Eucerin Roughness Relief Cream

A fragrance-free, intensive body lotion formulated with Urea, Ceramides, and Natural Moisturizing Factors to exfoliate and repair rough, bumpy skin.

Performance Rating: 4.8

This is an exceptional formulation designed for intense hydration and barrier repair. It features Urea as a primary active ingredient, which acts as both a powerful humectant and a mild keratolytic (softening rough skin). The inclusion of Ceramide NP and Cholesterol provides skin-identical lipids to restore the moisture barrier. Furthermore, it contains a comprehensive Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF) complex including Sodium Lactate, Lactic Acid, Sodium PCA, and amino acids like Arginine, Glycine, and Alanine. The addition of Dimethicone ensures moisture lock-in (occlusion), while Distarch Phosphate likely improves the texture to prevent stickiness.

Safety Rating: 4.5

The profile is excellent for sensitive skin, notably being fragrance-free, which significantly lowers the risk of allergic contact dermatitis. The preservative system relies on Phenoxyethanol, a standard and generally well-tolerated ingredient. While Urea and Lactic Acid are highly effective, they may cause temporary stinging on broken or extremely sensitized skin, though this is an expected property of the active ingredients rather than a toxicity concern. There are no concerning parabens or formaldehyde releasers.

Final Rating: 4.7

This product represents a gold standard in dermatological skincare for dry, rough, or flaky skin. By combining exfoliating properties (Urea, Lactic Acid) with barrier-mimicking lipids (Ceramides, Cholesterol) and deep hydration (Glycerin, Amino Acids), it addresses the root causes of dry skin rather than just masking them. It is a highly functional, scientifically sound moisturizer.

Verdict

This body moisturizer represents a highly clinical and targeted approach to skincare, strictly prioritizing functionality and barrier restoration over sensory luxury. It is evidently designed for problem skin rather than general maintenance. At the very heart of this formula lies Urea, a gold-standard dermatological ingredient for treating xerosis and hyperkeratosis. Positioned second on the ingredient list, likely at a high concentration, it acts as a dual-function powerhouse. As a humectant, it draws moisture deep into the stratum corneum, while as a keratolytic agent, it gently breaks down the bonds holding dead skin cells together. This makes the lotion exceptionally effective for smoothing out rough, bumpy textures, such as those associated with Keratosis Pilaris (often called “chicken skin”) or naturally scaly shins.

Supporting the urea are Lactic Acid and Sodium Lactate, which are integral parts of the skin’s Natural Moisturizing Factors (NMF). These components work synergistically to maintain the skin’s acidic mantle and further promote gentle chemical exfoliation without the abrasion of scrubs. The formula goes far beyond simple hydration by incorporating a robust, mimetic NMF complex, including Sodium PCA, Arginine, Glycine, and Alanine. These amino acids serve to replenish the essential building blocks of the skin surface, which are often critically depleted in dry, aged, or winter-ravaged skin.

Crucially, this product addresses the lipid barrier, which acts as the mortar between skin cells to keep moisture locked in. The inclusion of Ceramide NP and Cholesterol is a sophisticated touch, as these lipids mimic the physiological ratio found in healthy skin layers. By actively repairing the lipid matrix, the moisturizer prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL) long after application. To ensure the product feels pleasant despite its heavy-hitting actives, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride and Dimethicone provide immediate emollience and occlusion. Simultaneously, Distarch Phosphate acts as a texturizing agent to absorb excess stickiness, ensuring the finish is velvet-like rather than greasy.

While the formula is notably fragrance-free, making it suitable for sensitive noses and those prone to contact dermatitis, the high concentration of actives means it is not without potential sensory drawbacks. Users with open scratches, fissures, or severely cracked eczema might experience a temporary, sharp stinging sensation due to the acidic nature of the Urea and Lactic Acid. However, for intact but chronically dry and flaky skin, this is a top-tier recovery treatment. It is a utilitarian masterpiece designed to transform sandpaper-like texture into smooth, resilient, and hydrated skin.

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Ingredient Evaluation

📁 Solvents / 溶剂

🧪 Water / 水

Purpose: Solvent

Concerns: None

Notes: The main base of the lotion.

📁 Moisturizers & Skin-Identical Ingredients / 保湿剂与皮肤等同成分

🧪 Urea / 尿素

Purpose: Humectant, Exfoliant

Concerns: May cause stinging on broken or sensitive skin at high concentrations.

