Vanicream Moisturizing Cream, Body & Face Moisturizer, 16 Oz Pump Dispenser

Why it's worth it

Vanicream strips out the ingredients that cause the most trouble — dyes, fragrance, masking fragrance, lanolin, parabens and formaldehyde releasers — and leaves a plain, effective cream behind. The big pump bottle carries the National Eczema Association seal and works on face and body.

It's defined by what's missing. Most sensitive-skin creams advertise an active ingredient. Vanicream advertises an exclusion list: no dyes, no fragrance, no masking fragrance, no lanolin, no parabens, no formaldehyde-releasing preservatives. Those are the usual suspects behind allergic contact dermatitis. If you've been through a patch-test panel with a dermatologist and reacted to several products already, this is the sensible place to start over.

The formula itself is simple and well understood. Glycerin and sorbitol pull water into the surface of your skin, and petrolatum seals it in. Nothing clever is happening. But petrolatum is about as reliable an occlusive as exists, and simplicity is often the right call for skin that reacts unpredictably. It holds the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance, and the brand is a common recommendation from allergists as well as dermatologists.

From our review of 5 moisturizers for dry, sensitive skin, by Sarah Wright, Editorial Associate

What we like

• +It's defined by what's missing
• +The formula itself is simple and well understood
• +The pump bottle is the format you actually want
• +One bottle can cover the household

What to know

• –There are no ceramides in it
• –It's thinner than it looks, and completely charmless