Read Mumsnet users reviews on Balneum scalp and skin care products

[EllieMumsnet]

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This is the feedback thread for the 250 MNers who tested both the Balneum dry skin and itch relief Cream (click here for further information) and their dry and itchy scalp shampoo (click here for further information).

Here’s what Balneum have to say: “At Balneum, we understand that an itch is never just an itch. Irritated skin can get in the way of everyday life, causing frustrations and ongoing itch-scratch cycles. It’s our mission to help you itch less and live more. Whether that’s spending more time with your loved ones, smashing your exercise routine, or enjoying a more social lifestyle, we’re here to help. We don’t just care for you, we care for your skin and scalp too.”

Testers please answer the following questions:

• Overall how satisfied were you with the cream and shampoo?
• What did you or your family member like about the cream and shampoo?
• Did it improve yours or your family member’s skin and/or scalp?
• Would you recommend the product(s) to others?

All testers who leave the required feedback will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

Overall how satisfied were you with the cream and shampoo?

Not at all satisfied with either.

• What did you or your family member like about the cream and shampoo?

We didn't like anything about the shampoo, DH liked that the cream didn't too long to dry or feel greasy. The shape left my hair full of tugs and incredibly dry. I had to stop using it after a few washes.

• Did it improve yours or your family member’s skin and/or scalp?

I didn't like the shampoo and don't feel it did anything for my scalp, but i only used it for a few washes.

DH much preferred the cream he gets from the GP.

• Would you recommend the product(s) to others?

No

Overall how satisfied were you with the cream and shampoo?

I would give both the shampoo and cream 8/10.

• What did you or your family member like about the cream and shampoo?

I liked the effects of the shampoo, it left both mine and my daughter's hair soft and manageable, and our scalps feeling somewhat better. I like that it seemed much more gentle than head and shoulders, which made me happier to use it on my young daughter. The cream is fantastic. Apart from the smell which put off my daughter, it is generally fab. It stops the itching and works well to moisturise and soothe dry skin.

• Did it improve yours or your family member’s skin and/or scalp?

The shampoo helped with our scalps a bit, but not really much better than head and shoulders, and we were still left with some dry scalp issues. Definitely less itchy though for both of us. The cream did wonders for my dry legs. It also helped massively when I had a huge allergic reaction related to hayfever and was covered with hives. It stopped me from scratching myself raw and making it so much worse.

• Would you recommend the product(s) to others?

It would depend on price. The bottle of shampoo is small, and only lasted us just under 3 weeks. If it wasn't too expensive I would recommend it to friends for their children if they had dry scalp as it seems quite gentle. The cream I would definitely recommend.

Overall how satisfied were you with the cream and shampoo?

Very satisfied with the cream, less so with the shampoo

What did you or your family member like about the cream and shampoo?

The cream was quickly absorbed, pump ensured dd used plenty too.
It didn't smell unpleasant unlike other urea containing creams we've had.

The shampoo was ok to use, but it left dd's hair extremely tangly, even with conditioner. She said it was better if she used a different shampoo afterwards.

Did it improve yours or your family member’s skin and/or scalp?
The cream greatly reduced the bumpiness of mine and dd's keratosis pilaris and was really good at thinning the skin on dh's scaly psoriasis patches.
The shampoo has cleared dd's long standing dandruff up, which no other medicated shampoo has managed to do.

Would you recommend the product(s) to others?
The cream definitely, for keratosis pilaris and psoriasis, and dry skin generally.
The shampoo probably not, or maybe but as a scalp treatment prior to using another shampoo and conditioner - dd will continue using it like this when her scalp flares up.

Overall how satisfied were you with the cream and shampoo?

I was really hoping I'd love the shampoo much more than the cream as I feel I already have a good go to cream but was looking for the shampoo of my dreams. However the cream was fab but the shampoo wasn't quite as good as I'd hoped for.

• What did you or your family member like about the cream and shampoo?

The shampoo didn't leave my hair as shiny as promised. The problem area on the crown of my head is still ( sadly) there.
Loved the cream, it really helped my eczema on my wrists and stopped that horrible itch.

• Did it improve yours or your family member’s skin and/or scalp?

Most definitely for the cream but the shampoo didn't do anything for my condition.

