Skincare Helpers from Hope's Relief for Eczema, Psoriasis and Dermatitis

The arrival of Spring can trigger flare-ups for those who suffer from inflammatory dry skin conditions such as Eczema, Psoriasis and Dermatitis, but help is on hand from the natural brand, Hope's Relief.

If you've been following my blog for a while now, you'll probably already know that I've had eczema since I was a child and it's been an upward battle trying to find products that help with flare-ups which aren't loaded with steroids and petroleum. Thankfully, I've been fortunate enough to be able to have tried and tested numerous products over the years, and through a lot of this trial and error, I've discovered that my skin reacts a lot better to more soothing and natural formulas, than it ever did to the steroids-heavy prescription creams that my GP would give me. 

One brand that I've often recommended to fellow eczema sufferers who are looking for a natural alternative is Hope's Relief, and during a recent flare-up due to the change of season (and probably some exam related stress!), I've been able to put these two products below through their paces.

Hope's Relief Topical Moisturising Spray* (90ml, £15.95, link)

This multi-purpose topical spray offers fast-acting relief for those times when your skin is feeling horribly dry and itchy, and is ideal for anyone who has generally sensitised/irritated skin, as well as those who are prone to Eczema, Psoriasis and Dermatitis. The formula is made from 98.5% natural ingredients and includes Calendula, Aloe Vera, Tea Tree and Borage Oils, to quickly cool, soothe and calm itchy, irritated skin in a matter of minutes. 

Free from steroids, fragrances, SLS, parabens, paraffin, lanolin and petrochemicals, I've found this spray very easy to use, especially on larger surface areas as a light spritz is all you need to cover it, so it would be great for babies and young children who won't let you put creams on them. You can use them anywhere on the body, but I'd recommend spraying it onto a cotton pad first if you want to use it on your face, so that you don't get any in or around your eyes.

Hope's Relief Itchy Flaky Scalp Soothing Conditioner* (200ml, £16.99, link)

It can be easy to forget about the skin on your scalp, and many people who have eczema also experience sensitivities and dryness on their scalps which can lead to unbearable itchiness. I always suggest cutting out SLS in your haircare to see if that helps first, but if you're looking for an additional specialised product, this Itchy Flaky Scalp Soothing Conditioner can certainly lend a helping hand! Virtually everyone can use this (including babies as a treatment for Cradle Cap) and it's highly suitable for those who have Eczema, Psoriasis, Dermatitis, Seborrheic Dermatitis and Dandruff problems. 

Being fragrance-free, pH balanced and hypoallergenic, it's a very gentle but effective formula which contains hospital grade Organic Manuka Honey UMF 10+, Gotu Kola, Aloe Vera and Calendula, to soothe the scalp and condition the hair. To use it after shampooing, I simply massage a generous amount into my scalp, leave it to do its magic for a couple of minutes and then rinse it out. Afterwards, my scalp feels much happier and less tight and dry, with the 'no itchy' feeling lasting usually until my next wash (so a few days for me as I only wash my hair twice a week). If you have very dry hair (lengths and ends), you may want to keep it just as a scalp conditioner/treatment as I prefer a much more heavy duty conditioner and this is definitely a lighter conditioning option, but I imagine it would be ideal to use if you wash your hair every day.

Hope's Relief products are available online from LoveLula.com

Have you tried any of these?

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Winter Haircare: 4 Products To Help Save Dry Hair & Problem Scalps

Whilst we know that cold weather can have a negative impact on our skin (read my Hydrating Serums post here if you're looking to upgrade your Winter skincare routine), it can be all too easy to forget that our hair and scalp can also benefit from a helping hand (or two) during this time of the year. 

My hair is naturally very dry and I've been dealing with a sensitive scalp since I was a teenager. Most of the time, I can slap on a good hair oil or mask once a week, and everything will fine and dandy as long as I avoid SLS in my haircare (I discovered a few years ago that this was the main ingredient that was causing my scalp to become drier than the Sahara desert - ditch it if you think it could be a problem for you too!). However, when Winter hits and especially when temperatures drop to freezing, I have to give my cold-battered tresses and dried out scalp some extra TLC.  

So if your hair is feeling drier than usual or your scalp is starting to drive you insane, here are some products that I've been using recently which can definitely help. You can also use them at any time of the year if you have dry hair, a problematic scalp and/or have been hitting the curling/straightening irons too hard!

Tony Maleedy Juniper Scalp Therapy Shampoo* (250ml, £17.50, link)

Specially formulated for problematic scalps and clinically developed to help treat dryness, dandruff, and inflammation/irritation, Tony Maleedy's naturally anti-mitotic Juniper Scalp Therapy Shampoo is one of those products that I wish I had known about sooner. It features six natural plant oils which are revered for their therapeutic and antibacterial properties; Niper Oil, Corn Mint Oil, Thyme Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Rosemary Oil and Eucalyptus Oil. They not only help with dryness but also improve the overall health of the scalp, that in turn can help to reduce hair loss and provide the right conditions for healthy hair growth as well. It smells strongly herbal as a result and you need to leave it on to do its magic for a good five minutes or so before rinsing, but I've found this shampoo so useful for getting rid of a dry and flaky scalp quickly and saw a noticeable difference after just one wash. Although it feels gentle, it is quite clarifying as these kinds of shampoos often are, so it's something that I would alternate with another shampoo if you wash your hair frequently. Highly recommended though!

