Hey everybody, I hope you had a restful weekend and are ready to take on the week! We have been having a mild winter in Belgium, but the temperature has dropped rather significantly since yesterday, and now we’re looking at a week of -6 Celsius (around 20 degrees Fahrenheit) weather. That’s why I thought there’s no better timing to review and recommend Eucerin lotions!
When I first came to Belgium a little more than 3 years ago, I found it appalling how people didn’t shower rigorously on a daily basis. Coming from a subtropical country where a shower or two are required, the idea of not scrubbing the heck out of my skin with a shower lily every day seemed flat-out unhygienic and repulsive. Therefore, I went on with my daily routine until one day, in the middle of the winter, my skin started itching horribly.
If you have never experienced itchy skin in winter, you probably wouldn’t know what I’m talking about. Let me put it this way: imagine having a million ants crawling on your skin all the time, particularly on your legs. Of course social etiquette dictates that you don’t scratch your legs in public, but when you do get to scratch your skin breaks so easily that you can’t go on anyways. It was bad. It was so urgent that I ran to L’Occitane, paid for the most nourishing cream they had, only to have the situation stay the same. Don’t get me wrong. Most L’Occitane products work very well, and I am personally a fan of the brand. It’s just that it didn’t work out so well that one time.
Finally, one day I had the good sense to go into a pharmacy for help. The pharmacist recommended Eucerin PH5 Body Lotion, and that was the end of my misery and beginning of my loyalty to Eucerin body lotions!
Eucerin PH5 Body Lotion was what saved my skin back at the time. It promises to “reinforce skin’s natural defense” and “penetrate rapidly to durably reestablish the skin’s natural reserve of hydration (this is my own translation, so bear with me if it is not perfect).” The big bottle (400 ml) comes with a pump that works really well. It is easy to control how much/little product you want every time you pump. The texture is on the thick side, and it has a smell that I can’t quite put my finger on. It doesn’t smell like the plant-based smell that I’m usually into, but it is not overwhelming either. The smell also lingers for a little while on my skin, but not annoyingly obviously. Like all thicker lotions, it takes a little time and patience to work it into the skin. It leaves a protective film behind, but it is not greasy. My skin looks happy and radiant after using this lotion, and most important of all, the itching completely stopped after the first use. I have tried other lotions after that, usually during warmer months when my skin is not as sensitive. However, every winter I get my bottle of PH5 Lotion just in case.
This year, when I went to the pharmacy to stock up on my supply, I saw a new one called AQUAporin Active. Being curious, I picked up the rich version (there is also a light one, but I wanted to be on the safe side). This lotion claims to bring “optimal, intense, and durable hydration to your skin,” and your skin should become “fresh, supple, soft, and radiant” as the result. Compared with the PH5 Body Lotion, this one has a much thinner texture though it is definitely not what you would call runny. It has a different smell. Again, not what I normally gravitate towards but it’s not unpleasant. The great thing about this one is it absorbs instantly into my skin. I can jump right into my clothes without worrying the lotion getting onto them, so that’s a big plus. I get enough miniaturization from this one, though I do have doubts about being able to say the same for extremely dry skin (like what I had 3 years ago). I still have to experiment with it in harsher weather (like the coming week), and I will report back to let you know if it resists!
A big bottle of Eucerin PH5 Body Lotion retails for around 19 euros, and AQUAporin Active retails for around 17. Like all truly effective products, a little goes a long way! Sometimes you can find a 20% off sticker on the bottle, so all in all I consider the price very reasonable! I know that Eucerin markets different lotions in the US, and I can’t vouch for those. Since I do have positive experience with this brand however, if you are at the end of the rope trying to find a lotion to get you through winter, I would still advise you take a look at Eucerin body lotions!
Bottom line: Highly recommended! Eucerin body lotions don’t have the fanciest packaging or scents, but if you want something truly effective to get you through winter, make them your best pals!
How about you? Do you have problems with dry skin in winter? How do you combat the problem? Have you tried anything Eucerin?
Stay tuned and stick around, folks!
Sunny xx
MOSTLY SUNNY 