Category: Eczema

Banstead, Beauty, Children, Cinema, Eczema, Egg hunts, Families, Family Life, Fashion, Food, Kids Style, Large Families, London, Memories, Parents, Siblings, teenagers

Our April…

by thejoyoffiveLeave a Comment on Our April…

As expected I have already fallen behind with this series and am writing up ‘our April’ at the end of May! At least it’s easier to catch up then last years series where I committed to a post a week.

Anyway it’s actually been really lovely looking back and here are a few of the things we got up to.

I kicked off the month at an event set in a tree house in the middle of Shoreditch…yes you heard that right; with Cetraben who have released a new oatmeal based cream that is set to rival their already brilliant creams that are perfect for problematic skin.

It was lovely to catch up with Nadia Sawalha who I had worked with on a campaign last year. She really is a lovely as she comes across on TV.

From here I went onto getting a new hairdo with the lovely Frankie from Blown Away London they I have written all about ‘here’.

It must have been a big boom in babies at this time of year as we have been inundated with kids parties from the teens right down to the little ones.

It was a special time for Frankie who took part in his first Thai Boxing tournament. I think the nerves were running higher in me than him and after he had competed and I took my heart back out of my mouth I realised how proud I was of his grit and determination. He is certainly walking in his Father’s footsteps.

A while ago now a meet a lovely lady called Charlotte who runs an agency called Blooming Mummas. Her love and passion for what she does shines through every time we speak and I have been lucky enough to attend a whole host of events through her.

During the Easter holidays she set up and event at Yo Sushi that brought together a whole range of different, inspiring and wonderful women and their little ones and it made for a fantastic afternoon.

The boys were as hyper as ever when we made our way to the London Transport Museum for a day with Greg Rutherford and the Lego City Hero Academy talking about how to encourage our little ones ‘hero gene’ and of course play with a whole heap of Lego!

It was a pretty event filled Easter holiday and one that really stood out for me was the Easter Egg Hunt. We were invited into the store before opening to take part in an egg hunt that ended in a supermarket sweet style run around the sweet emporium! It was certainly something dreams are made of!

We are still in the process of getting our house complete and as I’m sure everyone knows it can be a costly process so I try to save as much as I can and I find the bargain corner at IKEA brilliant for this. I picked up a beautiful lamp and gorgeous rug for under my dining table which I have since found out looks better on Pinterest as the practicalities of a rug, food and children isn’t really a good combination.

The last two events of the holiday involved a trip to Sony HQ to take a look at the new episodes of the Cookie Monster’s Food Truck that was a barrel of laughs and a trip to London Zoo for the launch of George at ASDA summer range which we all loved.

Just as we were ready to set off for a few days of fun in Chichester for the Bank Holiday weekend we ended up with an overnight stay courtesy of the NHS with a poorly Frankie. He had been suffering with terrible headaches and after a few tests we still didn’t get to the bottom of it but he was fit and well to get on with his holiday.

We certainly didn’t get the weather we were hoping for but we had a few days filled with beach trips and ice cream which is the perfect combination in my eyes.

Date nights are few and far between in our house and I was so happy to be able to get to spend a little adult time with Darren when we went along to see Hall and Oates at Wembley. A night of 80’s cheese is just what I needed.

I ended my month on a high with a treatment at the new Re Nu salon in Banstead which I will be telling you all about very soon.

Allergies, Bathtime, Beauty, Children, Eczema, Families, Family Life, Reviews

Cetraben Skincare:Review

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This house is home to a few sensitive soles of the skin variety and this has come with its challenges over the years.

My skin causes problems with seasonal changes but is pretty easy to manage even if it can be a bit of a pain. A good thick moisturiser usually gets the problem sorted and I don’t have to worry to much about it.

My husband and youngest two however have extremely problematic skin that has caused them a huge host of problems from itchiness that is so bad they can’t sleep, weeping skin that has lead to infections and for Frankie even the extremes of hospitalisation to get the problems sorted.