Notes: A component of the Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF). Excellent for very dry, rough skin.

🧪 Glycerin / 甘油

Purpose: Humectant

Concerns: None

Notes: A classic moisturizer that draws water into the skin.

🧪 Sodium Lactate / 乳酸钠

Purpose: Humectant, pH Buffer

Concerns: None

Notes: Part of the skin’s NMF.

🧪 Ceramide NP / 神经酰胺 NP

Purpose: Skin-Restoring

Concerns: None

Notes: Helps reinforce the skin barrier and retain moisture.

🧪 Lactic Acid / 乳酸

Purpose: Exfoliant, Humectant

Concerns: May increase sun sensitivity.

Notes: An Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) that hydrates and gently exfoliates.

🧪 Sodium PCA / PCA 钠

Purpose: Humectant

Concerns: None

Notes: A high-performance humectant found naturally in skin.

🧪 Arginine HCL / 精氨酸 HCL

Purpose: Amino Acid

Concerns: None

Notes: Helps maintain skin moisture and health.

🧪 Glycine / 甘氨酸

Purpose: Amino Acid

Concerns: None

Notes: A building block for proteins.

🧪 Alanine / 丙氨酸

Purpose: Amino Acid

Concerns: None

Notes: Skin-conditioning agent.

🧪 Carnitine / 肉碱

Purpose: Skin Conditioning

Concerns: None

Notes: Helps reduce oiliness in some contexts, used here for conditioning.

🧪 Cholesterol / 胆固醇

Purpose: Emollient, Skin-Identical

Concerns: None

Notes: Crucial for maintaining a healthy skin barrier.

📁 Emollients / 柔润剂

🧪 Cetearyl Alcohol / 鲸蜡硬脂醇

Purpose: Emollient, Texture Enhancer

Concerns: None

Notes: A fatty alcohol that is non-drying and softens skin.

🧪 Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride / 辛酸/癸酸甘油三酯

Purpose: Emollient

Concerns: Potential comedogenic for very oily skin (rare).

Notes: Derived from coconut oil and glycerin; lightweight and stable.

🧪 Octyldodecanol / 辛基十二醇

Purpose: Emollient, Solvent

Concerns: None

Notes: Helps prevent formula separation and softens skin.

🧪 Ethylhexyl Cocoate / 椰油酸乙基己酯

Purpose: Emollient

Concerns: None

Notes: Provides a smooth feel to the skin.

🧪 Dimethicone / 聚二甲基硅氧烷

Purpose: Emollient, Occlusive

Concerns: None

Notes: A silicone that forms a breathable barrier to prevent moisture loss.

📁 Emulsifiers & Texture Enhancers / 乳化剂与质地调节剂

🧪 Glyceryl Stearate / 甘油硬脂酸酯

Purpose: Emulsifier

Concerns: None

Notes: Helps mix oil and water.

🧪 Glyceryl Stearate SE / 甘油硬脂酸酯 SE

Purpose: Emulsifier

Concerns: None

Notes: ‘SE’ stands for Self-Emulsifying.

🧪 Distarch Phosphate / 双淀粉磷酸酯

Purpose: Absorbent, Texture Enhancer

Concerns: None

Notes: Provides a matte finish and non-greasy feel.

🧪 Sorbitan Stearate / 山梨坦硬脂酸酯

Purpose: Emulsifier

Concerns: None

Notes: Often used with other emulsifiers for stability.

🧪 Carbomer / 卡波姆

Purpose: Thickener

Concerns: None

Notes: Creates a gel-like texture and stabilizes the formula.

🧪 Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate / 鲸蜡硬脂醇硫酸酯钠

Purpose: Surfactant, Emulsifier

Concerns: Can be drying in cleansers, but safe in leave-on emulsions.

Notes: Helps stabilize the emulsion.

🧪 Sodium Chloride / 氯化钠

Purpose: Thickener, Stabilizer

Concerns: None

Notes: Common table salt, used to adjust viscosity.

📁 Preservatives / 防腐剂

🧪 Phenoxyethanol / 苯氧乙醇

Purpose: Preservative

Concerns: Safe in concentrations under 1%.

Notes: Prevents microbial growth in the product.