Written by Dr Tim Clayton, Consultant Paediatric Dermatologist

Ovée compared with Aveeno, CeraVe, Cetraben, Doublebase, Oilatum, Epaderm, Childs Farm and Nala’s Baby

An honest, sourced comparison of the emollients UK parents and adults actually choose between — including the places where another cream is the better answer than ours.

We get asked how Ovée compares to the creams already on the shelf in Boots, or the one a GP has prescribed. Most brand comparison pages are written to make one product win. This one is not.

Every entry in the tables below is taken from the manufacturer’s own published ingredient list, checked in August 2026 (babies and children) and October 2026 (adults). Where a competitor does something better than we do — and on cost and NHS availability, several of them plainly do — it says so.

How Ovée compares, ingredient by ingredient

Sourced from each manufacturer’s own published ingredient list or product information. The babies and children table was verified in August 2026 and the adults table in October 2026, using UK sources only. Scroll the tables sideways on a phone.

For babies and children

  Ovée Baby & Child Aveeno Baby Dermexa Childs Farm Baby Moisturiser
grapefruit & organic tea tree		 Cetraben Cream Oilatum Junior Cream Epaderm Cream Nala’s Baby Body Lotion
general baby moisturiser, not an eczema emollient
Perfume / parfum None None Contains parfum, limonene, linalool, citronellol and tea tree oil. A separate fragrance-free version is sold. None None None Contains parfum, which the brand states is free from known allergens
Paraffin-based No Contains petrolatum No Yes — white soft paraffin 13.2%, light liquid paraffin 10.5% Yes — white soft paraffin 15%, light liquid paraffin 6% Yes — yellow soft paraffin and liquid paraffin No
Colloidal oat Yes Yes No No No No Yes — oat kernel flour and oat kernel extract
Steroid-free Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Available free on NHS prescription No No No Yes Yes Yes No
Developed by a consultant dermatologist Yes — formulated with Dr Tim Clayton, Consultant Paediatric Dermatologist Not stated Described as dermatologist and paediatrician approved Not stated Not stated Not stated Not stated as formulated by one; brand describes it as paediatrician and dermatologist approved

Every cell is taken from the manufacturer's own published ingredient list or product page, last verified August 2026. Formulations change — check the pack before you buy. Percentages are quoted as the manufacturer states them. Nala’s Baby Body Lotion is included because parents often ask about it, but it is sold as a general baby moisturiser rather than as an eczema emollient, so it is not a like-for-like product.

For adults

  Ovée Dermatologist Lipid Cream Aveeno Dermexa Daily Emollient Cream CeraVe Moisturising Cream Doublebase Gel
Perfume / parfum None None None None
Paraffin-based No Contains petrolatum Contains petrolatum Yes — liquid paraffin 15%
Oat ingredients Oat kernel flour, oil and extract Oat kernel flour, extract and oil (sold as a triple oat complex) None listed None listed
Ceramides None listed Ceramide 3 Ceramide NP, ceramide AP and ceramide EOP None listed
Steroid-free Yes Yes Yes Yes
Available free on NHS prescription No Not stated Not stated Not stated
Developed by a consultant dermatologist Yes — formulated with Dr Tim Clayton, Consultant Paediatric Dermatologist Not stated; described as dermatologist tested Not stated; described as developed with dermatologists Not stated
How the maker describes its use A moisturiser for adults with dry, sensitive and eczema-prone skin For very dry, itchy skin; also suitable for people prone to eczema For dry to very dry skin; the brand states it does not treat underlying skin conditions A hydrating, protective base for dry or chapped skin; for adults, the elderly, infants and children

UK sources only, last verified October 2026: Aveeno’s UK ingredient list (April 2023) and aveeno.co.uk, CeraVe’s UK product data on cerave.co.uk, and Doublebase Gel’s UK Summary of Product Characteristics from Dermal Laboratories (revised December 2019). Ingredient lists can differ between countries and change over time, so check the pack. “Not stated” means the manufacturer’s product information we checked does not say; it does not mean no. Doublebase Gel is a licensed medicine sold through pharmacies, so it is not a like-for-like cosmetic product.

When another cream is the better choice

If cost is your main constraint. Cetraben, Oilatum and Epaderm are available free on NHS prescription and are sold in 500g tubs. Per 100ml they cost a fraction of what Ovée does. If you are getting through large quantities — and with eczema you should be — that difference is real and it matters. Ask your GP.

If something you have already works. Emollients are personal. Skin that is settled on a cream is skin you should leave alone. There is no clinical reason to switch a product that is doing its job.

If you need a heavy occlusive layer. For very dry, cracked or fissured skin, a greasy paraffin-based ointment forms a more occlusive barrier than a lighter cream will. That is what those products are designed to do, and they do it well.

If you specifically want ceramides in your moisturiser. Ovée’s Dermatologist Lipid Cream lists none. Aveeno Dermexa Daily Emollient Cream lists ceramide 3 and CeraVe Moisturising Cream lists three ceramides, so if that is what you are looking for, those two match it and ours does not.

