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Skin care products

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**Products are included here based on listed ingredients, and inclusion here is not an endorsement. I have no relationships with any listed manufacturers.

 

**Always shop with caution. I do NOT recommend purchasing skin care products online from sites that use third-party resellers, such as amazon.com, walmart.com, sears.com, and others. Some people purchasing from resellers on these sites have reported fraudulent or expired products. The only exception is if you are purchasing from an authorized reseller on these sites.  For links to other retailers of skin care products, please check the blue box above.

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The products below are examples (there are multiple other options) of products that are free of:  

Natural and synthetic fragrance additives, formaldehyde, lanolin, and methylchloroisothiazolinone.

 

 

NOTE: These recommendations only apply for the exact products listed. Products that are the same brand and have a similar name may not be a safe choice. While we make every effort to provide up-to-date information, product formulations frequently change, so read labels and use caution.

 

NOTE: All products contain some potential allergens.  Patch testing may be required.

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NOTE: While these products have worked well for many of my patients, they are not appropriate for everyone. I have found that individuals may react very differently to the same exact product, so always use caution when using a new product. For those with sensitive skin, I recommend testing on the forearm twice daily for one week before using elsewhere.

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The products below contain ingredients that are less common causes of allergy.

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• BA = benzoic acid

• BCL = benzalkonium chloride

• CPB = cocamidopropyl betaine

• IPBC = iodopropinyl butylcarbamate

• P = parabens

• PG = propylene glycol

• TR = trolamine

• V = Vit E

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Facial and Body Cleansers

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Eyelid cleansers: 

• Albolene gentle cleanser

 

Liquid cleansers (Hydrating): 

• Aveeno baby cleansing therapy wash fragrance-free [CPB]

• Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser (liquid only) [P,PG]

• Cerave hydrating facial cleanser [P]

• Neutrogena Hydroboost gentle cleansing lotion fragrance-free 

• Neutrogena ultra gentle hydrating cleanser (creamy formula only, NOT the foaming formulation)

• Neutrogena Hydro Boost with Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Cleansing Gel

• Vanicream gentle facial cleanser

• Vichy Mineral 89

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Liquid cleansers (Foaming):

• Cerave foaming cleanser [P,PG]

• Cerave Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser [BA, salicylic acid]

• La Roche Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Facial Wash [PG]

• Vanicream liquid cleanser

 

Bar soaps: 

• Cerave hydrating cleanser bar

• Neutrogena fragrance-free bar soap [TR]

• Vanicream bar soap [PG]

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Moisturizers (from less to more greasy)

• Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Cream Fragrance Free [NOT the "water gel" line]

• Cerave moisturizing cream [P]

• Cleure Day Cream [V] (www.cleure.com)

• Aveeno Eczema Therapy cream [BCL]

• Theraplex eczema therapy with oatmeal (www.theraplex.com)

• Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream fragrance-free [P]

• Vanicream cream [PG]

• Cerave healing ointment [V]

• Theraplex emollient for severely dry skin

• Vanicream ointment

• Pure Vaseline petroleum jelly (no added fragrance or flavoring)

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Hair Care

• DHS

  • ​DHS Sal with 3% salicylic acid for dandruff [CPB]

  • DHS conditioner​

• Vanicream products are available at some drugstores or 1-800-325-8232 or www.vanicream.com

​      - Vanicream shampoo

       -  Vanicream dandruff shampoo (with 2% pyrithione zinc)

      - Vanicream conditioner [PG]

      - Vanicream styling gel

      - Vanicream hairspray soft or firm hold

• Neutrogena T-sal shampoo for dandruff [CPB]

• SEEN Haircare [available at www.HelloSeen.com or some Ulta Beauty stores]

  • ​​Fragrance-free shampoo [V, compositae] 

  • Fragrance-free conditioner [V, compositae] 

• Available online

  • See below for Cleure, SEEN Hair Care, Vanicream, and VMV Hypoallergenics options

 

Product Lines Available Online

• Avene Hypersensitive Skin Care

  • ​Tolerance Extreme Cleansing Lotion

  • Tolerance Extreme Cream

• Cleure Sensitive Skin

  • Glycerin face/body bar soap

  • Face/body wash [V]

  • Face wash

  • Shampoo hypoallergenic [V]

  • Conditioner for sensitive skin [V]

  • Styling gel

  • Crystal stone deodorant 

• SEEN (www.HelloSeen.com)

  • Shampoo fragrance-free [V, compositae], 

  • Skin-Caring Conditioner fragrance-free [V, compositae], 

  • Skin-Caring Blow-Out Creme fragrance-free [V, Compositae, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Ceratonia Siliqua Seed Extract]

• VMV Hypoallergenics (212-217-2762) (They can customize products based on allergen results, or choose from post-patch testing product line free of top 109 allergens)

  • Essence skin-saving superwash hair and body shampoo

  • Essence skin-saving clark wash hair and body shampoo

• Vanicream (1-800-325-8232,  www.vanicream.com)

 

Sunblocks  (*these options contain only physical sunblock ingredients)
A sun protection plan may include sunblock, but always includes caution with sun exposure, along with sunglasses, hats, and clothing. The sunblocks listed below contain ONLY physical sunblock ingredients [zinc oxide and titanium dioxide].

