We have found the best lipid-replenishing oil for atopic skin!

Is your skin dry and irritated? Does it itch? What if it was the fault of your shower gel? It is an essential product for the bathroom in order to wash the body but also to relax, in particular thanks to their gourmet, fresh and comforting fragrances. However, their composition is not always very gentle on our skin. Shower gels are formulated from water, surfactants and other components such as preservatives or pH regulators. Only then, some surfactants used are irritating, allergenic or even sometimes dangerous to health (and/or the planet). The same is true for antibacterial preservatives and pH regulators. Thus, they attack the skin with each shower. Little by little, it dries up, shows redness or irritation.

To overcome these problems, choosing a gentler cleansing treatment for the skin is the ideal solution. This is particularly the case with moisturizing and lipid-replenishing shower oils which contain mild and natural surfactants as well as vegetable oils to gently cleanse the epidermis while respecting its hydrolipidic balance. They are ideal for atopic and very dry skin in order to nourish it deeply so that it regains comfort, suppleness and softness. Recently, I tested two particularly popular oils, namely Lipikar AP+ oil from La Roche-Posay and Atoderm oil from Bioderma. Are they equivalent? Does one of them stand out? It’s game time!

Bioderma Atoderm shower oil

With an approach aimed at preserving your skin’s ecosystem and its health in a sustainable way, Bioderma has imagined a shower oil that gently cleanses the epidermis and provides it with up to 24 hours of hydration and immediate comfort. Formulated from lipid-replenishing agents, it deeply nourishes the skin, soothes feelings of discomfort and protects the epidermis from external aggressions, in particular by limiting the adhesion of certain bacteria responsible for the aggravation of skin dryness.

Key assets:

• Vitamin PP: also known as vitamin B3 or niacinamide, it is an antioxidant. Thus, it fights against the free radicals responsible for the aging of the skin. Likewise, its anti-inflammatory action soothes irritated skin. Finally, it strengthens the skin barrier and smooths roughness and skin irregularities.
• Plant biolipids (coconut and sunflower esters): they present fatty acids, essential to the structure of the skin. They thus help to strengthen the skin’s protective barrier in order to face external aggressions, whether it is the cold, the wind or the friction of clothing.
• The patented Skin Barrier Therapy™ complex: while the strong presence of bacteria generate atopic skin, this formulation avoids their adhesion to the surface of the epidermis.

La Roche Posay Lipikar AP+ cleansing oil

This lightly scented shower oil is designed for normal, dry and atopy-prone skin in order to nourish it and restore the balance of the skin’s microbiota. The epidermis is soothed and no longer subject to itching or irritation. This cleansing oil is so gentle that it is suitable for all areas of the body of adults, children and infants.

The key ingredients:

• Shea butter: its high content of vitamin A guarantees better suppleness and elasticity of the skin. Thus, it is particularly recommended against stretch marks. Moisturizing, emollient and healing, it takes care of the skin by nourishing it and enveloping it in softness.
• Niacinamide: soothing and anti-inflammatory, it is also antioxidant. It is therefore an anti-aging ally that smoothes the skin and restores its protective barrier.
• Aqua Posae Filiformis: this good bacteria soothes the skin and reduces the itching sensations as well as the severe dryness of atopic-prone skin in order to restore its comfort.

What criteria to decide between them?

These two lipid-replenishing oils have many similarities but also some differences. Which one stood out? Here are the different criteria taken into account to decide between them.

Bioderma’s Atoderm shower oil offers an oily rather liquid texture. Extremely soft, moisturizing and nourishing, it foams very lightly and provides immediate comfort to the skin. If it leaves a protective film on the skin, it is neither greasy nor sticky.

Lipikar AP+ cleansing oil from La Roche-Posay has a gelled, non-greasy and slightly more compact texture that looks more like a shower gel. Very pleasant on the skin, it does not attack it. It is extremely gentle for irritated, sensitive or intimate areas.

