I can imagine many of you who have been eagerly anticipating this feature based on my hints from last weeks beauty post have seen the image above and been a little bit disappointed. Yes, this is one of the least glamorous tubes you could possibly have gracing your bathroom shelves, I won’t try and dress it up – it is what it is.
My wonder product of the moment is Lansinoh HPA Lanolin. Mostly intended for sore nips whilst breast feeding but turns out is really really effective at soothing all sorts of sore and cracked skin complaints. I’d initially trialled it on my (tragic winter chapped) lips, and although I still use my beloved Chanel underneath lipstick NOTHING beats this magic goop at softening flakes and relieving dryness. I put it on before bed and in the morning it is like magic happened, it stays on well too.
After such a win with my pout (and absolutely zero irritation whatsoever) I decided to dab a bit on my under eye area – I was so fed up of my concealer cracking and emphasising fine lines that I didn’t even know I had, no matter how much eye cream I applied. It worked a treat.
No, I wouldn’t recommend wearing it underneath make-up or indeed putting it any where near your actual eyeball but a smidgen tapped onto flaky patches makes miracles happen. Well, it does for me anyway.
Mabel has been suffering with cold after cold recently and her tiny nose is constantly red and raw, I dabbed a bit of the Lansinoh lanolin on and the next morning her skin had retained it’s usual clear fair hue. I now use it for practically everything, from eczema on my hands (I have it underneath my engagement and wedding rings and it itches like hell…) to cracked heels. The other day I even rubbed some into the apples of my cheeks after my evening shower as they were looking rather dehydrated and wind-destroyed. And guess what? Yep, voila! plumped up and ready for non-patchy blusher application.
I like to think of it as an all purpose salve only without the numerous (possibly unnecessary) ingredients often added to salves that break me out in a rash.
As with any skincare make sure you do a patch test first, this obviously is not going to be appropriate for anyone allergic to lanolin. And if the packaging really bothers you, you could always decant some into a far prettier jar (Mabel has some in those clear screw top travel versions from Boots to take to nursery for her aforementioned rudolph-esque conk).
Talking of Boots, that’s where I bought mine. You can buy one too for the grand total of £10.49.
Some of you may already have a tube so do let me know what you think, and if you are inspired to (or do already) use it as an all purpose magic balm as it were. Please feel free to make any alternative slave/balm type suggestions in the comments box below.
Strange question but is it a creamy texture? I’m a bit weird about the sensation of moisturiser on my lips, I know I’m weird! I usually stick with 8 hour cream, As its more of a salve/gel like consistency it does wonders for chapped lips, and even helped to reduce a scar on my arm after a hot water bottle leaked! (Read, was squeezed before the lid was screwed on properly!) But 8 hours is a tad too sticky for the under eye area and my eczema prone skin can’t tolerate any kind of eye cream – I usually use oilatum morning, noon and night and though it soothes it doesn’t combat lines, so would welcome an alternative! Also, cheeky I know, but just wondering if anyone has tired the new Bare Minerals Liquid foundation yet?? Just throwing it out there!! X
Hi Danielle, I would say it’s not dissimilar to 8 hour cream but less “greasy” it also doesn’t have a scent. It’s not designed to combat fine lines but I find it makes them less noticeable as the area is far less dry when I use it. Have you tried Bobbi Brown rich eye cream? I can use that with no irritation, I never would have thought I could but I randomly tried a sample and it was fine. I’m on my 3rd pot now! x
Thanks Charlotte I completly forgot about this product. I also used it a few times for other non specied areas and it worked great. It’s like a cheaper 8 hour cream. Will have to try it under my rings as suffering from the same problem.
My wonder product at the moment is an over night oil. I had a facial recently and was told to use it every evening after cleansing. I use the sanctuary wonder oil followed by a bit of Aveeno cream and my skin has never looked better. I also suffer from super dry skin. Xx
Hi Louise! I would LOVE to find an oil that didn’t irritate my skin or block pores – my skin is so fine, I feel like I’ve tried EVERYTHING!
What facial did you have? I haven’t had one in years but feel I should treat myself 🙂 x
It was an emlis one, can’t remember which one exactly. It was lovely, I should get them more often.
