Best Products for Psoriasis
Those of us dealing with psoriasis know it’s more than just “a skin condition.” The mental toll of this autoimmune disease can be very heavy, but one thing we can control is committing to a consistent skincare routine which is essential for both healing and overall comfort. For me, it has taken years and years of experimenting to find a routine that works and keeps me comfortable. At my worst, my skin, face, and scalp were 98% covered in psoriasis (see the photo of my legs below) and I deeply feel the pain of others experiencing the unbelievable uncomfortableness of this. Once I began sharing a bit more about my psoriasis struggles on social media, I started to get questions pretty often about what has worked for me and what is a waste of time and money (is the thing bottle that says “for psoriasis” or “for eczema” really any better than the option that is $5 cheaper?) I hope this post provides some direction of where to start but of course, everyone is different, and treating psoriasis is truly an experience of trial and error.
A FEW THINGS TO NOTE:
Reading ingredient labels should become your new normal. There are a lot of things out there labeled natural, for dry skin, moisturizing, etc but oftentimes they will have ingredients you want to avoid. The most common are alcohols (like ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, and methanol), fragrance, and sulfates.
I do want to note for complete transparency that there are two main types of psoriasis, plaque and guttate, and I have only ever dealt with guttate - which is typically defined by smaller, more spread out spots.
Please note some of the links below are affiliate links. I do make a small commission when links are used for purchasing products, however, all opinions are my own. Thanks for clickin and supportin.
May 2018 - at my worst.
Favorite Lotions
La Roche-Posay Lipikar Balm AP+ Intense Repair Moisturizing Cream - I love this lotion for so many reasons. I find that out of all of the lotions I have tried it is the one I continually go back to. It provides all-day moisture without being sticky or drying out after a few minutes. It also is super accessible
Derma E Vitamin E Fragrance-Free Therapeutic Shea Body Lotion - This is also a super great option for a lotion that gives you moisture without being sticky. This is my go-to to throw in my bag for travel because it has a cap and the bottle isn’t huge. Plus, Derma E overall is a pretty clean beauty brand.
CeraVe SA Cream for Rough and Bumpy Skin, Moisturizer with Salicylic Acid - CeraVe is a go-to brand for a lot of people who have dry skin issues. The great thing about this lotion is it includes Salicylic acid, which essentially acts as a peeling agent, helping the top layer of skin on those dang plaques shed faster.
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream for Normal to Dry Skin - Another great CreaVe option that is a little less pricey than the one above. This is a great daily moisturizer for anyone - thick and creamy but easily spreads.
FAVORITE SOAPS
Dr. Bronner's 18-In-1 Hemp Baby Pure Castile Soap - Unscented - When looking for a soap, I think one of the biggest things is to find one without fragrance, which is a bit hard to do. I like this Dr. Bronner’s soap because it is a no-fuss way to get clean without worrying about bad ingredients. For me, I don’t need the soap to heal me but I also don’t need it to hurt me. The organic and clean ingredients in this product do just that.
Nature By Canus Bar Soap, Fragrance-Free, 5 Oz - Again, fragrance-free soap forever!! I used to hate bar soap, but lately, I’ve really been enjoying using natural goat milk bar soap. Bar soap typically has less harmful ingredients and goat milk is super moisturizing and gets the job done. There are plenty of options out there and your local natural store (Natural Grocers, Whole Foods, New Seasons, etc) probably has a few to choose from.
CeraVe Psoriasis Cleanser with Salicylic Acid Psoriasis Wash - Back again to CeraVe - clean and functional without being too expensive. This body wash includes salicylic acid and overall is worth trying if you are really struggling to get your skin under control.
Epsom Salt - The oldest trick in the book for helping soothe irritated skin is to soak in an Epsom salt bath. Epsom salt is pretty cheap and easy to find, just make sure your bathwater isn’t too hot.
FAVORITE FACE WASHES
Insta-Natural Vitamin C Face Wash - I use this facewash every night - it is gentle enough for my skin, gets all my makeup off, and doesn’t leave me feeling dried out. I love this clean brand and know that vitamin C is key to helping protect our skin from free radicals. This face wash also includes aloe vera which is a top ingredient for helping soothe psoriasis.
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser for Normal to Dry Skin - SURPRISE! CeraVe making an appearance again. This face wash is straightforward and will do the job of getting your face clean while also helping moisturize it all while not breaking the bank.
Acure Brightening Facial Scrub - There is some controversy over whether or not an exfoliating scrub is something you should incorporate into your skincare routine, with or without a skin condition. I am adding this to the list simply because 1) I LOVE this brand. Truly. It is a clean brand that makes great products and cares about its impact on the planet - you can sign up for their program and send them your bottles to be recycled after you are done with them OKAY IN and 2) I use this very sparingly before a big event or day. The key here is to scrub SUPER gently. I believe there is something to be said about removing that top, flaky layer of skin for makeup to smoothly sit on the face, and most of the chemical exfoliants are just too harsh for psoriasis on my face.
FAVORITE SKINCARE
InstaNatural Niacinamide 5% Face Serum - This serum is one of the first things I put on my clean skin when I have a bad flare-up. It is soothing, made with clean ingredients, and has a good amount of stickiness to help hide the flakes but not make you feel overly sticky.
