What’s your worse winter skincare problem?
For me, it’s body dryness. I suffer with it in summer, too, but when the colder months roll around, it gets 10x worse. I guess taking 2 hour long baths in steaming hot water doesn’t help.
It’s one of the guilty pleasures that helps me unwind at the end of a long day spent running around icy London. But as soon as I get out of the bathtub, my skin shrivels like an old prune. It itches like crazy, too.
I’ve tried all sorts of creams, balms and lotions to soothe and nourish my worse-than-the-Sahara skin over the years. One of my favourites is Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume. Here’s why:
P.S. You can use it on your face, too.
What’s In Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume?
GLYCERIN
Have you noticed that every skincare product for dry skin has glycerin?
There’s a reason for that. Glycerin is a moisture magnet. Literally. Like a magnet, it attracts moisture from the environment and binds it into the skin.
Your skin then uses the extra moisture for all sorts of things: become softer to the touch, take on a dewy glow, and make fine lines and wrinkles look smaller (an effect of moisture plumping).
Related: The Complete Guide To Glycerin In Skincare
MINERAL OIL
Ah, the by-product of crude oil everyone loves to hate on! Hear me out before you dismiss it…
For starters, mineral oil undergoes a strict purifying process that removes all traces of toxins and impurities from it. The end result – Cosmetic Grade Mineral Oil – is safe for use on the skin.
Mineral oil is one of the most moisturising things on this planet. It creates a barrier on the skin that traps in moisture, preventing it from evaporating into thin air.
FYI, this barrier will trap anything it finds on your skin. If you’re using anything comedogenic beforehand, the trapped culprit may give you a breakout. But mineral oil itself isn’t comedogenic.
But why use mineral oils when there are so many natural oils available? It’s the gentlest.
Most oils contain 30+ substances (really!). Just think of all the antioxidants, fatty acids, and fragrant components an oil has. Not to mention, the pollen, resins, and anything else that deposits on the plant while it’s growing up.
Mineral oil is a simple molecule made in a sterilised lab. That means there’s less chance it’ll give sensitive skin a rash or irritation.
P.S. Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume has sunflower and canola oils, too.
Related: 5 Myths About Mineral Oil You Need To Stop Believing Right Now
PALMITAMIDE MEA (PEA)
Palmitamide MEA (PEA) is an essential fatty acid with anti-inflammatory properties.
According to an open-label, International study, PEA improves all symptoms of dry skin, including itching, scaling, dryness and erythema.
Bioderma claims PEA is the hero that makes your skin stop itching. It certainly plays a part. But repairing your skin protective barrier does that too. This cream has plenty of heroes that can do that job.
Like the mineral oil above and the ceramides below.
CERAMIDES
Did you know the word Ceramide comes from the Latin “cera”? It means wax.
That’s just what ceramides are. Waxy substances that make up roughly half of your skin’s protective barrier. They basically waterproof skin so that moisture stays in and germs and bacteria stay out.
Ceramides patch up any holes in your skin’s protective barrier, too. When it’s whole again, your skin is naturally soft and supple, and better able to withstand the assaults from the colder weather, too!
Related: How To Strengthen The Skin’s Protective Barrier (And Why It Matters)
Texture
The balm has a thick, creamy consistency that glides smoothly on the skin. It sits on the surface for a couple of minutes before sinking in, but it never feels greasy or oily.
Fragrance
It’s fragrance-free. That’s good. Fragrance is one of the most irritating ingredients in skincare and can make the irritation and itching worse.
How To Use It
A little goes a long way. I apply it all over my body after I get out of the shower (or bath). You can use it on your face as well, if it’s particularly dry or itchy. Mine isn’t, so I use the balm on my body only).
Performance & Personal Opinion
Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume is one of the most moisturizing creams I’ve ever tried in my life. I massage it for a couple of minutes to give it the time to fully sink in before I put on my clothes.
Straight after application, my skin feels so much softer and smoother. I’m happy to report, the moisturizing effects last all day, too.
I don’t have to drop whatever I’m doing during the day to slather on another dose because my skin feels super tight (yes that happened – and yes, working from home helps).
You get the point. It’s really as soothing and calming as it says. I find it helps with itching, too.
Who Is This For?
- Seriously dry skin
- Itchy skin
- Sensitive skin
- Eczema-prone skin
Who Is This Not For?
- Oily skin
- Acne-prone skin
Packaging
Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume comes in a 75ml tube, a 200ml tube (the one I use), and a 500 pump bottle. Take your pick!
Does Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| Soothes itching and irritation. | Yes, it definitely helps. |
| Biologically rebuilds a healthy skin barrier. | Yes, it contains ingredients, like ceramides, that can patch up a broken skin barrier. |
| Restores skin comfort and thus spaces out the occurrence of new irritative phases. | Yes, if you use it consistently, it’ll help keep your protective barrier intact. This alone helps prevent dryness, itchiness, and co. |
Price & Availability
$24.90/£20.00 at Dermstore and Escentual
Do You Need It?
Yes! If you have seriously dry, itchy skin, this is a godsend.
[penci_review]
Dupes & Alternatives
- CeraVe Moisturizing Cream ($18.99)
- Eucerin Eczema Relief Body Cream ($21.01)
- La Roche Posay Lipikar Eczema Soothing Relief Cream ($14.99)
Ingredients
Aqua/Water/Eau, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum / Mineral Oil / Huile Minerale, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Sucrose Stearate, Canola/Canola oil/Huile De Colza, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Betasitosterol, Xylitol, Zinx Gluconate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Palmitamide MEA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Rhamnose, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide NP, Mannitol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide AP, Chlosterol, Carbomer, Xantham Gum, Citric Acid, Ceramide EOP. [BI 669]
