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Friday, July 24, 2015

The Product That Saved My Elbows (When Nothing Else Could)

I've reviewed lots of excellent moisturizers, lotions, ointments and creams here over the years, and I love so many of them for a variety of different purposes. But one problem area that has always eluded me is my elbows. No matter what type of lotion, cream or ointment I use, the roughness always seems to pop back up within a few days. What's funny is that my boyfriend has this issue even worse than I do on his elbows, but he's not nearly as dedicated as I am to finding solutions. His move is basically, "G. left this lotion on the coffee table...guess I'll try it" and that's about it.

ANYWAY, I rarely (if ever) use the term "miracle product" on this blog, so let me gently tip-toe away from that term and just tell you that I finally found something that truly works for us, and it feels very "miracle-like" to me:

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
(retail: $6.50 at Sephora, 1.0 oz.)

I first received a sample of this product free with a Sephora order (it's regularly one of the options for your three free samples at checkout...I think it's an option as I write this, actually). I had always been wanting to try some products by First Aid Beauty since I know that so many of you love them (and I've seen lots of raves online from fellow bloggers).

So when I got my free sample packet, I immediately tried this cream on my elbows and, just like many other lotions and creams out there, it made my skin so soft. But as I mentioned above, this feeling never lasts for me, and my elbows are something I always have to keep on top of or else the roughness comes right back.

And THAT'S when I noticed something different about this First Aid Beauty product. The roughness didn't come back the next day. Or the day after that. Or the day after that. It took about two weeks after finishing the sample packet for me to notice any dryness at all on my elbows and even then, it wasn't like before.

So off to the Sephora website I went, to order more...

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
(retail: $6.50 at Sephora, 1.0 oz.)

Sephora sells this product in a 6.0 oz. tub for $30, a 2.0 oz. tube for $12, and the foil packet you see above, which is one ounce, for $6.50. Now you may be saying, "One ounce for $6.50? That's kind of pricey." To that I would say: lots of full-size drugstore BB creams, CC creams and foundations contain one ounce of product, and many of us wouldn't think twice about spending $9.99 or more for one of those. And I promise you, if you're using this First Aid Beauty cream for targeted areas, you will use less than you would a standard foundation per application. So for me, this 1-oz. packet lasts a loooong time (but more on that in a bit).


Made in USA

For each of my elbows, I only need 1/2 of a pea-sized drop. Here's what a pea-sized drop looks like (again, I need half of this amount per elbow):



This product looks like it's going to be thick and dense when you squeeze it from the tube, but it's actually quite thin and easy to apply when you start working it into your skin.

Now, if you take a look at the reviews on the Sephora site (it has an average rating of almost five stars with 3,900 reviews), you'll see that many people love this stuff, but there are also some mixed and not-so-favorable reviews. After reading through those comments, it seems that some of the people who purchased this cream with the intent of using it as a facial moisturizer (which you certainly can do), experienced breakouts and found the product too heavy for the face. I have tried this cream on my face (it did so well on my elbows that I had to try it elsewhere!) and I do understand that it might feel too heavy, greasy or waxy for facial use. I didn't love it on my face because I have oily skin to begin with, and this just felt too heavy in general. I also don't care for it as a hand cream, because I'm really particular about the way a lotion feels on my hands. This product is a little bit too heavy and waxy-feeling for my hands, but that's purely personal preference.

After trying this cream in a variety of different ways, I've concluded that, for me personally, this product is best for very targeted areas where you may have persistent, rough, dry patches. Elbows, knees...that sort of thing. I'm telling you, this literally saved my elbows when nothing else could. And as for the boyfriend? It took a series of nightly applications (we did it every night for about a week) before he noticed significant, long-lasting improvement, but he got there and now he's a believer as well. 

One other thing I want to mention is that this product is fragrance-free, and to me it just has that standard "fragrance-free lotion base" scent to it. I find it mild, but I know that some people have said they find it strong. So your mileage may vary there.

FINAL VERDICT: Do I think this is a miracle product guaranteed to change your life forever? Of course not. All I can do is tell you that, for me and my chronically rough elbows, this product performed a small miracle when nothing else could. If you have any persistent dry patches that don't seem to get better with your current stash of lotions and potions, I think this one might be worth considering. Get the smallest size and see for yourself. Even if doesn't perform any small miracles for you, it's still a great cream for cuticles, etc. You never know until you try, right? At the very least, consider keeping an eye on the Sephora free samples at checkout, and try a little packet when you see that it's available.