InstaNatural Vitamin C Serum with Hyaluronic Acid & Vit E - Another great serum from InstaNatural. I love using this in the morning under my moisturizer. Vitamin C is an anti-inflammatory and helps protect you from free-radicals.
evanhealy Wild Carrot Nourishing Eye Balm + Traveling Moisturizer Stick - if you buy anything from this blog post BUY THIS MOISTURIZING STICK. I put this on every morning and night anywhere I have patches on my face, along with carrying one in my purse for when I’m out and need some emergency moisture. It is loaded with good ingredients and is one of the easiest ways to get pinpointed moisture on your face + helps hides flakiness really well.
WELEDA SKIN FOOD ORIGINAL ULTRA-RICH CREAM - This is a great *deep* moisturizing to slather on right before bed. It is very thick, so I wouldn’t use it unless you are trying to do more treatment-type lather.
PAULAS’ CHOICE SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA LIQUID EXFOLIANT - Everyone who has psoriasis needs a good exfoliant, and this one is perfect for sensitive skin. It does a good job of helping the skin shed without being too harsh.
Borage Butter Face Cream - This is my go-to daily moisturizer. Borage butter is SUPER soothing and moisturizing and I find this is not too thick to sit under make-up. I have used this for years and truly cannot sing its praises enough.
EltaMD UV Daily Tinted Face Sunscreen Moisturizer - This is my go-to sunscreen for my face. My dermatologist recommended this sunscreen to me years ago and I love that it has a slight tint to it. You can buy it without the tint.
Psoriasis Honey Skin-Renewing Cream - This product is SUPER thick, but I think that’s the point. I have put this in the skincare category because I don’t really like using it as a full-body moisturizer, but I think it works GREAT has a face mask. When I have a big flare-up that just won’t seem to calm down I will slather this product all over my face before bed. This product is packed with good ingredients and is overall super soothing.
FAVORITE MAKEUP
e.l.f. CosmeticsMineral Infused Face Prime - this face primer is cheap, clean, and effective. It provides enough stickiness to sit on top of and smooth flakes while not affecting make-up consistency
PACIFICA ULTRA CC CREAM FOUNDATION - I love this CC cream. It is just the right amount of moisture without being too thick. It has a nice color to it and always helps cover up the inevitable redness.
W3LL PEOPLE NARCISSIST FOUNDATION STICK - I have a few go-to foundation/cc creams, but I find this one a great lightweight, buildable option. W3ll People is known for their clean makeup and I love that I can pick it up at Target.
W3LL PEOPLE BIO TINT MULTI-ACTION MOISTURIZER WITH SPF 30 - this product is more like a full-coverage foundation. It is a thicker consistency and a bit more sticky but is still moisturizing and a good option for those with super dry skin
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer - This concealer is a DREAM for anyone with flaky skin. The consistency is creamy and smooth and doesn’t stick to my flakes. I love this product so dang much.
PACIFICA LIQUID COVERAGE CONCEALER - this product is very similar to the NARS concealer but is a cheaper and more clean option. It does a great job of covering up redness and dark circles and I can’t say enough good things about it.
W3LL PEOPLE BIO BRONZER CREAM STICK - When my skin is bad I try to stick with cream products because powder just seems to get too flaky. I LOVE this bronzer for extra color or for playing around with contouring.
W3LL PEOPLE NUDIST MULTI-USE STICK - Another great W3ll People product. I have to be careful with blush when my face is super red, so sometimes I don’t use it at all, but when I do I love a good multi-use stick. I use this also on my eyelids as eyeshadow and on my lips!
W3LL PEOPLE Bio-Base Pressed Foundation - I don’t always use a setting powder when my skin is super flakey but I will use this occasionally if I am having a good day.
W3LL PEOPLE Expressionist Brow Gel - Brow gel doesn’t have a ton to do with psoriasis, but I wanted to include this and the mascara below because I think an overall clean beauty routine does matter and I love this brow gel so much.
W3LL PEOPLE EXPRESSIONIST VOLUMIZING MASCARA - Again, mascara does not have a ton to do with face psoriasis, but if you have it on your eyelids it might be worth exploring more clean options, and this is BY FAR the best clean mascara I have tried.
FAVORITE SHAMPOO/CONDITIONERS
PURA D'OR ORIGINAL GOLD LABEL ANTI-THINNING BIOTIN SHAMPOO - This shampoo is full of great ingredients to help heal your scalp. I find it gets my hair clean without weighing it down and drying out my scalp.
PURA D'OR HEALING ARGAN OIL CONDITIONER - I LOVE THIS CONDITIONER. This product is 99% planted based, includes lavender oil and vanilla extract to nourish the hair and scalp, along with argan oil and aloe vera to help replenish and keep your scalp and hair moisturized.
dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse - This product is so wonderful. I think when dealing with a dry scalp or psoriasis you want to avoid over-washing your hair and essentially drying out your scalp. This product is a great way to avoid getting greasy hair AND getting some good healing apple cider vinegar on your scalp. I use this product 1-2 times a week in-between washes. ALSO use laurensimpson to get 15% off your first purchase
CANTU APPLE CIDER VINEGAR + TEA TREE ROOT RINSE - Another great ACV rinse option. This one is cheaper than the dpHUE and has essentially the same effect BUT includes tea tree oil which can be helpful in healing psoriasis. Fair warning, it doesn’t smell great if you don’t like the smell of tea tree oil - but I really don’t mind it.
I do have a whole blog post on dry/psoriasis scalp linked here if you want to read more about these products and why I love them.
WHEW! If you made it this far you deserve a high-five and a hug. I hope you find some products throughout this blog that provide you some relief in your journey with psoriasis. I know it is not an easy thing to deal with and I am always, always here to answer questions or vent. Never forget that you are not defined by your skin and are absolutely worthy of love and light. All my love to you, my fellow little patchy skinned babies.
xoxo
