Aveeno is one of the largest providers of moisturizers for Eczema users, with multiple different products that uses a key ingredient in colloidal oatmeal. DermaVeen is a similar product to Aveeno, using colloidal oatmeal as their key ingredient for their range of products.
Both Aveeno and DermaVeen lines have a special ingredient in colloidal oatmeal. Colloidal oatmeal is made from finely-ground oats and is available in cream or powder form. Since it contains fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that benefit the skin, it is an emollient – a substance that softens or soothes the skin.
Before we evaluate the different products that both Aveeno and DermaVeen provides, it is important to consider the different product ranges they offer and their background.
Who are Aveeno and DermaVeen?
Aveeno is a brand of skin care and hair care products founded by Albert and Sidney Musher in 1945. It was purchased by Johnson & Johnson in 1999 with the brand expanding into baby care and body wash in 2001.
DermaVeen has provided a skincare range that is gentle enough to help soothe sensitive skin for over 20 years for families in Australia.
DermaVeen Moisturizer: The Different Products
The two moisturizers that we will be focusing on are DermaVeen’s daily nourish moisturizing lotion and the extra hydration intense moistuzing lotion. Both moisturizers are tasked with different usage and also contain different underlying ingredients that may sway your decision when choosing them.
| Extra Hydration Intensive | Daily Nourishing |
| For extra dry, flaky, easily irritable sensitive skin Infants, adults, and elderly | Normal to mild sensitivity or dry skin Infants, adults, and elderly |
Both products have an array of generally safe ingredients that are not considered harsh. Though both have an ingredient that should be highlighted.
Phenoxyethanol
Phenoxyethanol can be found in the Extra Hydration Intensive lotion.
A harmful ingredient that stands out and can be problematic is Phenoxyethanol. It has been reported as harmful if absorbed through skin, causing irritation and blistering. This makes Phenoxyethanol a potential health concern for Eczema sufferers like ourselves.
Phenoxyethanol is an interesting ingredient as it is now banned in Palau due to the damages it can cause to coral reefs. If it can cause long lasting damages to the aquatic wildlife, the question is, what kind of damage can do to our skin?
Benzyl Alcohol
Benzyl Alcohol can be found in the Daily Nourishing lotion and in the Extra Hydration Intensive lotion.
The damaging ingredient in the product is Benzyl Alcohol. It is an ingredient used in skin lotions due its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. It is quite common in moisturizing creams for Eczema.
Now here is the problem with Benzyl Alcohol. It has the safety hazard of being harmful in contact with skin. It also has potential health concerns for those with Dermatitis (Eczema). We should approach any products with Benzyl Alcohol with caution. It is an irritant, which can be linked to the burning sensation cases when applying the lotion.
Glycerin
Glyercin is another ingredient that can be found in both products. Although it is generally a safe ingredient, it does a pose the concern of skin irritation. Glycerin is used in skincare products as a means of improving smoothness, providing lubrication, and as a humectant. Glycerin is in Canada’s ingredient hot list on the restricted for use in cosmetic products list (2019).
Aveeno Moisturizer: The Different Products
Aveeno has many different types of moisturizing lotions so it is best to pay close attention to the packaging. The differences in products can be determined by the colour of their enclosed cap.
The daily moisturizing range is the most commonly found Aveeno product line. Each line has different benefits as stated in the picture and are made out of different key ingredients.
| Daily Moisturizing | Skin Relief | Stress Relief | Restorative Skin Therapy | Eczema |
| Soothing oat and rich emollients, contains Dimethicone | Triple oat complex, contains Dimethicone | Soothing oat, lavender scent – chamomile and ylang ylang oils | Oat, aloe, and vitamin B5 | Colloidal oatmeal and ceramide |
The stress relief product line has lavender scented fragrance which can cause irritation, so best to avoid it.
The damaging ingredient in the Aveeno moisturizing lotion is Benzyl Alcohol. It is an ingredient used in skin lotions due its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. It is quite common in moisturizing creams for Eczema.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera has been used to treat various health conditions for thousands of years and can be found in the restorative sin therapy product line. It is a medicinal plant that is safe to use. It can be used to increase collagen contend and its composition of the wounds according to studies.
Dimethicone
Dimethicone can found in both the daily moisturizing and skin relief product lines. It is considered as acceptable in the potential risk index by 1source.
Dimethicone (also called polymethylsiloxane) is a silicon-based polymer used as a lubricant and conditioning agent. The materials it is used for vary from contact lenses and medical devices to elastomers; dimethicone also appears in shampoos (it makes your hair soft and shiny), food (antifoaming agent), caulking and lubricants.
As well as cosmetics and consumer products, Dimethicone is used in various ways. Dimethicone, for example, is used widely in moisturizing lotions as an active ingredient meaning “skin protection.” Some cosmetic formulations use dimethicone and related siloxane polymers in concentrations of up to 15%.
Aveeno vs DermaVeen: Which is Better?
Aveeno and DermaVeen have very similar products with the same key ingredients. Colloidal oatmeal doesn’t work for everyone and you can have an allergy for it. If you have bad reactions to oatmeal, it is recommended that you do not try either of the products.
Personally I would avoid DermaVeen’s Extra Hydration Intensive lotion as it contains Phenoxyethanol. A harsh moisturizer that you will apply daily you must ensure that it has ingredients that are considered generally safe, and Phenoxyethanol is not one of them!
It is worthwhile to try out both and see how your skin will react. Go for the range you most feel compatible with. You can use 1Source to get a better breakdown of the products and their ingredients. They decode the ingredients and tell what is safe, giving an overall rating of their safeness (with 1 being the lowest).
I have personally tried Aveeno and it did not work for me due my reaction to colloidal oatmeal. I recommend CeraVe over Aveeno and DermaVeen. For my comparison article on CeraVe and Aveeno, you can click on this sentence.