I actually thought that we must have tried every single emollient on the market until Cetraben asked me if I would like to try out some products from their range.

This actually couldn’t have come at a better time as this harsh weather has caused all of us to have varying degrees of problems that need some attention.

Cetraben is a range that has been developed especially for dry, problematic, eczema prone skins and works by re-hydrating the skin and protecting it from all those nasties that can cause irritation.

The mixture of light paraffin wax, white, soft paraffin wax and glycerin work together to replace lost oils from the skin, provide deep moisturisation and form a protective barrier across the surface of the skin.

The first product we tried was the Cetraben Daily Cleansing Cream that can be used either as a body wash in the bath or applied afterwards like a moisturiser.

I found this perfect to use during bath time for the boys as they are not fans of having to stand there and have a moisturiser applied after their bath and this can be applied whilst they are playing with them barely noticing.

The cream absorbed well and left them with very moistened and less itchy skin which is exactly what we were looking for.

I tried it as a moisturiser after my bath and although my skin was noticeably softer and my dry patches completely disappeared I wasn’t so keen on the clinical smell, although this did fade pretty quickly.

Frankie had a pretty bad flare up of his eczema after an unsuccessful allergy challenge last week and was suffering pretty badly with very angry, red patches of eczema that needed something a little stronger so I tired out the Cetraben Lotion on these localised areas.

It worked wonders on this very irritating skin by getting deep into the skin and giving a really deep and long lasting moisturisation; in fact during these times emollients have to be applied to Frankie several times a day but morning and evening was all it took to keep him happy.

We were all really pleased with the results we got from both of these products and it is certainly something that is going to be a staple in our bathroom cabinet from now on!

*We were sent these products for the proof this review and they are all my own, honest opinions.

Allergies, Allergy Free, Beauty, Children, Eczema, Families, Family Life, Kids Hair, Uncategorized

Olsson Haircare Collection Review

by thejoyoffiveLeave a Comment on Olsson Haircare Collection Review

We are a pretty sensitive bunch in this house with my husband and youngest two being eczema sufferers and psoriasis causing regular problems for me.

Over the years I have found plentiful products that deal with sensitive skin but not so much in the realms of haircare.

I found this particularly hard with the boys as I have always been very careful to keep their baths product free so when it comes to hair washing it always has to be done before they get in the bath which they hate and just adds extra time and stress to bath time.

We were asked by the Scandinavian company Olsson to try out their haircare range that has been formulated especially for sensitive skin.

Their products have been geared towards allergy and asthma sufferers but would be suitable for the whole family to use.

All additives, perfumes and parabens have been avoided, leaving a haircare range that would cover a huge range of allergies and sensitivities.

It is a complete collection that covers cleansing, conditioning and styling and offers shampoos, conditioners, mouses, hairspray and styling wax.

I am always a little apprehensive about trying new things on the children but given they all have the seal of approval from Allergy UK it put my mind at rest and was happy for us all to see how they stood up to the test.

The volume shampoo left us all with squeaky clean hair and I didn’t miss the fact it wasn’t scented like I thought I would be.

It caused no irritation to the boys scalp or their skin even though the suds were I the bath with them for a good while.

The wash off conditioner was a great addition to our haircare routine and the addition of aloe vera and B5 left all our hair really soft and conditioned.

Number three has very unruly, long hair that always need a little extra TLC so the spray in conditioner was easily combed though and didn’t leave any sticky residue like a lot of leave in conditioners can.

The styling products were left down to my to try and first up was the spray, lift and hold mousse. Instead of spraying into your hand and applying to your hair it is sprayed directly onto the roots.

It was a little watery for my liking but still gave me good hold and was easy to blow dry once on.

With my flyaway hair a good hairspray is an everyday essential for me and Olsson have created a medium hold hairspray that didn’t sting my scalp like many hairspray a can and controlled my straggly hairs perfectly all day.

