Hope you liked my other parts, and if it's your first time to see this, don't miss out the others! Come see my last part. 

Since the first year I truly dove headfirst into skincare, I've tried and tested a number of skincare products. Of them, there were products repurchased, and politely passed on a fair share of products. Here’s a roundup of some of the balms that stood out for better or worse, along with some notes on what I’m hoping to explore in the future.

Skin Type : DRY. I was on Accutane a few years ago, so lingering dryness is a constant. I still get the occasional breakout, and right now my main focus is fading hyperpigmentation. My skin’s pretty resilient so most products don’t irritate or break me out easily.

BALMS

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5

Rating : 4/5 | May Repurchase

I picked this up hoping it would help with dry, flaky skin and it kind of does, but I wouldn’t say it’s the best for intense dryness compared to thicker, more targeted creams. Where this balm really shines is with irritation. If your skin is red, raw, or reacting to something, this is the tube you want on hand. Personally, I don’t deal with irritation very often, so I’m probably not the ideal user but I can totally see why it’s a cult favorite. I still like having it around for small skin emergencies as I’ve even used it on mosquito bites and dry elbows! It's a great multi-tasker to keep in the skincare drawer.

DermAid Soft 0.5% Cream

Rating : 5/5 | Would Repurchase

This gentle over-the-counter steroid cream is my go-to when my skin is really peeling. I especially like this soft version as it's delicate enough that I can use it on my eyelids (and, thankfully, I can still see!). You’re not supposed to use it for more than seven days in a row, so I just bring it out when things are really flaring up. A solid emergency product if your skin needs a little rescue.

Weleda Skin Food

Rating : 4/5 | May Repurchase

Thick, rich, and wildly effective. Skin Food is an old-school classic for a reason that it absolutely delivers on dry, rough skin. The texture is very dense and takes a bit of effort to spread, but it works wonders overnight. That said, I sometimes experienced flakiness on my eyelids when I used it there, so I stick to cheeks and body. It has that strong, herbal and natural product scent that feels a bit like walking through a pine forest. If you’re scent-sensitive, take note. I’d be curious to try the lighter version next time to see if it suits my face better.

Urea Cream 

Rating : 5/5 | Would Repurchase

I used Hamilton’s Urederm with 10% Urea, but honestly, I think most urea creams in this category perform similarly. This one was fantastic for tackling dry, flaky patches overnight on par with Skin Food, but lighter and more elegant in texture. I even used it on my eyelids with no issues. It’s simple, affordable, and effective. What more could you ask for?

And that wraps up my giant list of reviews, thanks for following along on my skincare journey! If you have any questions or product suggestions, feel free to drop them below and I’m always happy to chat skin.

For 2025, my goal is to simplify. I’ll be sticking with the staples that work and trying to resist the urge to test every new release, easier said than done. Still hunting for that holy grail sunscreen, tho, so the quest continues!