• Would you recommend the product(s) to others?

I would , even the shampoo. Just because it didn't work for me I feel it has the potential to help others.

Overall how satisfied were you with the cream and shampoo?
Very satisfied with both the cream and the shampoo.

What did you or your family member like about the cream and shampoo?
Loved the consistency of the cream, and the fact that it absorbed quickly and without a greasy feel. Also loved the effect it had on my skin - very smooth and comfortable after only a few applications. My skin looked noticeably less cracked and dry after the first go. The pump on the bottle was also very good - I felt like I got all of the product out of the bottle without any waste of mess.

My husband liked the shampoo as his scalp was significantly less itchy and sore after a week of use. He usually puts a tonne of coconut oil on his scalp every few nights but has not felt the need to do this since trialing the shampoo thank you Lord

Did it improve yours or your family member’s skin and/or scalp?
Yes and yes 👍

Would you recommend the product(s) to others?
Definitely.

Overall how satisfied were you with the cream and shampoo?
I really liked both products. The shampoo had an inoffensive smell and I noticed less itchy to scalp. My DD used the cream and said it help her itching straight away. I noticed that she wasn’t scratching half as much as she had been.

• What did you or your family member like about the cream and shampoo?

We liked the results but also the fact that neither smelt very strongly.

• Did it improve yours or your family member’s skin and/or scalp? Improvements to both skin and scalp.

• Would you recommend the product(s) to others?

Defiantly.

Overall how satisfied were you with the cream and shampoo?

5/10 shampoo 7/10 cream

• What did you or your family member like about the cream and shampoo?

Although the shampoo did not have any impact on my scalp condition, as aside, it made my fine flyaway hair look and feel thicker.

I liked the pump dispenser and the feel/texture of the cream

• Did it improve yours or your family member’s skin and/or scalp?

Shampoo, no. Cream, possibly.

• Would you recommend the product(s) to others?

Maybe the cream

Thankyou for this opportunity

Overall how satisfied were you with the cream and shampoo.?
I was quite satisfied with the cream and the shampoo
What did you or your family member like about the cream and shampoo?
The cream definitely helped with the itching and some dry patches are looking a lot better,the shampoo definitely got rid of some flakey skin on the scalp but made the hair look dry .
Did it improve yours or your family member’s skin and/or scalp?
Yes it definitely improved both.
Would you recommend the product(s) to others?
Yes

• Overall how satisfied were you with the cream and shampoo?

Cream: very good, I like the thick consistency and it sinks well into the skin. The pump is good for getting the right amount. My hands are still a bit dry in patches but overall this cream has been better than others I've tried. I would prefer a pleasant fragrance to the slightly odd smell, but having said that, DS2 is using it too and any type of fragrance at all seems to set off his eczema. He likes the cream as it's really reduced the dryness of the skin on his arms and made them less itchy. Shampoo: Wow, absolutely amazing! DS1 has had thick, scaly skin on his scalp for as long as I can remember - a bit like cradle cap - it itches, flakes and drives him mad. He boards at an SEN residential school during the week so I sent the shampoo with him. The first weekend he came home it looked like he had the worst dandruff/sunburnt scalp imaginable, as clearly the shampoo had started to budge off the thick scaly bits. He has complex ASD so it was hard to get his exact opinion on the shampoo but he said he did like it and it made his head less itchy. He hadn't noticed the massive flakes of skin everywhere. The following weekend he came home and his scalp was beautiful - completely clear - not a flake in site! Absolutely amazing. He's spending a lot less time scratching as a result!

• What did you or your family member like about the cream and shampoo?

See above, I waffled on for longer and in greater detail than I meant to!

• Did it improve yours or your family member’s skin and/or scalp?

Again see above - sorry - should have read all the questions first!

• Would you recommend the product(s) to others?

Definitely if they have the need. I don't think I'd recommend either product unless the person had tried alternatives with no success. This is because both products are rather expensive and clearly marketed as 'medicinal' items (and the creams smells as such!). If they were a bit cheaper then I'd be more inclined to recommend. We will however continue to use both products and will buy again when the current ones run out, albeit using them sparingly due to the cost.

