Super Soft Skin (Doublebase Emolient Cream)

Member Name: Meggysmum

Product:	Doublebase Emolient Cream
Date:	11/06/09 (209 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very effective even on really dry skin.

Disadvantages: Pump not working fully is a let down.

I had never suffered from any dry skin conditions until I moved South to the Bucks border. Here the water is hard (I have even seen little lumps of chalk in it!) and has a very drying effect on the skin. I found my skin became dry and very irritated, I always seemed to want to scratch it.

Over the next few years I tried many moisturising products, both cosmetic types and more pharmaceutical types. As I work in a pharmacy I knew that a huge range was available but that it can often be trial and error to find the best one. A colleague recommended the Doublebase Gel as she had it on prescription for her eczema. I was desperate so paid about £5 for a 100g tube and took it home. Two years later I buy the gel in a 500g pot at about £11 and find it is worth every penny!

The gels tub comes in a protective cardboard carton that is a deep pink colour with white writing. It states that it is a hydrating gel for dry or chapped skin conditions which may also itch or be inflamed. The tub is clear plastic so it is easy to see how much gel is left. I love the look of the product, it is the most bizarre consistancy. It is white and leaves the sides of the tub completely when it moves around, very hard to explain! It comes with a pump dispenser which you have to twist anticlockwise once to open originally. If you need to lock the top, perhaps if you are travelling, it is easy to do by twisting the other way.

The product is suitable for adults and children. Its active ingredients are Isopropyl Myristate and Liquid Paraffin. I presumed this would produce a greasy product but it does not. There are other ingredients but there is no perfume and no parabens or lanolin.

To use simply smooth on to the skin frequently in the affected area. If you have very dry skin you can smooth it on before a shower and then wash off without stripping the skin of its natural oils.

I found that the cream disappeared into the skin very quickly and left it soft without being greasy or sticky. I only had to wait a couple of minutes before getting dressed. It has a light smell that is not really evident once it has been applied to the skin. I have found that some products in the past have smelt chemically so this makes a pleasent change. It gave me some relief from the dryness immediately. I now tend to apply it once a day and the dryness and itching has completely gone. If I get lazy and stop bothering the irritation comes back after a couple of weeks and then it takes about 3 or 4 days of using the gel twice a day before it eases completely again.

I recommend this product to anyone who wants a good moisturiser. My skin looks and feels much better and it is so clean and easy to use. The only problem I would say the product has is actually in the pump design. It cannot manage to get about the last fifth of the gel out of the tub so I have to resort to unscrewing the top and putting it straight on to my hand. However this inconvenience does not outway its benefits!

This gel is available from pharmacies. You may have to ask for the 500g size as that is usually kept in the dispensary. Check the price first as with many pharmaceutical products the prices change erratically.

If it wasn't for the dispenser problem I would give it 5 stars.

Summary: Light and non-greasy but still effective.