Good luck with the oil hunt. Have you tried the sanctuary ones? Quite well priced as well. Xx
Very excited to find a 2nd {& 3rd & 4th} use for this! I have a barely-used tube about to go in the bin & I do hate waste! Thank you xx
Pleasure 🙂 x
I have three tubes of this. One in the bathroom, one in the kitchen and one in the changing bag. Yep. 3. It’s totally non glam but bloomin brilliant and I need it on hand at all times. I use it on my nips, lips, dry skin, chapped hands, eyebrows, heels and stretch marks (ugh) and c section scar. It’s a miracle product! It’s so gentle and absent of nasties that I’ve even used it on dry patches on my 7 week olds face. Yep. Agreed, it’s a wonder product!
Georgina I have never considered using it on my c-section scar…..thanks for the tip! And actually I also need to buy more tubes to keep everywhere, makes much more sense than hunting it down every 5 minutes x
I couldn’t agree more!! This has gone from my Mommy product to my Must Have product! The whole family use it! I even persuaded my reluctant hubby to put it on his chapped lips- the word nipple cream made his cautious when I suggested it! I too use it on my daughter when she has a cold, dry skin or sore bottom! So natural too!! Dr Lips is another fab product which also started out as a nipple cream! X
Hi Chloe! I think Australian Paw Paw is another similar product too (and quite a cult favourite I think) but out of all of the versions I’ve tried this is my fave x
A very new discovery, and now my official ‘wonder’ product is Hemp Cream from The Body Shop….
I’ve got terribly dry skin and eczema and nothing was touching it. A friend recommended Hemp Cream to me and after using it for 10 days I can honestly say it has changed my life… my eczema has pretty much gone!
It’s such a good feeling to find a product that works for you 🙂
Hemp Cream is indeed wonderful @katie my husband has very dry skin and it is excellent at helping with it. It’s lack of fragrance is another plus point. Can recommend both the hemp hand cream and the fairly recently brought back face cream.
Wow Katie – that Hemp cream sounds awesome! where about have you been using it? I could do with something for my hands for daytime (this salve is too greasy to use my laptop!) x
They do a hand wash, body cream and the hand cream (currently buy one get one half price!) – I can vouch for the latter two… the hand cream is amazing, and the body cream is a slightly thicker consistency so I use that on my legs and where my eczema is x
Oooo thanks for the tip Katie – might have to invest in the hemp cream to help with my eczema x
How does it compare to E A 8 hr cream? I get such sore lips and random patchy skin but as others have said 8 hr is a bit greasy to put under make up. I think I need to invest!
Hi Victoria, this is not dissimilar to 8 hour in consistency – slightly less greasy I would say. I wouldn’t wear it underneath make-up though, I find if you put it on the night before then there is a pleasant dewy “sheen” in the morning, I have been careful not to remove this from my under eye area and just pat concealer over the top. I didn’t get on with 8 hour – it irritated my lips, this seems much more gentle x
Ooh this sounds great! I’ve got the same problem with eczema underneath my engagement ring (I keep having to swap it to my right hand to give my left a break – fiance keeps joking I’m trying to pretend I’m still single!). It drives me NUTS. Will give this a go and fingers crossed it does for me what it’s done for you, Charlotte! 🙂
Hi Kate! Super give it a whirl – although put it on overnight and not with your ring on…otherwise you may have a goopy bling problem! x
Lucas PaPaw Ointment has been my wonder tube since roughly 2009 when I was in Oz. It’s Australian and of course much cheaper over there, I always get mine here http://www.pawpawshop.co.uk/
I use it for everything – dry lips, dry skin, spots, bites, burns…. My husband used to tease me saying I seemed to think it was a magical potion but now he uses it on anything from chapped hands to burns (he works in catering so this is more frequent than it should be). I had to order him his own tube last time!!
Interestingly enough before this it was always EA 8 hour cream, I hadn’t used it in ages but a friend bought it for me for my Christmas. I much prefer my PaPaw I have to say and it’s a lot cheaper!
Hi Lynn! I mentioned Paw Paw in a comment above funnily enough – I think it’s very similar to the Lansinoh, a natural 100% lanolin x
OK – you had me at cracked heels! I have never found anything to help with dry feet and am constantly trying new (expensive) products and quickly moving on to something else when I realise it doesn’t work. Bring on the nipple cream!
Also, just seeing a few ladies commenting about eczema under their rings – although I have never suffered before, I suddenly started getting flare ups on my ring finger. A friend suggested that I take my rings off every night before bed, and that gives your skin a chance to breath. This honestly cleared it up immediately! The only thing to note is always leave your rings in the same place every night – for the first few weeks I often had a wake-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night-panic-i’d-lost-my-rings so it was handy to reach over and feel them in the dish on my bedside cabinet to help lower the heart rate ha!