I found the whole of Olsson’s range perfect for the whole family. No irritations and perfectly cleansed and styled hair for us all!

*we were given these products for the purpose of this review and they are all my own, honest opinions.

Allergies, Bathtime, Beauty, Children, Eczema, Families, Family Life, Ikea

Skinfix:Eczema And Sensitive Skincare Launch

by thejoyoffive4 Comments on Skinfix:Eczema And Sensitive Skincare Launch

We were asked along to have brunch at The Riding House Cafe in London the other week to celebrate the launch of the Canadian skincare brand Skinfix in Boots stores.


We were treated to some good food and copious amounts of coffee whilst hearing all about the new range that I was hoping to be of great benefit to my family.


My husband and my two youngest boys all suffer from eczema and for well over a year we had a horrendous time with number three backwards and forwards to the doctors and several hospital stays because of his condition.

I really feel that I’m a bit of an expert when it comes to both prescribed and over the counter treatments for skin conditions as in desperation we have tried anything we could get our hands on.

At first glance of the Skinfix range I was very impressed by the attractive packaging.  They have steered clear of the clinical approach and gone for something that is gender-neutral and would look great on any bathroom shelf.

This award winning range that is based around using natural ingredients keeping it free from fragrance, sulphates, parabens and phthalates is mid range in price but with the most expensive product coming it at under £18 I don’t think this is to heftier a price tag.

With my mind racing with all this fresh information we set of home to see how they held up on my itchy little ones.


I tried the soothing wash and lotion from the adult range which unfortunately wasn’t suitable for my husband as it contains nuts but worked really well on my dry hands that are worn down due to the everyday ups and downs of parenting.

The real test was the new baby range that is set to hit the shelves soon. 

 Number four still gets large areas of eczema that irritate him day and night. After a couple of weeks of using the gentle eczema balm the areas because less red in appearance and the itching was greatly soothed.  It was easy to apply and the squeezable tube was much better to use than having to scrape from a large pot that tends to get messy with the thicker creams.

Number five has more generalised dry skin that give him terrible problems with sleeping at night.  The gentle lotion was easily absorbed and kept his skin soothed all night.

My favourite product by far though was the hair and body wash.  I always found it a struggle to keep shampooing seperate from the bath water.  This combination allowed me to bath them so much quicker as there was no separate hair washing to be done.

This range is suitable for day to day dryness of the skin to more serious skin conditions.  It really is a fabulous range that I will most definitely be stocking up on!  

Allergy Free, Children, Diet, Eczema, Families, Family Life, Food, Parents

A Reminder Not To Get Complacent With Allergies 

by thejoyoffive21 Comments on A Reminder Not To Get Complacent With Allergies 

As a few of you will know number four has suffered from multiple allergies since he was a few months old.  Apart from some recipes I have not yet spoken a lot on my blog about this.

He was formally diagnosed with an allergy to nuts, sesame, soya, dairy, eggs and wheat at around 6 months.  And now carries an Epi Pen.  

We went through a really rough time of cutting all of this from my diet as I was breastfeeding, trying to keep his servere excezma under control and the long slog of finding a varied diet to introduce to him one he started weaning.

A couple of years on and his excezma is completly under control and the only problem will still have is his overly sensitive tummy that still causes problems.

That was until last night!  Whilst preparing dinner he was complaining of itchy eyes, to which I told him he must just be tired and did not pay to much attention to.  A few minutes later he was on the floor sobbing.  As I looked at him, his eyes were nearly closed over and were massively red and puffy.

I got some Piriton into him and phoned my husband who came home and rushed us to the hospital.  He was given some steroids and we were kept under observation for four hours.

It was a real wake up call to how things can change when you have a child with allergies, and you should never take things for granted.  We still don’t know what caused last nights attack.  He could of got hold of an allergin that he is known to have or it could be something completely new.

Life with my little allergy boy can be hard work and at times very scary.  Last nights little shock had definalty been a reminder that we need to be continually aware of him and his surroundings at all times.

