Exederm makes ultra-sensitive skincare with the mildest ingredients possible (no fragrance, lanolin, parabens, propylene glycol, colors, dyes, sodium laureth sulfate, cocamidopropyl betaine or phthlates), to help the most delicate skin types (including those with eczema or dermatitis.)
They have a full line of products for adults in addition to the baby products I reviewed. Exederm received the “seal of acceptance” award from the National Eczema Association, and all 5 baby products received a 5/5 rating from the review panel! The Exederm website has lots of resources and information, including tips and information about irritants.
My son has extremely sensitive skin, and it became pretty apparent this year that he also suffers from eczema. I was lucky enough (sarcasm) to inherit eczema from my Dad. I had it on my arms as a baby, but now I mostly get it on my hands. It is worst in winter (my hands and knuckles crack and bleed) but for some reason it’s not nearly as bad if I am pregnant or newly breastfeeding. My dermatologist told me to stick with incredibly mild skin care products, free of fragrances, dyes or chemicals. To use soap/cleansers only when necessary, don’t use very hot water, and to apply moisturizers while skin is still damp.
The same “rules” of course apply to caring for my son’s skin, and Exederm fits the bill.
My son’s eczema is mostly on his upper arms and lower legs. I had a hard time getting photos of it; it is far worse than it looks in the photos! The biggest problem is that he just won’t leave it alone. From experience, I know it’s terribly itchy, but it can’t heal with him constantly scratching at it.
The first product we tried is the hydrating baby lotion.
It doesn’t contain any potentially allergenic ingredients like botanical extracts, nut oils or herbal additives. There is no fragrance, color, dyes, parabens, lanolin, SLS or SLES, propylene glycol, formaldehyde, or phthlates.
Ingredients: Water, petroleum, capric triglyceride, glyceryl stearate, stearic acid, palmitic acid, glycerin, ceteareth-20, sodium benzoate, phenoxyethanol, citric acid
The lotion is lightweight and easily absorbed. My son let me put it on his arms & legs, and didn’t freak out (which says a lot!) My daughter used some too, and she said that it smelled like my yummy homemade bread (LOL.) It is fragrance free, but I suppose it has the slightest scent from the ingredients. A 6 ounce bottle of the lotion retails for $14.99.
Next up is the intense baby moisturizer.
Just like the lotion, it doesn’t contain fragrance, color, dyes, parabens, lanolin, SLS or SLES, propylene glycol, formaldehyde, or phthlates.
Ingredients: Water, petroleum, capric triglyceride, glyceryl stearate, stearic acid, palmitic acid, glycerin, ceteareth-20, sodium benzoate, phenoxyethanol, citric acid
It has a very thick texture, like a stiff mousse or a whipped body butter. I used it on the driest areas of my son’s skin only, and I only needed the tiniest bit. A 4 ounce jar retails for $14.99.
Next we used the non-irritating baby shampoo. My husband said it’s false advertising because all babies are at least a little irritating sometimes, no such thing as a non-irritating baby. Tee-hee!
I’m getting repetitive here, but the shampoo does not contain fragrance, color, dyes, parabens, lanolin, SLS or SLES, propylene glycol, formaldehyde, or phthlates.
Ingredients: Purified water, decyl glucoside, glycerin, xanthan gum, disodium cocoamphodiacete, phenoxyethanol, caprylyl glycol, polyquaterium-10, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, EDTA, citric acid
My son had cradle cap for a long time, and still suffers from scaly patches on his scalp now and again. It honestly never occurred to me to use a shampoo designed for children with eczema, but it makes perfect sense. Even if they don’t suffer from dermatitis or the like on their scalp, the shampoo is still going to end up all over their bodies, and in the bath water they’re sitting in. My husband did remark that it wasn’t particularly foamy, but I explained that it doesn’t have any of the nasty chemicals that make shampoos foam! It rinsed out well and left my son’s hair clean. An 8 ounce bottle retails for $12.99.
The cleansing baby bath is next.
Are you one step ahead of me yet? No fragrance, color, dyes, parabens, lanolin, SLS or SLES, propylene glycol, formaldehyde, or phthlates.
Ingredients: Purified water, glycerin, disodium cocoamphodiacete, decyl glucoside, disodium cocoglucoside sulfosuccinate, xanthan gum, phenoxyethanol, caprylyl glycol, tetrasodium EDTA, sodium chloride, citric acid
Just like the shampoo, it doesn’t make loads of suds, but it lathers enough, rinses easily and doesn’t leave residue. An 8 ounce bottle with pump (which I LOVE, it makes it SO much easier to hold a baby and wash at the same time!) retails for $12.99.
The last of the products I tried was the flare control cream. It is America’s only paraben-free hydrocortisone cream, and is the maximum strength available without a prescription. It is also the first and only hydrocortisone product to receive the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance with a perfect 5 out of 5 score.
