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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 affiliate 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​

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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: 

• Aveeno fragrance-free bar soap

• Neutrogena fragrance-free bar soap [TR]

• Vanicream bar soap [PG]

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Moisturizers (from less to more greasy)

• Vichy Mineral 89 hyaluronic acid serum

• Neutrogena Hydro Boost Body Gel Cream fragrance free

• Cerave moisturizing cream [P]

• Aveeno Eczema Therapy cream [BCL]

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

• Vanicream cream [PG]

• Cerave healing ointment [V]

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

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Hair Care

• CeraVe Gentle Hydrating Shampoo

• CeraVe Gentle Hydrating conditioner [chlorhexidine] 

• CeraVe baby wash and shampoo [V]

• 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

 

Product Lines Available Online

• Avene Hypersensitive Skin Care

  • ​Tolerance Extreme Cleansing Lotion

  • Tolerance Extreme Cream

• Ocean Olive 

  • ​Whipped gel eczema spot treatment (with colloidal oatmeal and vitamin B12) [Bladderwrack extract] www.ocean-olive.com

• ​​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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• Banana Boat Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Mineral-Based Sunscreen [V]

• Banana Boat Sport Mineral Broad Spectrum SPF 50 [V]

• Cerave Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 with Tint [TR,V]

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

• EltaMD UV Pure broad-spectrum SPF 47 [PG,V]

• Neutrogena Mineral UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen [V]

• Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Kids Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 50 [isopropyl myristate]

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

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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 Original Without Flavor

  • 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

• Suave Hand Sanitizer (without fragrance) [V]

• Up and Up Hand Sanitizer (without fragrance) [V]

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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!]

• 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

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Artificial Nails

• These can cause rashes on nails, hands, eyelids, face, neck

• If you suspect allergy, you should avoid acrylic nails, gel nails, shellac nails, solar nails, dip nails: all of these use acrylate chemicals

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Detailed Handouts (see KattaMD.com)

• Hair Dye Alternatives

• Nickel in Jewelry

• Shoe Allergy

• Artificial Nail Allergy 

• Elimination Diets

• Other