Do you already use First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream? If so, I would love to know how use it and how it's been working for YOU!

The products featured in this post were purchased with personal funds. For more information, click here.
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19 comments

  1. I am really suffering from painfully dry elbows right now - I'm ordering this right away! Thank you!

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    1. You're so welcome! I would love to hear how it works for you after you get it!! :)

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  2. My kids and I regularly get eczema patches, and this is amazing! One of my patches is on my elbows, and I thought it would never go away. I agree I don't like it for my face or hands, but it's heaven on dry itchy skin. And you really don't need much at all.

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    Replies
    1. Yay!! I'm thrilled to hear that you have had the same experience with this product, and so happy to hear it works for your kids, too!! :)

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  3. I've used this on my face and boyfriend's during an all-day skiing session while it was snowing. My skin felt so soft and smooth during and after. Even my boyfriend who usually hates stuff on his face commented how protected his face felt.

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    Replies
    1. Great to hear that! So glad it worked for both of you. :)

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  4. I received this in a sub box and planned to swap it but in a moment of desperation and itchy legs this past winter I opened it up and slathered it on. I can never go back. It's the only thing that really helps my dry legs stay in shape for more than just a little while. I like the sort of whipped texture it has and it absorbs quickly too.

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    1. Yes! I have a few spots on my legs that get itchy and dry from time to time and I totally agree. It's the only thing that has any real lasting effects for me too. So glad we both took a chance with our samples! :)

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  5. This is a miracle cream. I have eczema and wanted a moisturizer that I could use for my dry patches. One of the consultants at Sephora suggested this cream and I haven't looked back..:)

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    Replies
    1. Oh that's fantastic to hear! So glad it's working for you too! :)

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  6. Replies
    1. Yep, and many other petroleum-based products like that, and nothing works like this! :)

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  7. I'm a big believer in exfoliation, coconut oil, and avoiding things like silicones since they dry out your skin and hair. I have something called keratosis pilaris where your pores get clogged and you get horrible bumps on the the extensor surfaces of your skin and body. It sucks. It also gets really bad in the winter :/ I tried this creme in the hopes it would work for me but it didn't :(

    Then I started exfoliating every day with salt scrub I made at home and threw out every bottle of lotion I own. Most of it was full of silicones anyway and started using coconut oil. Before I knew it I had baby soft skin that stayed hydrated all the time. Most of the clogged pores have disappeared too! I don't know if you've ever tried coconut oil as a moisturizer but if you ever run out of this lotion give it a shot. It might really work out for you! I didn't really believe it myself until I tried it :)

    Oh and in case you are worried about being oily all day don't. The coconut oil sinks right down into your skin without any feeling of greasiness within about 3-5 mins of application. I put it on right after I hop out of the shower.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unlike with KP, the exfoliation thing isn't the issue with my elbows. I've tried both chemical (AHA) and physical (scrubs) exfoliation, coconut oil, jojoba oil, sodium PCA, aloe, petroleum based products, non petroleum based products, you name it. Nothing has EVER worked like this cream. :)

      But I'm so glad you found a winning combo to keep your KP in check! I know that can be challenging. :)

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  8. I see they have put eucalyptus extract in, and I can't put any menthol/mint/citrus/lavender oils on my skin. It annoys me when products claim to be for sensitive skin and then put irritants in it.

    Glad it worked for you though G :)

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    Replies
    1. Hi KD! I know this is an old comment I'm applying to, but eucalyptus extract isn't really the same as eucalyptus oil, which is definitely something you should avoid. And the extract is near the very very bottom of the ingredient list too, so I don't think it's something to be concerned about. I avoid all essential oils and fragrances as much as possible in my lotions too :)

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  9. I received this in an Ipsy box and tossed it aside until all my other creams were gone. I do believe I shall be digging this out of my drawer with due haste!!! Thanks for the tip G.!

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  10. This is good to know! My elbows are in a dire state, ugh...

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  11. My makeup artist for the show always has this on her table.

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