LUSH cult favourite suitable for eczema-prone skin in children following clinical study

One of the British cosmetics brand best selling cult classics, Dream Cream body lotion has long been hailed by customers for helping to soothe symptoms of eczema in children. Many have shared the benefits of Dream Cream for their children’s skin:

Little one has eczema flares and this reduces redness and irritation from first application. I really rate this cream and trust me when I say I’ve spent A LOT of money on different moisturisers for my child’s skin! – Customer Testimonial

Used this after seeing so many eczema sufferers recommending it. Used it after a recent flare up had left my forearms with thick and dry skin and my hands cracked and itchy. Worked absolute wonders when applied in the morning and before bed and very quickly returned my skin back to normal. – Customer Testimonial

Following a clinical study, the findings have shown that Dream Cream self-preserving is clinically proven to soothe and moisturise dry, itchy skin and relieve redness. Participants also reported reduced scratching and improved sleep quality, showing that looking after our customers’ skin can have huge benefits for their lifestyle.

The study

Lush conducted a clinical study to assess the effects of regular use of Dream Cream Self-Preserving body lotion on fifty children aged three to twelve with diagnosed mild to moderate eczema.

For four weeks, parents applied the lotion to them, focusing on the areas where eczema was visible, most commonly the inner elbows, inner thighs and back of the knees. Skin colour was an important consideration within the study, as conditions like eczema can present differently on different skin tones. 

The lab performing this study used a well-known measurement of skin colour, the Fitzpatrick Grade, to look at the skin tone of participants. All skin tones were represented from Fitzpatrick Grade 1 and 6, but a majority of children had pale skin (Fitzpatrick Grade 2).

The results

The overall evaluation showed significant improvements in all examined body sites, indicating a reduction in eczema-affected areas with regular use of Dream Cream Self-Preserving over four weeks. Assessment scores for dryness, redness, scratch marks, and skin thickening all demonstrated notable improvements throughout the study.

The dermatologist observed that:

• Erythema was swiftly reduced on thighs.
• A visible reduction in erythema was also observed on the elbows. 
• Redness statistically improved on both the knees and thighs after two and four weeks of use. 
• There was a notable reduction in scaling and dryness across all body sites.
• A significant improvement in scaling and dryness was visible after immediate application to the thighs and knees.

The parents’ assessment of subjective parameters, such as itching and sleeplessness, showed significant improvement consistently across all evaluation points. This indicates that parents perceived an immediate improvement in their children’s behaviour after one application and that continued use of the lotion maintained these benefits.

Results from the questionnaires revealed that:

• 85% of parents believed the product was effective after four weeks of use.
• 85% of children found the product enjoyable to use.

Preserved versus Self-Preserved

In a separate clinical trial, Lush also tested our preserved formula (the ‘original’ Dream Cream) so it could compare the effectiveness of both versions. This original formula uses added synthetic preservatives called parabens to keep the product fresh, while the self-preserving formula is formulated to stay fresh and effective without these. 

Dream Cream Preserved is slightly lighter in texture, and so Lush were eager to know if the self-preserving formula would live up to its predecessor. Interestingly, while both products achieved clinical benefits, our self-preserving version of Dream Cream slightly outperformed the preserved version. 78% of parents felt the preserved product was effective after 4 weeks of use, and 70% of the children enjoyed using it. Although the study authors suggested that the time of year may have influenced these findings, the findings reassure us that the self-preserving version of this product is just as good as the preserved version, if not better. 

For Helen Ambrosen, Lush co-founder and product inventor who managed to make Dream Cream self-preserving after 90 trials, the hero ingredient here is oat milk. It makes up over 30% of the SP version! “We make an infusion of oats and water that creates a very thin ‘porridge’,” she explains. “This enables us to get the best out of the oats and onto the skin. The olive oil in the product is also lovely, but it’s a surface emollient that keeps the skin soft and from losing moisture. Oat milk is the magic.”

What is self-preserving?

Lush wants to make products that care for your skin barrier with minimal interference to your microbiome: the community of resident microorganisms that protect your skin against pathogens. The effects of preservatives on our microbiome and the environment are not yet fully clear.

But, because preservatives are biocidal, Lush prefers to use them in minimal amounts below legal maximums, or not at all. Lush achieve this with clever product formulation, fast despatch from their

factories and short shelf lives. Where a product is formulated to stay fresh without synthetic preservatives (as defined under Annex 5 of the E.U Cosmetic Regulations) Lush calls it ‘self-preserving’.

Featuring many of the ingredients found in their iconic Dream Cream…

Peace self-preserving facial moisturiser (£24.00 / €30.00) has been created for all ages and is supremely softening. Expertly formulated to stay fresh without synthetic preservatives (as defined under Annex 5 of the E.U Cosmetic Regulations) and protect your microbiome, Peace is super powered with skincare ingredients which do as much good in the world as they do on your skin.

With over 20% antioxidant-rich almond oil to soothe and moisturise, illipe, cupuaçu and Fair Trade organic cocoa butters to soften the skin barrier, and fresh aloe gel for its calming and antibacterial benefits. Humectant hero glycerine is also in this formula at more than 9%, to effectively draw in the hydrating benefits of fellow ingredients and keep moisture in the skin.

Notes to Editor:

For further information or comment about the study, please email lushpr@lush.co.uk

About Lush:

Since establishing in 1995, Lush has been driven by innovation and its ethics. Creators of pioneering beauty products, one of Lush’s most well-known creations is the bath bomb.

Invented in 1989 by Lush Co-Founder Mo Constantine in her garden shed, bath bombs have become a global sensation – all hand pressed in Lush’s own manufacturing sites across the world, Lush sold over 21.2 million last year.

A beauty company with a campaigning heart, Lush is on a mission to create a product for every need and a cosmetic revolution to save the planet. The ultimate goal is to leave the world ‘Lusher than we found it’.

In August 2024, Lush reached £100 million in charitable giving, supporting grassroot organisations and activists through multiple programs since 2007. In FY23 Lush donated just under 1% of the company turnover to grassroots groups driving tangible positive impact, showing commitment to a long term giving strategy.

Today, Lush operates in 50 countries with over 850 shops, 38 websites shipping worldwide and a global network of native apps, broadcasting channels and digital communities in over 30 languages.