Between the cold, dry air conditioned malls and offices and the humid tropical weather here in Singapore, it can be challenging finding the perfectly balanced moisturising cream if you suffer from dry or eczema prone skin.
In Singapore’s tropical weather, having dry skin or skin prone to conditions like eczema or psoriasis can be challenging to manage. Frequent showers, especially with soap and hot water, can strip the skin, exacerbating the dryness and increasing sensitivity in people with a compromised stratum corneum, or skin barrier.
Moisturising is a really important part of managing dry and sensitive skin and skin that has been compromised by chronic conditions like eczema. But between the cold, dry indoor conditions and the sunny and humid outdoors here in Singapore, it can be very challenging to find the perfectly balanced moisturiser.
Thankfully, one Singapore born company, Kansoskin, is looking to change that with their first product, the Simply Better Barrier Moisturising Cream. We put this cream through its paces to see if this really is the best cream for dry or eczema prone skin here in Singapore. Read on for our full review.
Complex Formulation Filled With Skin Goodness
Usually when I shop for skincare products for sensitive skin, the first few things I look out for are a simple ingredients list and the absence of common irritants like alcohol and fragrances. But the Simply Better Barrier Cream has a surprisingly extensive ingredients list that reads like the who’s who of the skincare world.
Although it contains around 50 different ingredients, this cream is 100% vegan, ranging from established ingredients such as Adenosine, Ceramide, Squalane and Glycerin, to unique botanicals with exciting skincare benefits like Monkey Grass, Snow Mushroom and Chicory Root. Visit the product page for the full list.
Despite its lengthy ingredients list, it appears that all of them are EWG Green grade ingredients. This means that they are ingredients of least concern and hold the lowest risk of triggering any reactions. It is also free of common irritants such as fragrance, alcohol and essential oils making this a low-irritation formulation suitable for sensitive skin.
Reading through the ingredients list, it looks like Kansoskin has managed to pack a myriad of skincare benefits into this cream with a large focus on moisturisation and anti-ageing. Many of its botanical ingredients are rich in protective antioxidants that are critical in protecting your skin against free radical damage that can exacerbate existing skin conditions like eczema.
Scent & Texture
This moisturising cream is white in colour and has a dense and thick texture that was surprisingly easy to spread and massage evenly over my skin. The moisturising cream formed a noticeable barrier over the skin that felt thick and comforting, but did not feel overly thick and mucky in our humid weather. Because of how dense the cream is, a little bit went a long way.
A thicker application yielded a heavier barrier that worked perfectly as a night moisturiser. The Simply Better Barrier Cream isn’t the lightest moisturising cream but given that it was formulated to hydrate and protect dry and eczema ravaged skin, that wasn’t so surprising. Being also formulated for sensitive skin, this moisturiser is also fragrance-free and is as close to being odourless as you will find in any skincare product.
What stood out for me was the texture of this cream that really set it apart from other moisturising creams. Denser than usual, it spread into a thin protective layer that protected and comforted dry, scaly skin and was easy to layer on so that I could get the right thickness of the cream on my skin that felt comfortable to me.
Application & Results
This cream comes in a squeeze tube that can make it difficult to squeeze out the last bit as you get to the end of the tube. However, given how dense the cream is, the tube makes it easier to control the amount of cream that I was dispensing each time. Because of how dense the cream is, I found it much easier to create more, smaller dabs before spreading it across my skin.
I use this cream both as a day and night moisturiser and apply a single layer when using it in the morning but usually do 2 - 3 layers in the evening. As a single layer the cream formed a light, protective layer that while noticeable, did not feel oily. The cream is also non-comedogenic, which means that it doesn’t clog your pores making it suitable if you also struggle with acne problems.
The cream is also an excellent spot treatment for problematic dry spots. When the skin gets too dry or if there is an eczema outbreak, the area can get very sensitive and even inflamed as its natural barrier has been compromised. While I don’t suffer from serious eczema, I do have a few dry spots that can get itchy and bothersome at times.
The protective layer that this cream forms on application did a fantastic job in keeping my skin moisturised and protected from irritants and after a few days of use, I did notice a marked improvement in my usual problem spots. In fact, in some spots, the itch and sensitivity subsided so much that I totally forgot about them.
Verdict: Perfect Moisturiser For Dry & Sensitive Skin
If you suffer from dry skin or skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis then I highly recommend the Simply Better Barrier Cream as a “must try”. As a night cream, it left my skin feeling very plump and hydrated even after my morning cleanse. My skin also felt and looked softer and smoother.
Despite being a very dense cream, the unique formulation spreads into a very thin protective layer that is very agreeable with Singapore’s warm and humid weather. I love how easy it is to control the thickness of my application by starting with small amounts and adding additional layers. This makes this cream worth a try even if you do not suffer from dry skin, just apply a thinner layer.
The cream also did very well in calming and soothing skin irritation and can be used on any part of your body making this a very versatile cream to have around the house. The lack of any fragrance not only means one less potential irritant but more practically, it lacks a strong aroma that might clash with other body products that you might use like body lotions, deodorants or perfume.
If you have dry and sensitive skin and are in the market for a versatile moisturising cream that can be used on the face and body alike, look no further. Kansoskin’s Simply Better Barrier Cream is one of the best moisturising creams in its class that I’ve tested so far and is definitely worth the money.
About the writer
Stacy Liu, an American-born Chinese, is the beauty editor at Asian Beauty X obsessively writing about new beauty launches, the best hair products, and the skincare formulas that really work for every skin type.
