10 Eczema-Friendly Products for Sensitive Skin

When I was younger, my parents had a whole routine to keep me from scratching my skin raw. They’d slather my arms in eczema-friendly products like Vaseline, wrap them up in Saran wrap, and voilà—instant anti-scratch armor. I’ve had eczema (a.k.a. atopic dermatitis) for as long as I can remember, one of those lifelong skin conditions that sticks around like an uninvited guest. So, figuring out my triggers and learning how to manage my itchy, inflamed skin has become a bit of a personal mission. To top it off, I’ve hit the allergy jackpot with the trifecta: asthma, a peanut allergy, and, of course, eczema.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ll admit—I’ve become a bit of a skin care snob. Not because I’m chasing the latest pricey serum, but because my skin reacts to any change like a soap opera villain: dramatic, sensitive, and prone to breakouts. I’ve got my routine pretty dialed in, but I still swear by a good pre-bedtime slugging session with Vaseline, especially in winter. There’s nothing worse than waking up with a forehead that feels like sandpaper or flaky eyelids that could double as confetti.

The Best Eczema-Friendly Products, At a Glance

• The Best Eczema-Friendly Shampoo: Odele Ultra Sensitive Shampoo, $12
• The Best Eczema-Friendly Face Wash: Burt’s Bees Sensitive Solutions Gentle Cream Cleanser, $10 $8
• The Best Eczema-Friendly Moisturizer: Cetaphil Face & Body Moisturizer, $15
• The Best Eczema-Friendly Deodorant: Native Sensitive Deodorant, $13
• The Best Eczema-Friendly Shave Cream: Ursa Major Natural Shave Cream, $26

When things get really bad—like if my neck decides it’s going to act up—my dermatologist might step in with some over-the-counter creams. But these days, there are plenty of brands making eczema-friendly products, so I don’t have to rely on hydrocortisone for every flare-up. If you’re on the lookout, here’s what you want: fragrance-free (naturally scented is fine, just skip the synthetics), labeled “hypoallergenic” or “eczema-safe,” and ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, aloe vera, or niacinamide.

The market is loaded with options now, but I’ve rounded up my top ten eczema-friendly picks that you can find at your local mall, drugstore, or favorite online store. Consider this your itch-free starter pack.

Tower 28 SOS Daily Facial Rescue Spray

Finding a brand whose products are widely endorsed by the National Eczema Association (NEA) is no small feat, but Tower28 founder Amy Liu pulled it off. Tower28 focuses on crafting products that steer clear of irritating ingredients, making them a holy grail for people with sensitive skin and conditions like eczema. All their products are formulated without parabens, sulfates, or fragrances. One of their best-sellers that really puts this to the test is the SOS Facial Spray.

Powered by hypochlorous acid, this daily toner treatment is like a superhero in a spray bottle—it’s anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and it keeps your skin calm, supports the skin barrier, and helps prevent flare-ups. After cleansing and moisturizing, I finish my skin care routine with a few spritzes of this spray, morning and night. I even reach for it throughout the day for a quick dry-skin pick-me-up. It’s the perfect final step to help fend off harmful bacteria, reduce redness, and soothe any irritation. And yes, it even comes in a convenient travel size, so you can mist on-the-go.

Odele Ultra Sensitive Shampoo & Conditioner

Trio Lindsay Holden, Britta Chatterjee, and Shannon Kearney founded Odele just four short years ago, aiming to create a cruelty-free, vegan brand that delivers salon-quality haircare at an affordable price. And guess what? They nailed it. Odele’s products not only tick all those boxes, but they come in minimalist, matte packaging that’s as stylish as it is gender-neutral—perfect for sharing on the shower ledge with your partner (or just making your bathroom look classy solo).

I stumbled upon Odele at Target, where the NEA seal caught my eye. (Anything that gets an NEA thumbs-up is worth a shot in my book.) I grabbed their shampoo and conditioner, and now they’re regulars in my shower routine. The shampoo’s fragrance-free formula lathers up nicely and includes eczema-friendly ingredients like aloe and oat kernel extract, which keep those pesky flakes at bay and add a healthy shine. After rinsing, I apply the conditioner, letting it sit for a minute or two; the hydrolyzed rice protein helps lock in moisture, and glycerin protects the scalp.

This routine every other day has made a real difference. For just under $25, my scalp feels moisturized and itch-free, and my hair’s healthier than ever. Also, props to Odele’s website team—they go the extra mile to break down every ingredient, explaining what it does and why it’s there.

Native Sandalwood & Shea Butter Sensitive Deodorant

I can’t do any "invisible" or "non-staining" deodorants. Most of them contain alcohol, which dries out or irritates sensitive skin and strips natural oils, leaving it more vulnerable to irritation. That’s why I love NATIVE’s "sensitive" offering—despite its light scent, it hasn’t broken out my armpits, and I think that’s because its leading ingredients are coconut oil and shea butter. Plus, it's baking soda-free, which is key because baking soda can mess with the skin’s natural pH balance, leading to dryness, redness, or a rash. It's also aluminum-free, which means it doesn’t block sweat glands (sweating is normal and perfectly fine).

Each morning, I swipe it about five times under each arm, and it leaves me feeling fresh and hygienic without that sticky feeling. I also love that unlike many mass-market deodorants, this one won’t stain my shirts. Sure, it’s a bit pricier than your run-of-the-mill stick, but not having fiery armpits? Totally priceless.