  

  

  

Allergy Free, Baking, Cakes, Chocolate, Dairy Free, Eczema, Egg Free, Families, Food, Nut Free, Recipes, Wheat Free

Raspberry Allergy Free Cupcakes

by thejoyoffive15 Comments on Raspberry Allergy Free Cupcakes

  

As many of you will know number four has multiple allergies so we have had our struggles with food choices over the years.

Things have been good for a while now.  His eczema has cleared up and we are coping with the tummy problems day to day.  The issue we have is now he knows what he can’t have but can’t understand the implications of he does.  This results in him trying mission impossible style moves to get food from wherever he can!!

Soft play areas and parties are a minefield and I need eyes in the back of my head.  I’m hoping as he gets older he will learn to understand the seriousness of food allergies, but for the time being I am just going to have to be on high alert at all times.

It must be hard for him seeing everyone around him enjoying all sorts of yummy foods whenever they like when he is restricted to the same things all the time.

Every now and then we try to mix things up a bit for him so that he doesn’t get bored.

Cakes are always a winner and we normally stick to a traditional vanilla or chocolate cupcake.  So this weekend we took his love of raspberries and added them to our cupcakes with a drizzle of dairyfree chocolate to the top.

Raspberry Cupcakes

  • 110g wheat free self raising flour
  • 110g caster sugar
  • 110g dairy free spread
  • 1tsp vanilla essence
  • 2 tsp egg replacer
  • 110g raspberries

Method

Set the oven to 190C/170C fan assisted or gas Mark 5.

Place all the ingredients except for the raspberries into a bowl and beat hard with a wooden spoon for about a minute until you get a good fluffy mixture.

   
 

Fold in the fruit and then place into 12 cake cases and bake for around 15 mins.

   
   

Test them near the end by inserting a skewer into the cake.  If it comes out clear they are done, if not give them another 5 mins.

Transfer to a cooling rack and them once cool sprinkle with icing sugar or drizzle with some dairy free chocolate.

   
   

  

Blogging, East London, Eczema, Handcream, Reviews, Tolietries, Toy Shops, Toys

Big Thank You To Buggies And Bikes

by thejoyoffiveLeave a Comment on Big Thank You To Buggies And Bikes

  

As some of you know blogging is a new thing to me.  I have only been doing it for the past couple of months and I am falling I love with my blog and all the fantastic things that come with being a blogger more than I ever thought I would.

I have had a love for social media for many years and was always putting up posts of my family and everything we get up to.  I was getting several emails a day from friends asking advice on days out and things to do with little ones; so with a push from my lovely sister my journey has begun and I’m loving every minute of it.

One of the most refreshing things I have found about blogging is the fantastic people you meet online.  I have been chatting on Twitter to the lovely Buggiesandbikes.net about my larger than life family and her experiences as a shop owner and childminder for the past fourteen years.  We can relate to the struggles of mealtimes and clearing up!!

Their fabulously different toy shop in East London offers a diverse range of toys, clothes and toiletries to name but a few.  I am planning a trip there in next few weeks whilst visiting the Museum Of Childhood.  I can then take everything in first hand and say a big thank you for the lovely handcream gift that popped through my front door the other day.

  

I was so happy when the little brown parcel hit the doormat.  I felt like a little kid on their birthday!  The joy of opening it was handed over to number four as he was tugging at my top pleading to open it.  Once open the wonderful lavender smell hit me and once applied to my hands the fragrance lasted for hours.  

We live nearby some beautiful lavender fields and when my daugher came in from school the scent caught her and she asked if I had been there that day!

I was so impressed with the handcream I had a look on soothe-me.com and found they had an extensive range of fabulous products that would be great for all the family.  They have a section dedicated to eczema suffers; so with my husband and two youngest boys being suffers I will most certainly be purchasing some products to try out on them.

  

I’m at the start of this exciting journey and have already made some lovely online friends and tried some beautiful products.  I’m looking forward to each day and what it brings.