Natura Siberica Alladale Repairing Natural Hair Mask* (120ml, £7.99, link)

This affordable hair mask is an excellent repairing treatment for anyone who has dry or damaged hair. The superstar ingredients in this mask are Scottish Wild Thistle and certified organic Siberian Cedar that help to deeply strengthen and moisturise damaged hair within just 5-7 minutes.  It has a lovely texture and performance wise, it beats some of the higher-end haircare products that I have in my bathroom, making it a fantastic budget-friendly discovery. If you colour your hair a lot or are simply a little too heavy handed with heated styling tools, this hair mask is a must-try. 98% natural and created in collaboration with the Alladale Wilderness Reserve in the Scottish Highlands which you can find out more about here. 

Organic Shop Organic Avocado & Honey Express Repair Hair Mask* (250ml, £2.49, link)

Another hair mask that my dry hair has been lapping up recently is from the Organic Shop. Their Organic Avocado & Honey Express Hair Mask is 99% natural, free from parabens, silicones, mineral oils and SLS, and features certified organic Avocado Oil and Honey to restore weather-beaten hair to its former glory. It has a reassuringly thick consistency that spreads onto the hair easily and can be used as a quick and easy 2-3 minute treatment as and when you feel your hair needs that extra shot of hydration. Amazingly, this hair mask is only £2.49!

Natura Siberica Professional Oblepikha Scalp Scrub* (200ml, £5, link)

Lastly, for this feature I wanted to give a special mention to this Oblepikha Scalp Scrub which is from the Natura Siberica range (you know something is Winter-friendly when it uses plant extracts from Siberia!). If you have a dry and flaky scalp, you'll want to include some kind of exfoliating product in your haircare routine to remove that build up of dead skin cells, and a scalp scrub does this job beautifully. This one utilises a range of wild-harvested Siberian Herbs and also includes Altai Sea Buckthorn, Argan Oil, Calendula, Amino Acids and Raspberry Seeds, to give a seriously deep exfoliation that stimulates the scalp, helping to boost blood flow to the hair follicles, balance sebum production and keep dandruff at bay. It's a little tricky to rinse out all of the scrubby bits (this isn't something that you can do in five minutes!), but the results are definitely worth the extra effort and I love how refreshed and clean my scalp feels afterwards.

What are your favourite hair products for Winter?

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New In Haircare: Aveda Pramāsana Purifying Scalp Cleanser & Protective Scalp Concentrate review

A healthy scalp is essential if you want strong and healthy hair, but it's often an area that most people don't really talk about or spend much time on, which is why I've been so excited about Aveda's new Pramāsana range. 

I have a sensitive scalp that gets easily irritated to the point where it can sometimes be unbearably itchy and flaky during really bad flare-ups (I've discovered that these bad times are often linked to seasonal changes, dealing with too much stress and when my eczema plays up). It's not a pretty thing to imagine and it can be a real confidence killer, but it's a very common problem for many people. Whilst I'm working on my coping mechanisms for dealing with stress, I've found that using SLS-free hair care has helped me enormously, and I'm sure my regular readers will have spotted numerous SLS-free haircare reviews on here for that very reason!

I've experimented with various scalp treatments and oils over the years, and although I've had the most success with using Philip Kingsley's Scalp Toner, it still hasn't completely solved my problem, so I was interested in trying Aveda's new Pramāsana range as soon as it launched. 

The Pramāsana range is basically a three-step targeted system that gives the equivalent of a facial to your scalp. It deeply exfoliates, cleanses and balances, giving it that extra TLC that a sensitive scalp so often needs. 

Step 1: The first step involves dry brushing the scalp to increase micro-circulation and there's a handy video here showing you how to do this. This method feels amazing and is something that I've been incorporating into my daily routine. The next two steps use the following products which I've been testing out for the past month and they've really been helping me so far:-

Step 2: Aveda Pramāsana Purifying Scalp Cleanser* (150ml, £23.50, link)

Used as a cleansing treatment before you shampoo your hair, this Purifying Scalp Cleanser is made from 98% naturally-derived ingredients and features Wintergreen derived Salicylic Acid to deeply exfoliate the scalp. It removes any build-up from styling products, dead skin cells and helps to rebalance any excess sebum, so it's a good one to try if you hit the gym a lot or like to do hot yoga! To use it, I apply a small amount directly to my scalp all over, making sure that I cover the top of my hairline which is where I get itchy and flaky the most. Once applied, I massage it in, where it starts to lightly lather up (in an SLS-free manner of course) and it feels so nice and cooling when I do this! There's no leave on time with this, so I head straight into the shower, rinse with warm water and shampoo and condition my hair as normal.

Step 3: Aveda Pramāsana Scalp Concentrate* (75ml, £35, link)

The next and final step after you've finished shampooing and conditioning is to apply the Scalp Concentrate which contains 96% naturally derived ingredients and feels like a protective skincare serum, but for your scalp. It has a handy dropper applicator and the concentrate feels ultra-lightweight so you can use this on towel-dried, damp or dry hair, without it making your hair greasy (if it does this, you'll definitely using way too much!). The concentrate works to penetrate the surface layers of the scalp in order to nourish it, and it helps to support the scalp's natural protective barrier, which in turn helps to further protect it from pollution and other irritating free radicals. To use, I part my hair and apply it directly to my scalp like I did with the cleanser above, and very gently massage it in.  You only need to use a tiny amount as the formula is so concentrated and as it's a leave-in treatment, you can just style your hair as usual afterwards and you're done.

Overall thoughts?

As I mentioned earlier, I've been using these products for just over a month now and I've already seen a big difference in how my scalp is looking and feeling. It's a lot less itchy and flaky, and feels clearer and cleaner than it's ever been before. Really impressed, and I look forward to seeing what the long term results are like - watch this space!

The Aveda Pramāsana range is available from all Aveda stockists and salons nationwide, and online at aveda.co.uk / There's also an In-Salon Scalp Facial Treatment available (from £50), so contact your local Aveda salon for booking info.

Have you tried this new range yet?

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