Three jobs, three kinds of ingredient
Most eczema moisturizers are built from three types of ingredient, each doing a different job:
- Humectants (like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, panthenol) attract water and pull it into the skin. On their own they can sting eczema skin, so they're usually combined with the other two.
- Emollients (like shea butter, and ceramides) soften and smooth, filling gaps in a rough barrier. Ceramides are worth knowing: they're fats that are naturally part of the skin barrier, so replacing them helps rebuild what eczema skin is short on.
- Occlusives (like petrolatum/petroleum jelly, lanolin) form a seal on the surface that traps water in and stops it evaporating away.
A good eczema moisturizer often blends all three: draw water in, soften the barrier, seal it shut.
Ointment vs cream vs lotion — the oil-to-water spectrum
The difference really comes down to how much oil versus water is in the jar:
- Lotions — mostly water. Light, sink in fast, but wear off fast; better for mild dryness than serious flares.
- Creams — roughly half oil, half water. Thicker, last longer, a common daily choice.
- Ointments — mostly oil (petroleum jelly is the classic). Greasy, but the strongest seal against water loss — often reached for at night or on stubborn patches like hands and feet.
The honest answer about "the best one"
Here's what the marketing won't tell you. A large UK clinical trial (the BEE study) compared lotion, cream, gel, and ointment head-to-head in children with eczema — and found no meaningful difference in effectiveness between the four types. Symptoms, severity, and quality of life came out similar across the board.
The takeaway is freeing: the "best" moisturizer is largely the one your child tolerates and you'll actually reapply often. A perfect cream that stings, or one so greasy your child refuses it, loses to a "good enough" one used faithfully three times a day. Fit and consistency beat the fancy label.
So how do you actually choose?
- Fragrance-free, always. Fragrance is a common irritant — this matters more than almost any "active" ingredient claim.
- Match the format to the need. A lighter cream for daytime and easy reapplication; a thicker cream or ointment for night or rough patches. Many families use both.
- Look for a simple, barrier-friendly formula — ceramides and basic emollients are a reasonable bet, but don't chase miracle actives.
- Ignore "natural = safe." Plenty of botanical and "natural" ingredients irritate eczema skin (see triggers).
- Patch-test a new product on a small area for a few days before slathering it everywhere.
- Use a trustworthy filter. The National Eczema Association's Seal of Acceptance screens out common irritants — a better shortcut than brand claims.
Whatever you choose — use lots, use often
The single biggest lever isn't the product; it's the habit. Eczema skin needs moisturizer applied generously and frequently, and especially right after bathing to seal in water. If you take one thing from this page, let it be that consistency matters more than the label — the routine is the medicine. (More on that in our bathing and moisturizing guide.)
See which one actually agrees with your child
Log the products you try in Ollowen and watch, over time, how the skin responds — so you find the moisturizer that fits your child, not the one with the loudest ad.
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Sources
- Ridd MJ, et al. Comparison of lotions, creams, gels and ointments for childhood eczema: the BEE randomised controlled trial. 2023.
- National Eczema Society. Emollients.
- Cleveland Clinic. How to choose the best eczema cream.
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