Cetaphil RESTORADERM Skin Restoring Body Wash and Skin Restoring Moisturizer
Before I started using these products for review, I was only familiar with Cetaphil for their facewash products, namely the Daily Facial Cleanser and Gentle Skin Cleanser. They’re drugstore mainstays, and for a good reason: they’re simple and effective. I could only hope that the RESTORADERM products would be the same way—no unnecessary frills or fanciness, just solid results.
The RESTORADERM products are certainly straightforward: they’re both gentle products free of fragrances, parabens, and nut oils, lessening the possibility of irritation. According to Cetaphil, cutting out those elements helps the products “maintain the skin barrier function,” and the inclusion of “ceramides” keeps your skin nourished and soothed. Cetaphil also states:
In people with eczema, research has discovered that filaggrin proteins may be missing or may not function correctly. This can lead to the disruption of the skin barrier so that even things like water, soaps, fragrances or dyes can cause people to experience eczema symptoms. … This advanced skin care system replenishes the skin’s natural lipids, improving its ability to retain moisture and rebuild its damaged barrier.
And yup, both bottles clearly state “formulated for atopic skin,” “atopic dermatitis,” and “eczema.”
But how did the product fare on my not-specifically-eczema skin? I used both RESTORADERM products every other day for a month, and saw results in about four or five days. (Cetaphil doesn’t say how long you should use for results, but advises incorporating the products into your “daily regimen.”) With the Skin Restoring Body Wash, its soap-free formula really worked on my skin; I felt fully cleansed but not overly greasy, or overly dry, afterward. I didn’t experience the need to add any extra moisture to my skin after showering because the Body Wash was so effective, but I did use the Skin Restoring Moisturizer to see how the products would work together.
And the Skin Restoring Moisturizer was good, too: it was also non-greasy and absorbed quickly, so I wasn’t left with slick or sticky hands after using. It went on fast and stayed on—my skin felt smooth for about four hours after my daily shower—and after about a week’s time, the skin on my elbows and knees was less pebbled and rough. However, it wasn’t completely cleared up: It still had some texture, and after about three weeks, I felt like the product had reached a plateau. My skin was good, but didn’t continue improving; it maintained a higher level than when I started, but didn’t become flawless.
But of course, a product can’t be a 100-percent miracle-worker. I can’t reverse time or swap out my skin or something. For what it did during those three weeks, Cetaphil RESTORADERM was pretty impressive. I wonder how it will do on people with diagnosed eczema, but on my frustrating, irritable skin, it did a solid job.
VERDICT: B+ for both RESTORADERM Skin Restoring Body Wash and Moisturizer, with the lesser grade because I’m not sure how effective the products will be on those with more serious skin conditions.
PRICE: About $15 for 10 fl oz of Skin Restoring Body Wash and $16 for 10 fl oz of Skin Restoring Moisturizer.
AVAILABILITY: Both are available at Target.com, Target store locations, Drugstore.com, and a number of other retailers; for a full list, see Cetaphil.com.
EDITORIAL NOTE: The product/s reviewed in this post were provided to Chesapeake Family’s About Face blog by the manufacturer or their public relations company for review. Chesapeake Family’s reviews are inspired by personal experience and opinion, and are not paid for or influenced by the manufacturer, PR company or any other organization unless mentioned.
Photo by Adam Fried.
In middle school, Roxana Hadadi was a cosmetics-scorning tomboy; in high school, a glitter eye shadow- and black nail polish-loving trend kid; in college, obsessively committed to dying her hair unruly colors that upset her mom. Now a bit older and a bit more mature, she’s trying to figure out what hair, body and cosmetics products will work for her, you and your family in About Face, Chesapeake Family’s new beauty blog — and she’ll leave the sparkle makeup and neon highlights in the past. Roxana also writes movie reviews for Chesapeake Family’s Popcorn Parents blog.