Ursa Major Stellar Shave Cream

When I found out that Malin + Goetz discontinued their Vitamin E Shaving Cream, I was thrown into a bit of a grooming crisis. I mean, what’s a guy supposed to do when his go-to shaving cream vanishes into the ether? Enter Vermont-based Ursa Major, who answered the call with their exceptional shaving cream. And let me tell you, it lives up to the hype.

I’ve dealt with my fair share of nicks, razor burn, and irritation, but this cream has been a game-changer, soothing all those pesky skin woes. Packed with natural ingredients like oat, aloe, shea, and sunflower, it’s like a hydration boost for your face while you shave. The best part? It’s non-lathering, which is exactly what you want. Why? Well, for one, it prevents that dreaded dryness, and two, it reduces friction between the razor and your skin, giving you a smoother shave.

The lightly scented blend of ginger, grapefruit, vetiver, and bergamot is refreshing, but fear not—there are no artificial fragrances, sulfates, or parabens lurking here. Post-shave, I love the cool, clean feeling it leaves behind. My face feels refreshed, and—wait for it—no razor burn in sight.

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Oil Mist

As the cool weather sets in, it's time to give a little TLC to those overlooked moisturizing zones—my elbows and heels are high on that list. Lately, I've been using this body oil mist, both morning and night, and I have to say, it’s making a difference. My elbows are noticeably softer, and the back of my heels—normally about as dry as a desert—is now smooth and crack-free.

What’s in this magical mist, you ask? A blend of moisturizing heavy-hitters: soybean oil, which works as an anti-inflammatory to calm irritated skin; oat oil, which helps repair the skin’s moisture barrier; and vitamin E and jojoba for an extra hydration boost. I just spritz it directly where I need it and massage it in until it disappears like a Houdini act for dry skin.

Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion

I've tested more eczema-friendly moisturizers than I'd like to admit—all in search of the one. I started my journey with Cetaphil’s Gentle Cleanser a few years back on my wife’s recommendation and soon added their moisturizer to the mix. Now, it’s my go-to for three solid reasons: It's always available (a must-have in the moisturizer world); I love that dewy, protected feel on my skin; and it’s travel-friendly, letting me take my whole routine on the road.

So, why is this a top pick from dermatologists everywhere? This moisturizer’s formula is packed with hydrating glycerin and skin-loving vitamins B5 (panthenol) and B3 (niacinamide). It’s hypoallergenic and defends against pretty much everything that sets sensitive skin off—dryness, irritation, rough patches, tightness—even a weakened skin barrier. Lightweight yet deeply hydrating, it keeps my skin feeling supple all day long and genuinely fortified.

This is my all-in-one solution for my face and the rest of my body. The second I see my bottle hit the halfway mark, I’m back at the store securing a backup. Rest assured, you’ll never catch me without this trusty moisturizer in hand.

La Roche-Posay Lipikar Eczema Cream

Whenever I have an eczema flare-up, it’s like a scavenger hunt through the first-aid bin for that elusive tube of hydrocortisone—or, worse, a last-minute dash to the drugstore for whatever generic cream they have. But now, I’ve finally found the one: La Roche-Posay’s Lipikar eczema cream. Recently, I had an eczema patch crop up on my right bicep, thanks to my decision to wear a cashmere sweater over a T-shirt—a choice my skin definitely didn’t appreciate. After a few hours of relentless itchiness, I applied a dime-sized dab, massaged it in, and—poof!—the patch was gone by the evening.

No surprise it worked, though. The ingredients are an eczema-fighting dream team: colloidal oatmeal to calm things down, shea butter to repair, glycerin for hydration, and niacinamide (a.k.a. vitamin B3) to help restore the skin's moisture barrier and visibly fade any discoloration.

Best part? This cream is steroid-free and antibiotic-free, which means no over-reliance on steroids that can throw off the skin’s natural microbiome. And that means no risk of topical steroid withdrawal—a condition where the skin basically goes on strike without steroids. With this cream, you’re genuinely giving your skin the love it deserves, supporting its natural health and moisture barrier for a more balanced, less irritated complexion over time.

Skinfix Eczema Hand Relief Cream

In the past, I’ve been a bit lax on hand cream—usually grabbing cheap, fragranced stuff—until I realized I touch my face a lot. This led to minor breakouts around my eyes and lips, all thanks to the hand salve I’d been using. Enter my new MVP: the Skinfix Hand Cream. This gem is now my go-to, permanently stationed in my leather tote (with a backup in my dopp kit, just in case).

I apply this after washing my hands, or anytime they’re super dry. I also have a nasty case of eczema around my wedding ring (because water loves to get trapped under there). A dab of this cream and that finger is soothed along with the rest of my hands. Plus, it gives a nice natural sheen.

Key ingredients? Colloidal oatmeal, Skinfix’s patented B-L3 (boosts skin barrier function), and ceramides for deep hydration. I’ll be stashing this in all my bags, the glove compartment, and maybe even as a stocking stuffer. At least I know it won’t irritate anyone’s skin.

Burt’s Bees Sensitive Solutions Gentle Cream Cleanser

I've always known Burt's Bees for their lip balm, which is just as gentle as the cleanser I've been using from them lately. I’ve tried my fair share of lightweight cleansers, but this one feels like it’s doing some serious work. It’s substantial enough to leave my skin feeling moisturized, all while sweeping away the day's grime and unwelcome bacteria.

I use it once a day, just at night, for a last cleanse before bed. Twice might be pushing it, and I don’t want to risk overdoing it and stripping my skin. The ingredient list doesn’t disappoint, either—sunflower seed oil, rice milk, beeswax, and aloe vera, plus Burt’s special touch: cotton extract. It’s said to soften and provide a little extra armor against potential irritants, so my skin can sleep easily too.