Renew lotion or Eucerin: which is right for your dry skin?

This page compares Melaleuca's Renew Intensive Skin Therapy lotion with two Eucerin products, Original Healing Cream and Advanced Repair Unscented Body Lotion. The main difference is texture: Eucerin's Healing Cream is thick and stays on the skin, while Renew is a lotion that absorbs quickly. On price, the 20 oz Renew bottle at the member price costs a little less per ounce than the Healing Cream.

For more on the full range, see the guide to Melaleuca's personal care and skin care products.

Renew and Eucerin side by side

Prices change, so check each brand's site for current pricing.

How each one feels on the skin

Eucerin describes Original Healing Cream as a "thick, rich formula" that "helps prevent moisture loss by replenishing the skin's moisture barrier." It stays on the skin after you smooth it on, and Eucerin says the cream "can also be used as a hand cream or foot cream." You might put it on at night or before going out in the cold, and feel it on your hands for a while afterward.

Renew is a lotion. Melaleuca says it leaves "skin softer with fast-absorbing, long-lasting, replenishing relief." A lotion that absorbs quickly lets you pick up a child or type without leaving marks on the keyboard. Eucerin's Advanced Repair Unscented Body Lotion is also a lotion rather than a cream.

If you can't decide between a lasting layer and a lotion that sinks in, plenty of people keep one of each: a thick cream for night and a lotion for daytime.

What does each cost per ounce?

Eucerin Original Healing Cream costs $15.79 for 16 ounces at a major retailer, about $0.99 per ounce. The Eucerin website lists the same 16 oz size.

Renew comes in two sizes. The 8 oz tube costs $15.00 at the regular price or $10.29 at the preferred member price, which is $1.88 or $1.29 per ounce. The 20 oz value bottle costs $25.00 or $16.99, which is $1.25 per ounce at the regular price and about $0.85 per ounce for members. The pump for the value bottle is sold separately, a one-time cost.

At the member price, the value-size Renew costs about 14 percent less per ounce than Eucerin's Healing Cream. Eucerin's Advanced Repair Unscented Body Lotion costs $12.79 for 16.9 fl oz, about $0.76 per ounce, the lowest per-ounce price of the three. The small Renew tube costs the most per ounce, so the 20 oz bottle is the better buy if you choose Renew.

What is in each one?

Eucerin publishes its ingredient list, and the full list is on the product label. Petrolatum gives the cream its thickness. It is an occlusive, which means it holds moisture against the skin. Eucerin says the cream is "fragrance free, dye free, and non-comedogenic," meaning it will not clog pores. Eucerin calls itself "a dermatologist-recommended skincare brand."

Melaleuca calls Renew "Clinically proven." On Melaleuca's own product page, Renew Intensive Skin Therapy holds a 4.9 star rating from about 6,000 ratings.

Which moisturizer fits your household?

Both do what their brands describe. The choice comes down to the feel you prefer and how you like to shop.

Eucerin Original Healing Cream suits someone who wants a heavy cream with a short, published ingredient list, sold at major retailers with no membership. It is fragrance free and dye free, and Eucerin calls it "gentle enough for use as a daily dry skin body cream." The brand recommends it for dry skin on hands and feet. At about $0.99 per ounce, it sits in the middle of the price range here.

Eucerin's Advanced Repair Unscented Body Lotion suits someone who wants a lighter lotion at the lowest per-ounce price of the three, about $0.76. No membership is required.

Renew suits someone who wants a fast-absorbing lotion for hands during the day. The value bottle at the member price is the sensible size, and it costs a little less per ounce than Eucerin's Healing Cream. Renew is sold through Melaleuca's website, and the member price comes with a Melaleuca membership. If you already order cleaners or laundry soap from Melaleuca, Renew is easy to add to a monthly order. If you would rather buy a moisturizer once, on your own schedule, a store shelf makes more sense.

Questions about buying Renew or Eucerin

Does Renew come with a pump? The pump for the 20 oz value bottle is sold separately, so budget for it if you order the big bottle.

Are they scented? Eucerin Original Healing Cream is fragrance free and Advanced Repair is unscented, according to Eucerin. If fragrance matters to you, read Renew's label before you order.

Where can you buy each one? Eucerin is sold at major retail stores and drugstores. Renew is sold through Melaleuca's own website, at the regular or the preferred member price.

For comparisons of Melaleuca products in other categories, see the comparison of Melaleuca with other brands.

Sources

• Eucerin Original Healing Cream, eucerinus.com
• Renew Intensive Skin Therapy, Melaleuca