Overall how satisfied were you with the cream and shampoo.?
Very happy with both

What did you or your family member like about the cream and shampoo?
My skin isn't usually a severe problem (unless my scalp gets so bad that it starts to go on my face as well - which isn't the case at the moment - sorry tmi) so I wasn't a hard case for the cream, but I did really like it. It wasn't greasy or heavy like Vaseline or sudocreme would be - which are the things I've used in the past if my face did get bad.

Did it improve yours or your family member’s skin and/or scalp?
Yes definitely. I still kind of believe the old wives tale that washing your hair too often is what causes my scalp to be hideous, so I try to only wash my hair every 3 or 4 days. So the fact it is quite strong didn't bother me - I only needed to shampoo my hair once. I never normally use conditioner: I did feel the need to use conditioner one time when my hair just felt like straw as I rinsed the balenuem shampoo off. I just used a lot less next time and it was fine. You just need to resist the belief that you must have loads of lather.

Would you recommend the product(s) to others?
Yes, they just need to remember not to over do the shampoo. If the cream was in a tube, I could be happier that I was getting my money's worth - how do you know whether the pumpy thing is really empty or if it could have lots more in there and it's just not pumping?

• Overall how satisfied were you with the cream and shampoo?

Whilst the products didn't feel like so many I have tried, for me the best result I got from the shampoo was it dried my scalp so it wasn't a weeping mess. It did not clear the condition up at all and my head still feel like I have nits (I don't, I check regularly). So it's claims to soothe itching are unfounded for me. But compared to capasal shampoo it doesn't smell half as strong.

It's claim to leave hair soft and silky is again, unfounded for me but I have thick, dry hair anyway and only deep conditioning treatments can achieve that.

When I used the same shampoo on my young son (6) he got better results as it did seem to remove the flaky skin he gets.

The cream was very easy to dispense, and felt nice. It soaked in well and didn't feel greasy or heavy. Again though, I cannot say it has improved my condition. Just prior to starting the trial I was put on oral steroids as my skin was that bad. Now I am off them and my skin is returning to how it was before. The Balneum cream has not kept it at bay and it has not soothed any itch. The only thing which helps the itch (and is so not recommended) is a stiff bristle brush! - it is worth noting that also my regular prescribed creams and ointments such as betnovate (steroid cream) have also done squat.

• What did you or your family member like about the cream and shampoo?

I liked that the cream was easy to dispense and it appears not to leave loads in the bottle when nearing the end. So many have a thin tube which means you waste a lot.

The shampoo didn't have an overly strong smell and was suitable for the children too.

• Did it improve yours or your family member’s skin and/or scalp?

My son's flaky scalp cleared up beautifully.

Mine must be an extreme case at the moment as nothing is touching it. So for milder cases of eczema/dry skin, i think it might work. If nothing else it did absorb nicely and the initial relief of moisturised skin was appreciated. It just didn't last long enough for me.

• Would you recommend the product(s) to others?

Price wise I think it is expensive. But when compared to aveeno and other similar off the shelf products, it does have a place and I would recommend it if there wasn't a chronic medical condition attached to the reasons for dry and itchy skin.

• Overall how satisfied were you with the cream and shampoo?

my son age 15 tried this and really liked the cream and shampoo

• What did you or your family member like about the cream and shampoo?

he liked the cream as it absorbed well into his skin and made the dry patches feel softer and better less itchy. The shampoo left his hair feeling clean non itchy and flake free. he has afro hair and i wasnt sure how it would work but it washed his hair well.

• Did it improve yours or your family member’s skin and/or scalp?

yes his skin and scalp felt much better

• Would you recommend the product(s) to others?

i have recommended it to my eldest daughter as she suffers from itchy scalp and nothing seems to improve it,i am hoping this may help thanks for letting us do this trial

Overall how satisfied were you with the cream and shampoo?
I was very satisfied with both products, they have definitely helped both mine and dd's symptoms. She just doesn't like the smell of the cream, although this hasn't stopped her using it as she has seen and felt the benefits

• What did you or your family member like about the cream and shampoo?

I liked the shampoo as it left my hair feeling clean and looking nice, not greasy as I've experienced with other products in the past

• Did it improve yours or your family member’s skin and/or scalp?