Maddy you are absolutely right – I keep telling myself I will buy those lovely white lacquer trays from The White Company and put one beside my bed for my rings….MUST.DO.IT x
Oh my gosh, the itching on my ring finger is a nightmare! I’ve never really suffered with eczema on my hands until I started wearing both wedding & engagement rings. I guess it’s probably just itchy as it doesn’t get to breath much!
Sadly I’m allergic to lanolin so won’t be able to use this. But loving everyone’s tips. xx
I’m completely the same Becca… vile scabby flakes under my wedding rings. I’ve found taking them off overnight really helps and it meant I could go and buy an adorable little ring holder for my bedside table.
Great to know there’s an alternative to smearing steroid ointment over my hands xx
Oooo looks like I’m just going to HAVE to make a little trip to the local vintage emporium! 😉 xx
Rebecca what a bummer – did you see the body shop hemp cream mentioned? That’s worth a go I reckon. Mine became much worse when I started to wear a wedding ring too, I wonder if it’s because cleaning products/shampoo inevitably get a bit stuck in-between – no matter how much you wash your hands x
I know this is a bit late, but can I suggest trying Canesten cream?
This was an absolute saviour in the first few weeks of bf’ing, and I must confess it’s been sat in my medicine cabinet since then! What a great idea! I guess this would be great on nails and cuticles too – mine are looking decidedly ragged at the moment.
Will be also trying it on my little man’s little nose – like Mabel he’s had cold after cold and he’s been totally generous and passed it to me too, for my birthday/valentines day present. Grim.
Talulah what a great idea! my cuticles are a complete state. I had a manicure yesterday and was actually embarrassed!
I totally agree! I started by putting on my son’s cheeks when they were dry on the basis that if he could eat it it was unlikely to do him any harm! But since then it’s become my best product. It’s amazing for cuticles. I’m always a bit embarrassed when I leave it lying around in the living room and someone comes over so I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one using it long after breast feeding has ended! Xx
You really MUST try miamoo it is amazing. It’s totally natural so not baddies for your babies and sooooooo good at clearing up dry skin, nappy rash etc. I use the moisturiser everyday and my skin is never dry anymore. I bought the travel sets for my best friend and sister for Xmas. It was created by the lady Saira who was in the first apprentice!
Thanks for the tip Stacy – I’ll take a look! x
Our midwife gave us sachets of this and it was an absolute god send.
The eczema underneath your rings sounds like water damage. It’e really common, people think they’re allergic to their rings. I know it sounds crazy but if you wash your hands with them on it will cause damp to build up underneath them. I would also check your sizing as that causes irritation like eczema too. Moisturiser as well, if you don’t let it dry before putting your rings back on. It will all cause irritation.
I love this stuff. It’s a recent discovery as I’ve only been breastfeeding for 5 weeks, but I’ve already realised it has myriad uses beyond the humble nipple. I’ve tried all sorts of this type of thing – 8 hour cream, Lucas’ Paw Paw Ointment etc and I definitely think Lansinoh is the best of the bunch!
Late to the party, but also an advocate of Lucas’ pawpaw ointment (or “papaw” as I have just noticed!!). Amazing stuff, use it on lips, red noses etc etc. The Lansinoh sounds great though, I will have to give it a try at some point. On facial oils, I heartily recommend Shu Uemura’s cleansing oils. I don’t know how they react to sensitive skins, sorry, but they come in a range to suit different skin types, and there are plenty of samples available if you can find a stockist near you (lots in London, not sure about the rest of the UK). It is unbelievably oily (yes, stupid comment given it is an oil I know!!), but it foams up with some water and leaves the skin really soft and ready to absorb moisturiser.
Hi Charlotte. I really recommend Weleda’s almond facial oil – it’s amazing. I have very fine, sensitive skin too and it’s just brilliant. Non greasy and nourishing! And doesn’t block pores. Thanks for the tips everyone 🙂
Hi ,
Yea I love this product as well . It is great start from the sore nipples was really helpful while I was breastfeeding and now I use it for my daughter eczema on her hands , cheeks and it is really work for us . I will try to use it on my lips same as you to see if it will be work for me as well but yea this is great product for lots of problem with the skin .