No fragrance, color, dyes, parabens, lanolin, SLS or SLES, propylene glycol, phthlates or formaldehyde.
Ingredients:
Active Ingredient: Hydrocortisone acetate USP 1%
Inactive ingredients: (base) caprylic/capric triglyceride, caprylyl glycol, ceteareth-20, anthemis nobilis, citric acid, glycerin, glyceryl stearate, palmitic acid, petrolatum, phenoxyethanol, stearic acid, purified water
I thought this was quite different than other hydrocortisone creams I’ve used. It wasn’t at all sticky or goopy. My son let me put it on his “boo-boos” before bed, and between the flare cream, lotion and intense moisturizer, it looked noticeably better in the morning. A 2 ounce tube retails for $14.99.
If your child (or you for that matter) has ultra-sensitive skin, eczema or dermatitis, you should definitely try Exederm!!
Buy any 3 products from Exederm.com and receive 20% off with coupon code “save20.” Orders over $50 receive free shipping to the U.S. or Canada too! The children’s products are available at lots of brick & mortar and online retailers while the standard/adult line is only available from Amazon.com
Giveaway: One winner will receive the same package of Exederm Products I reviewed (5 full-size products.) Includes 8 oz. non-irritating baby shampoo (ARV $12.99), 8 oz. cleansing baby bath (ARV $12.99), 6 oz. hydrating baby moisturizer (ARV $14.99), 4 oz. intensive baby moisturizer (ARV $14.99) and 2 oz. flare cream (ARV $14.99.) Combined retail value is $70.95. Entries go in the Rafflecopter form.
Disclosure: This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, nor associated with Facebook. By entering, you release Facebook from any responsibility and understand that the information entered on this form will not be disclosed to Facebook.
FTC compliance: While I did receive a product at no charge for review purposes, I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own.
Maria wants to live in a world where cloth diapers are the norm and moms can make parenting choices without judgement. When she’s not chasing her 18, 14 and 11-year old kids around, you might find her checking out the latest gadgets, organizing something (again) or exercising in the fresh air. 
Exederm contains glycerin which is on the top ten ingredient skin allergy list. Too bad. I’ll pass.
I didn’t know that about glycerin. Exederm worked wonderfully for my boys. Hope you find something perfect for you!
Hi, have you continued to use, and have success with, the Exederm products? How would you compare them to the Aveeno eczema products? And how does the smell compare? Finally, do you use the products on yourself too? I’m trying to choose between Aveeno, Spectro and Exederm and also between the baby version and the regular. I’m looking is for my spouse and myself..
The shampoo & baby bath made a big difference for my son. He won’t “let” me put lotions on him; I think he doesn’t like the way it feels. There isn’t much of a smell, just a slight smell from the ingredients. I’ve never used Aveeno though. I’ve used the flare cream on my eczema too!
I was going to buy the Exederm cream at Walgreens, but when looking at the ingredients, it listed petroleum, which I can’t use. Petroleum just makes my skin even dryer. Mineral oil & glycerin are the same way. When your skin becomes dryer you itch more. I guess that’s why I didn’t buy it.
We have been using the shampoo & body wash for my son and it has been great. He is not a fan of lotions & creams (sensory thing I guess?)
My baby has eczema in his diaper region and I’m trying to find a good moisturizer for all over his body that won’t cause problems with my cotton diapers (I don’t use synthetic). Have you used the Exederm moisturizer or cream in the diaper area? if so, any issues?
I haven’t used Exederm in the diaper area. I’d try using a silk liner or two if you prefer not to use fleece. I was lucky that my son’s was mostly on his arms, legs & torso. I have had great luck with Motherlove, EMAB, CJ’s & Grandma El’s when I needed a diaper cream.
Thanks for the great contest!
bahjeep@aol.com
I forgot to put my facebook name. It is Brett Monstie. Sorry for the inconvenience
Looks like a great product. I’ve had a hard time with keeping my daughter’s eczema under control. I would love to try this product! Thanks for the giveaway.
Great review! I love all the pictures you included 🙂 I also love the nice & easy giveaway entry! Thanks!
Thanks for the opportunity.
i forgot to put my facebook name! Courtney Ann, or my fan page Under the Apple Tree. 🙂
I hope I win this and get some relief for my 5 year old!
Thanks for the chance!
Wow, thank you for this. If I don’t win I will probably give these products a try anyway, because with the cold weather, my baby’s eczema is back in force. Seemed like the frequent pool swimming in summer kept it away then. He does wear a hazlewood necklace, which helps, but it still flares up.
The chlorinated pool helping makes sense! I was shocked the first time I heard about putting a tiny bit of bleach in the bath water for really bad eczema. My son refused to get in the pool at all this summer. I bet it wouldn’t have been as bad if he had gotten in!