Yes definitely! both of them :) from the first couple of uses too

• Would you recommend the product(s) to others?

Yes and I already have recommended the cream for a friend who's daughter has itchy dry skin, I haven't seen her since though so not sure if she's got some or how she's getting on

Thanks to all for letting me try this product

Overall how satisfied were you with the cream and shampoo?

Very satisfied.

What did you or your family member like about the cream and shampoo?

Shampoo- stops itchy scalp and flakiness.
Cream- nice consistency and soothing for dry skin.

Did it improve yours or your family member’s skin and/or scalp?

Not improve as I’m already using a soothing shampoo for DD but it didn’t make her scalp itchy and flaky which shampoos often do, so for this reason I would continue to use it.

The cream really helped with my other DD’s eczema on the inside of her elbows. It was very red and dry and is now healed.

Would you recommend the product(s) to others?

Yes definitely especially the shampoo.

Overall how satisfied were you with the cream and shampoo.?

I was fairly satisfied with both, they both seemed to help

What did you or your family member like about the cream and shampoo?

The cream was pleasant and did seem to ease my skin irritation/dryness.
The shampoo was not particularly nice as a shampoo but did seem to reduce my itchy scalp and dry patches so I felt mixed about it
My partner did not want to use the shampoo a second time. He used the cream on the dry patches on his hands and it helped

Did it improve yours or your family member’s skin and/or scalp?

I do believe it improved both my dry skin and scalp

Would you recommend the product(s) to others?

As a specific treatment rather than a nice product!

• Overall how satisfied were you with the cream and shampoo?

Cream- I really liked this. It rubbed in nicely and was moist.
Shampoo - Also happy with this although smell was odd.

• What did you or your family member like about the cream and shampoo?

Cream - easy to rub in.
Shampoo - Felt nice.

• Did it improve yours or your family member’s skin and/or scalp?

Cream - Yes, some dry patches were improved. Shampoo - Yes. Although we are using the central heating less too so hard to know if just the shampoo in terms of effectiveness.

• Would you recommend the product(s) to others?

Yes although price is an issue.

• Overall how satisfied were you with the cream and shampoo?

The shampoo was great for my hair and my DD's. It got rid of dandruff and left our hair feeling soft and tangle-free. I was satisfied with the cream which was very moisturising and cleared up some dry patches.

• What did you or your family member like about the cream and shampoo?

The shampoo was effective and rinsed out cleanly. The cream felt nice and soothing on the skin and I only needed a small amount.

• Did it improve yours or your family member’s skin and/or scalp?

Yes, it improved dandruff and flakiness.

• Would you recommend the product(s) to others?

Yes, but I'd suggest trying some cheaper products first.

Final feedback - initial thoughts are further up the thread.

Overall how satisfied were you with the cream and shampoo?
The cream, both my daughter and I have seen an improvement with, it definitely stops the itch. We will probably continue to use it.
We were not so keen on the shampoo - it makes my hair feel coarse and dry.

• What did you or your family member like about the cream and shampoo?

We both like the dispenser on the cream - easy to use, you get just the right amount and it soaks in quickly. The shampoo works up a nice lather, not a strong over perfumed as you get in other shampoos and rinsed out well.

• Did it improve yours or your family member’s skin and/or scalp?

Yes, both saw an improvement in our skin with the cream. I suffer more with an itchy scalp than DD and found whilst it has itched less, it has not gone away completely.

• Would you recommend the product(s) to others?

I would recommend the cream but I think the shampoo is quite expensive and as it has not worked completely, probably not.

Thank you Mumsnet, for choosing us to be part of this trial.

Overall I was very satisfied with the shampoo. It has definitely helped with the itching on my scalp. It has practically stopped which has helped my paranoia that people must think I had head lice because I was always scratching my head.
The cream was nice, and didn't leave a sticky feeling on my skin. It has helped with the dry skin on my arms.

The packaging on the shampoo could look at but nicer, as I don't think as it is it will catch people's eye as they are choosing a shampoo in the shop.

I would recommend the shampoo and the cream.

• Overall how satisfied were you with the cream and shampoo? Very satisfied with the cream and satisfied with the shampoo but not as much as the cream

• What did you or your family member like about the cream and shampoo?