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• Aveeno Protect + Soothe Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 [V]

• Banana Boat Kids Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion [V]

• Cerave Baby Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 45 [PG]

• Cerave Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Face Lotion [niacinamide, PG]

• Cerave Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion [niacinamide, PG, V]

• EltaMD UV Physical broad-spectrum SPF 41 [IPBC]

• EltaMD UV Pure broad-spectrum SPF 47

• La Roche Posay Anthelios Mineral Zinc Oxide Sunscreen SPF 50 Non-tinted [cassia alata leaf extract, BA, PG, V]

• La Roche Posay Anthelios Tinted Mineral Sunscreen for Face SPF 50 [cassia alata leaf extract, BA, PG, V]

• Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer with Sunscreen PureScreen Sensitive Skin SPF 50 [BHT]

• Neutrogena Mineral Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch SPF 30 Sunscreen Lotion (V)

• Neutrogena Pure and Free Baby Sunblock Stick SPF 60 (stick only!)

• Neutrogena Purescreen+ Mineral UV Tint Face Liquid Sunscreen [V] 

• Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Mineral Sunscreen Stick Broad-Spectrum 50+ with 21% Zinc Oxide [Isopropyl Myristatate, V]

• Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Kids Mineral Sunscreen Stick Broad-Spectrum SPF 50+ with 21% Zinc Oxide [Isopropyl Myristate]

• Neutrogena Ultra Sheer® Face & Body Mineral Sunscreen Stick Broad Spectrum SPF 50 [Isopropyl Myristate, V]

• TIZO Photoceutical AM Replenish Sunscreen [V]

• TIZO Ultra Zinc Body & Face Sunscreen Non-Tinted SPF 40 Broad Spectrum [TR]

• Vanicream Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 (www.Vanicream.com or 1-800-325-8232)

• Vanicream Sunblock SPF 50+ (www.Vanicream.com or 1-800-325-8232)

• Vichy Capital Soleil Tinted 100% mineral sunscreen SPF 60  [BA, PG, V]

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Skin Renewal (“Anti-aging”) Products

• Click here for more information about Skin Renewal Products

 

Laundry detergent

• All Free and Clear

• Branch Basics

• Simple Truth Laundry Detergent

• Tide Free

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Lip products

• Stop chapsticks (Burt’s Bees, Blistex, Carmex, EOS, and all other lip balms)

• Stop chewing gum, mints, mouthwash

• Use only pure Vaseline petroleum jelly for lips (no fragrance or flavoring) or Vanicream Ointment​ or Cleure lip balm with shea butter, no flavor

• For toothpaste, may use

  • Cleure Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth

  • Pepsodent

  • VMV Hypoallergenics Essence Simple-Gentle Skin-Saving Toothpaste 

  • Tom’s of Maine Silly Strawberry Children’s Fluoride-Free Toothpaste (this flavor only!)

 

Deodorant/Anti-Perspirant

• Almay Roll-on Deodorant (roll-on only)

• Crystal Body Deodorant Stick

• Crystal Roll-On Body Deodorant

• Vanicream Deodorant for Sensitive Skin (Aluminum Free)

• Vanicream Antiperspirant/Deodorant

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Hand Sanitizer

• Avagard Fragrance-free by 3M

• LaRoche Posay Alcohol Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer with Glycerin Fragrance-free

 

Shaving

• Vanicream Shave Cream

• May shave with Vanicream shampoo

 

Wipes

• Sani-Hands Instant Hand Sanitizing Wipes [PG, V]

• Seventh Generation Chlorine-free Baby Wipes [Benzoic acid]

• Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes [Benzoic acid, V]

• CVS Health Instant Hand Sanitizing Wipes [PG, V]

• Water Wipes Original Baby Wipes [BCL]

 

Eye Drops

• Refresh Optive Preservative-Free Drops (lubricating eye drops)
   

Other​

• Cerave Itch Relief Moisturizing Cream with 1% Pramoxine [pramoxine, isopropyl myristate, tasmania fruit ex]

• Neutrogena Hydroboost Hydrating Lip Therapy [BHT]

• Cerave SA Cream for Rough and Bumpy Skin (for keratosis pilaris)(with salicylic acid, ammonium lactate) [P, TR, V]

• Amlactin Daily Nourish Lotion with 12% lactic acid for keratosis pilaris (with ammonium lactate)

• Eucerin Roughness Relief Body Lotion for keratosis pilaris (with urea and sodium lactate and lactic acid)

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Cleaning Supplies

• Branch Basics (www.branchbasics.com)

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Diaper Rash Barrier Ointments

• Vaseline pure 100% petroleum jelly [no added fragrance or flavoring] [do not buy in baby aisle since the baby version contains fragrance!]

• Vanicream ointment

• Aquaphor Baby 3-in-1 Diaper Rash Relief Cream with 15% zinc oxide

• Aquaphor® Diaper Rash Paste with 40% zinc oxide 
   

 

Nickel

• Nickel test kit to detect the presence of nickel (does not harm objects):  nickelsolution.com or allerderm.com

• Use a clear nail lacquer (from nickelsolution.com) to protect against leaching of nickel 

• Ask jeweler to apply a coating (thicker than plating) of rhodium or platinum to protect against nickel in jewelry

 

Nickel allergy and jewelry

• Sterling silver and 18K yellow gold are usually OK

• Avoid most white gold (white color achieved by combining gold with either nickel or palladium)

• Always check with jeweler on alloys (even expensive titanium and platinum jewelry may be alloyed with nickel)

 

Formaldehyde-Free Clothing

• OK to use: 100% silk, 100% polyester, 100% denim 

• Avoid: wrinkle-free cotton

 

Detailed Handouts (see KattaMD.com)

• Hair Dye Alternatives

• Nickel in Jewelry

• Shoe Allergy

• Elimination Diets

• Other