Last year, I posted about my highly glamorous problem of thigh chafing (post not yet available in English) when the temperatures rise and I have the bad idea of wearing a dress. In the comments, Enila and Olivia advised me to try the Bariéderm cream from Uriage also used by the fashion blogger Stéphanie Zwicky (here).
After having read all the good things that cream could do for me, I ran to Monoprix to buy a tube (+/- 10€ for 75 ml). Firsthand, two good points for this cream: it’s affordable because the tube lasts a long time (at least two summers) and it is easy to find in pharmacies or in the beauty aisle of any supermarket.
I was so excited to test this miracle cream that I endeavoured to wear a skirt the very next day … without any other protection against chub rub. I was surprised by the gooey texture of the Bariéderm cream and its opaque white colour. I was afraid that I would stay on top of my skin and stain my clothes. Thankfully, I had read a few reviews before trying the cream and they all said that only a small quantity of it was needed. I squirted out an a pea-size amount and rubbed it on the area where my thighs get irritated. I was pleased to see the cream disappearing quickly without leaving any streaks or greasy sensation,
After a year of using Bariéderm, I have stopped using any other options to avoid thigh chafing such as shorts or bandelettes. I love the freedom it gives me as it’s only a dollop of cream to apply in the morning and it lasts the whole day. No more worrying whether the bandelettes are showing through my skirt or wondering if the short is peeking out of my dress!
It keeps my thighs safe all day long, most times I don’t have to reapply it. However, if it’s very hot outside and I feel like going out after work, it’s safer to reapply Bariéderm … it’s a powerful cream but not fail-proof! It felt great to go to free outside concert and dance in my long flowy dress without falling victim to the chub rub.
I used it also during my trip to Greece where I spent a lot of time in my bikini and in salt water. Even though Bariéderm helped limit the damage, I ended up with much chafed thighs (babouin style). To ward off chub rub, I now believe that I should have reapplied the cream after each time I went swimming, at the same time I reapplied sunscreen even though it’s not a very glamorous thing to do poolside. Still, I was pretty happy that it was completely invisible, even when wearing a bikini!
This cream made from polymers shields the skin from friction but also from harsh chemicals. I found it very efficient to use on my feet when wearing new shoes to avoid getting blisters.
Bariéderm’s ingredients
On Uriage website, the manufacturer writes about an hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and a breathable cream without the use of perfume or paraben. Even though I had no issue while using this cream on my sensitive skin, I have a hard time believing that it’s non-comodogenic and breathable skincare product as it contains silicons. Although I usually dislike the use of silicons, they are a necessary evil in this cream as they create a protective barrier for the skin.
Ingredient list : Aqua, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Uriage Thermal Spring Water, Octyldodecanol, Cetyl Dimethicone Copolyol, Stearyl Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, PVP, Squalane, Magnesium Sulfate, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Dimethicone, Chlorphenesin, Diazolidinyl Urea, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Polyquaternium-51.
It’s by no means an organic products but it avoids using the worst petroleum by-products and parabens. I am grateful that Uriage makes a few perfume-less products such as this body lubricant and also their sunscreens, it’s a rare thing for French skincare brands. Shandara once told me that Uriage was one of her favourite beauty brand in France, and I’m starting to understand why!