The cream was easy to use and smelt good which is a bonus. The shampoo smelt good but did find it didn't leather up very good.

• Did it improve yours or your family member’s skin and/or scalp?

Yes my daughters hands are lots better which am impressed with. Myself I have to say the shampoo didn't do a great deal my head wasn't as Itchy for a few weeks but after a while I found more I used it, it didn't improve any more which was a shame.

• Would you recommend the product(s) to others? Yes and no the cream I would recommend and maybe the shampoo just wasn't right for my hair. But I think the price is a little bit high for what it is

• Overall how satisfied were you with the cream and shampoo?

I liked the cream better than the shampoo.

• What did you or your family member like about the cream and shampoo?

The cream was light and not too greasy and calmed the itching on my skin. Unfortunately the shampoo did nothing for my itchy scalp and dandruff although it did make my hair feel nice and clean.

• Did it improve yours or your family member’s skin and/or scalp?

I think that my skin has improved but sadly not my scalp.

• Would you recommend the product(s) to others?

I would recommend the cream. I did like how clean the shampoo made my hair feel even though I was disappointed that it didn't help the itch or flakiness of my scalp.

1. Overall how satisfied were you with the cream and shampoo?

I was very satisfied with the cream, I found it deeply moisturising, easily absorbed and made a huge difference to the eczema on my hands. When using this on my dry, cracked hands it did not sting or irritate it like other creams do but instead instantly made it feel moisturised and prevented further cracking of the skin.

The shampoo however I was not satisfied with. The shampoo did not aggravate the eczema on my scalp and was soothing whilst washing my hair but I found it very drying on my hair and left it full of static and limp. I have very thin hair as it is and had to use a volumising powder to give it some life but found it reacted with the shampoo and made my hair very greasy looking yet matted where I used it and then static and fly away in the areas that I didn't use it on. This shampoo would definitely benefit from a conditioner.

1. What did you or your family member like about the cream and shampoo?

We both agreed that the cream was fantastic in treating eczema and dry skin due to its moisturising, non-greasy formula but the shampoo was disappointing for the afore mentioned reasons.

1. Did it improve you or your family members skin and / or scalp?

Yes to both. Immediate effect noticed when using the cream and also with the shampoo on the scalp although for the reasons mentioned, without a conditioner I would only use the shampoo once a week.

1. Would you recommend the products to others?

Yes to both although I would strongly suggest using a conditioner with the shampoo

I am enjoying both products but not as much as my usual products that they are replacing during the testing period.
The shampoo feels very gentle on my scalp and I have no itchiness or flakiness. It produces a good lather.
The cream goes on well but hasn’t cleared up my psoriasis elbows.
I would recommend the shampoo but not particularly the cream.

Overall how satisfied were you with the cream and shampoo?

Super impressed with the cream and satisfied with the shampoo.

• What did you or your family member like about the cream and shampoo?

I love the cream it's really made a difference to my skin and it really helps to stop the itching found it very soothing and a little bit goes far.
The shampoo was ok but I did find it made my hair dry.

• Did it improve yours or your family member’s skin and/or scalp?

It improved mine and my daughters skin with the cream we both found that it was much less itchy and it soothed our skin.

• Would you recommend the product(s) to others? The cream I would definitely recommend especially with the hotter days approaching as that's when my skin seems to be at it's worst with the heat. You only need a little amount with each application so for the money for the bottle it's worth it. The shampoo I wouldn't recommend as I didn't see a great deal of difference and it made my hair dry.

I enjoyed taking part in this product test thank you for the opportunity, thankful to have found a cream that works with mine and my Daughters skin.

Overall how satisfied were you with the cream and shampoo?

I’m more impressed with the shampoo than the cream.

What did you or your family member like about the cream and shampoo?

The cream was nice, absorbed quickly and there was no fragrance or funny smell.

The shampoo was great, my head felt instantly calmer and I’ve noticed less build up and less itch.

Did it improve yours or your family member’s skin and/or scalp?
The cream definitely reduces the itch but I still found my skin flaky by the end of the day.
The shampoo has definitely improved my scalp.

Would you recommend the product(s) to others?
I’d recommend the shampoo, maybe the cream for the itchiness as opposed to fixing dry skin