent ingredient to help soothe redness and itchiness due to eczema.

The brand also uses soothing botanical extracts in some of their products. For example, Eucerin Skin Calming Cream includes colloidal oatmeal, and Eucerin Redness Relief Night Cream includes licorice extract. the NMF is composed principally of free amino acids, as well as lactic acid and urea. All of these substances work together to keep the skin’s surface intact, supple, and hydrated. The NMF can become depleted as we age, and also from routine exposure to sensitizing ingredients like drying cleansing agents and denatured alcohol. The result is visibly dry, tight-feeling, flaky skin. Ubiquinone, also known as coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), is used in this Eucerin cream to defend against signs of skin aging. CoQ10 is naturally found within the mitochondria of cells and is essential for cellular energy production.According to Medical News Today, castor oil has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and moisturizing properties, thus making it useful for treating dry, irritated skin. Bottom Line: Eucerin Hand Cream combines Natural Moisturizing Factors with barrier-strengthening ingredients to help keep hands soft, smooth, and hydrated. Another Eucerin cream that contains urea as a key ingredient is the Advanced Repair Hand Cream. The formula includes several more ingredients that assist urea in replenishing the skin’s NMF, such as lactic acid, sodium PCA, and amino acids. Eucerin UreaRepair PLUS: 10% Urea Body Lotion When the skin on our bodies has a stable barrier function, it protects us from external irritants and is able to maintain its optimal level of hydration. But when that barrier is impaired, the skin can lose moisture and look and feel dry as a result. Eucerin UreaRepair PLUS 10% Urea Lotion gives very dry, rough body skin the daily care it needs. It contains a unique combination of ingredients – Urea, Ceramide and other Natural Moisturising Factors ( NMFs) – which bind moisture in and repair the skin´s natural protective barrier to prevent further moisture loss. The formula has been clinically and dermatologically proven to deliver immediate relief and intense, long-lasting moisturisation, delaying dryness and roughness for up to 48 hours. Skin is intensely moisturised and looks and feels smooth and supple again. The lotion is suitable for mature skin and those with Diabetes, Psoriasis and Keratosis Pilaris. It can also be used as adjunctive care.

This Eucerin cream also helps with seborrheic dermatitis, as one reviewer shares, “This product has been the ONLY thing to help a bout of seborrheic dermatitis that literally came out of nowhere. It was so painful and nothing was working until I tried this, which almost fully cleared it up within 24 hours. Highly recommended!” Bottom Line: A rich anti-wrinkle face cream that protects skin from environmental free radicals that can cause premature skin aging. Eucerin is a drugstore brand that formulates products to treat dry skin and eczema. The brand offers dozens of different creams to help alleviate skin dryness, redness, and itching, which can make it pretty daunting to choose a product to fit your specific needs. When applied to the skin, CoQ10 functions as an antioxidant that can counteract both short‐term environmental oxidative stress as well as age‐related CoQ10 deficits. Additional antioxidants in this cream include vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta carotene.Bottom Line: Eucerin Eczema Relief Cream includes a high concentration of castor seed oil, as well as additional humectants and emollients. And another reviewer experienced a burning sensation after using this Eucerin cream, as the review says, “​​This is supposed to be an Eczema Relief Cream. It burned my skin so badly I had to wash it off and use some aloe to calm it down. And I have never had sensitive skin! I would give it a MINUS star.” Our Verdict When a wound is healing, the new, underdeveloped stratum corneum allows abnormally high levels of water loss. If too much water is lost, the area can become dehydrated. The state of dehydration signals to various cells in the epidermis to synthesize and release collagen. When the body produces too much collagen, scarring can result. Clinical and dermatological studies prove very good care efficacy and skin tolerability on extremely dry and even on diseased skin.