Verdict:
If the Lipikar AP+ cleansing oil from La Roche-Posay is very gentle, I must admit that I have a preference for the Atoderm oil from Bioderma, which I find even more pleasant in contact with the skin. More sensory, it provides a real moment of relaxation and well-being in the shower by providing instant comfort and softness.

Bioderma’s Atoderm shower oil is available in three formats, a 100ml tube, a 200ml pump bottle and another 1l, particularly interesting for large families.

For its part, the Lipikar AP+ cleansing oil from La Roche-Posay is available in 200ml, 400ml and 750ml formats. It is also found in the form of a 400ml eco-refill.

Verdict:

It’s a tie! We prefer the formats offered by Bioderma, in particular its 100ml tube which is very practical to take on a trip. Its 1L format is economical and very useful for large families. However, the brand does not offer eco-refill, unlike La Roche-Posay, which is a shame!

For its 200 ml format, Bioderma’s Atoderm shower oil is available at around €6. For its part, the Lipikar AP+ cleansing oil from La Roche Posay is displayed at a price of around €9 for 200ml.

Verdict:

If the price difference is not huge, it is still the Atoderm shower oil from Bioderma that wins this point.

Bioderma’s Atoderm shower oil provides a real feeling of calm, you feel enveloped in softness. After the shower, the skin does not feel tight, it is comfortable and perfectly protected against external aggressions. The brand promises hydration for 24 hours and we must admit that the skin is indeed hydrated and comfortable for a long time.

La Roche-Posay’s Lipikar AP+ cleansing oil also keeps its promises, it is very gentle on the skin. In addition, once rinsed off, this cleansing oil leaves the skin comfortable and protected.

Verdict:

The two lipid-replenishing oils are very gentle on the skin and provide it with great comfort. Itching and irritation are rarer or even disappear, the skin is much more soothed and protected.
However, Bioderma’s Atoderm oil provides greater comfort by enveloping the skin in a protective film. It is perfectly nourished and hydrated, which makes it extremely soft and soothed for a long time. It is therefore Bioderma oil that wins the point!

What is the best lipid-replenishing oil?

Unsurprisingly given the match, Bioderma’s Atoderm shower oil won this very tight duel. It accumulates the good points whether it is in terms of its price, its different formats or its texture but it is above all its efficiency and its extreme softness that made the difference. Its oily texture is very pleasant, it envelops the skin in a protective, nourishing and moisturizing film for incomparable comfort. And that for a long time! From the first shower, the skin no longer feels tight, irritations and itching are soothed. Over time, these inconveniences are just bad memories. A real favorite !

La Roche-Posay’s Lipikar AP+ cleansing oil is still a very good product with comparable results. It will be perfect for people who want to soothe their atopic skin but do not like oily textures!

What is atopic skin?

Atopic skin is skin affected by atopic dermatitis, an inflammatory disease that affects the skin barrier. More permeable, it is much more prone to allergies, which then causes irritation, itching and eczema flare-ups.

Atopic skin is extremely dry and sensitive, it can present roughness, scales of epidermis which are detached or even scabs. Be careful though, if you have dry skin this does not mean that it is atopic. The dryness due to atopic dermatitis is severe and persistent, much more so than with just dry skin.

How to take care of atopic-prone skin?

The most important thing is not to scratch when you feel itching at the risk of aggravating the irritation.

In the shower, avoid soaps, shower gels and other products that are too detergent and aggressive. We prefer a soap-free cleanser, whether it is a lipid-replenishing oil, a cream or a surgras dermatological bar. These superfatting products gently cleanse the skin, while moisturizing and nourishing it. Also beware of water that is too hot or too hard, there are filtering shower heads that will do your skin a lot of good! Likewise, avoid rubbing your body or face with a towel. Make way for sweetness!

Hydration is not to be neglected! We therefore do not forget the moisturizer all over the body and we prefer a moisturizing and emollient cream or balm to repair, soften and soothe the skin.