Why I'm Obsessed With This $8 Skincare Product
This is not an ad in any way shape or form and I paid for the product myself: because, you know, sharing is caring đȘ
If youâve followed my work or read my columns over the years, youâll know it doesnât take fancy packaging or over-the-top marketing to sway my skincare purchasing (or recommending) decisions. Iâve spent my career testing everything from creams that contain 24k gold (yep, really) to facials that inject salmon sperm in your skin (also yep, really). But one of the products I swear by for everyone contains none of these rare materials or animal parts - itâs just a cheap, basic-ly packaged product. But it works SO WELL...
Yep, itâs a humble tub (or can) of Aquaphor.
I first discovered its brilliance during a chaotic family emergency in Florida, and last week, when a new serum left my lips cracked and sore, it was the only thing that helped. After a quick WhatsApp call with dermatologist Dr. Justine Kluk, this is how this humble ointment repaired my âleakyâ skin barrier.
The Walgreens Find: A Dermatologist-Recommended Staple
I was waiting in line at Walgreens just over four years ago with my mum who was visiting for her and my dadâs annual 3 month (!) stay over Christmas. Sheâd had a nasty fall that left her with a dislocated shoulder, a hospital stay, and a sudden diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. Yep, it was stressful.
We were waiting in the queue (or line I should say đșđž) for the pharmacist to help with her painful grazes when a dermatologist - who was very handsome lol - asked us what was wrong. How lovely!
Handsome derm insisted that we should pick up a can of spray-on Aquaphor. He said itâs great for soothing open wounds and grazes like my mum had, without the need for rubbing it into skin. He also explained that itâs brilliant for healing because it has amazing antibacterial properties too. Who knew?
And it was so easy for my mum to use. It absorbed into her skin really quickly and she healed really fast! I keep a can handy all the time for emergencies nowâŠ
My Red-Alert Lip Emergency: When Skincare Goes Wrong
Then last week, my lips were really really sore. This has never happened to me before and this sudden irritation came on overnight. They were cracked, dry, looked bright pink and felt so tight and irritated. As this came on so quickly I wondered if it was because of a new Vitamin C serum that Iâd tried the night before. That was all that Iâd done differently.
So in the car on my way to a soccer tournament with my son, I WhatsApped my favourite dermatologist, Dr. Justine Kluk a video of what they looked like and asked for her opinionâŠ
âThe Vitamin C could cause that, either by irritating the skin directly, or acting as an aggravating factor - it might be that your lips were already on the edge, and the Vitamin C just tipped them over the threshold,â explained Dr. Kluk.
Her solution? An âocclusiveâ product that keeps the moisture in and external irritants out.
The âLeaky Wallâ: Dr. Justine Kluk on Skin Barrier Repair
âIf you think of irritated skin as a leaky wall, it lets moisture out much more easily, so the area gets dry. But it also lets things that you apply to the skin penetrate more easily - like toothpaste or skincare ingredients - which then irritates the skin further.â
Thanks as always Dr. Kluk!
So when I got home, I ditched the Vitamin C, and I reached for some Aquaphor!
But this time it was the ointment version which has a texture like Vaseline. I knew it would help but I didnât realize how quickly it would get my lips on the mend. Literally less than 48 hours later they were soft again and not one bit sore.
Why Aquaphor Remains My Skincare Holy Grail
There is a lip version one too, but I knew that on this occasion I needed the richer ointment. They literally have all different versions - sticks, tubs, sprays - so if youâre in any kind of skin emergency, you can have one handy 24/7!
Canât recommend enough!
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