Where we think Ovée earns its place is for skin that reacts to perfume, or for families who want an emollient without paraffin that is still substantial enough for daily eczema care — formulated with a Consultant Paediatric Dermatologist rather than approved by one afterwards.

Ovée vs Aveeno Dermexa

Aveeno sells two Dermexa creams in the UK: Aveeno Dermexa Daily Emollient Cream for adults and Aveeno Baby Dermexa for babies. We have compared each with the Ovée product for the same age group in the tables above. Here is the plain-English version, using UK ingredient lists only, because lists can differ between countries.

What they have in common. Both brands make steroid-free emollients that use oat ingredients, and neither lists perfume. Neither is a medicine.

What is different. Aveeno Dermexa Daily Emollient Cream lists petrolatum, a paraffin-derived ingredient, and ceramide 3. Aveeno Baby Dermexa also contains petrolatum. Ovée contains no paraffin or petrolatum and is built on plant oils and shea butter, with no added ceramides. Aveeno Dermexa Daily Emollient Cream is sold by UK supermarkets and online pharmacies; Ovée is sold direct from this site.

Which to choose. If you want a widely available petrolatum-based emollient with ceramides, Aveeno Dermexa is a reasonable choice and we would not talk you out of it. If you want to avoid paraffin and petrolatum, or prefer a plant-oil formula developed with a Consultant Paediatric Dermatologist, that is where Ovée fits. Skin responds individually: if either irritates, stop using it and ask a pharmacist or your GP.

Epaderm or Cetraben?

We’re often asked which of these two to choose. On the six things compared in the table above, they are very alike. Epaderm Cream and Cetraben Cream are both paraffin-based emollients with no perfume and no steroid, neither contains colloidal oat, and both are available free on NHS prescription.

The difference on the label is the paraffin. Cetraben Cream lists white soft paraffin (13.2%) and light liquid paraffin (10.5%). Epaderm Cream lists yellow soft paraffin and liquid paraffin.

In practice, the better choice is the one that suits your skin, or your child’s, and that you can apply generously every day. It’s common to try more than one emollient before finding the right one, and your GP or pharmacist can help. If you would rather use a paraffin-free cream with colloidal oat, the table above shows how Ovée compares.

Aveeno Baby or Childs Farm?

Two of the baby moisturisers parents ask us about most, and on the label they are quite different. The table above compares the Childs Farm Baby Moisturiser in its grapefruit and organic tea tree version; Childs Farm also sells a separate fragrance-free version.

Perfume. Aveeno Baby Dermexa lists no perfume. The grapefruit and tea tree Childs Farm Baby Moisturiser lists parfum, limonene, linalool, citronellol and tea tree oil. UK guidance for eczema-prone skin generally favours fragrance-free products, which is a point in Aveeno’s favour for a child with eczema, or a reason to choose the fragrance-free Childs Farm instead.

Paraffin. Aveeno Baby Dermexa contains petrolatum, a paraffin-derived ingredient; Childs Farm Baby Moisturiser does not. As we explain in the questions below, that is a formulation choice rather than a safety issue either way.

Oat. Aveeno Baby Dermexa contains colloidal oat; Childs Farm Baby Moisturiser does not.

What they have in common. Both are steroid-free, neither is available on NHS prescription, and neither is a medicine. Childs Farm describes its moisturiser as dermatologist and paediatrician approved; Aveeno Baby Dermexa’s listing does not say who developed it.

Which to choose. For a baby with eczema-prone skin, a fragrance-free option is the simpler starting point whichever brand it comes from, and the one you will apply generously every day is the right one. If you would rather have a cream that is fragrance-free and paraffin-free with colloidal oat, the table above shows how Ovée compares.

Childs Farm or Nala’s Baby?

Two baby moisturisers that come up together in parents’ searches, and the first thing to say is that only one of them is sold as an eczema emollient. Nala’s Baby Body Lotion is a general baby moisturiser; it is in the table because parents ask about it, not because it is a like-for-like product. The table compares the Childs Farm Baby Moisturiser in its grapefruit and organic tea tree version; Childs Farm also sells a separate fragrance-free version.

Perfume. Both contain parfum. The grapefruit and tea tree Childs Farm Baby Moisturiser lists parfum, limonene, linalool, citronellol and tea tree oil. Nala’s Baby Body Lotion lists parfum, which the brand states is free from known allergens. UK guidance for eczema-prone skin generally favours fragrance-free products, so for a baby with eczema the fragrance-free Childs Farm version is the simpler choice of the two.

Paraffin. Neither contains paraffin.

Oat. Nala’s Baby Body Lotion lists oat kernel flour and oat kernel extract; Childs Farm Baby Moisturiser lists no oat.

What they have in common. Both are steroid-free, neither is available on NHS prescription, and neither is a medicine. Both brands describe their product as paediatrician and dermatologist approved.

Which to choose. For a baby with eczema-prone skin, start with a product that is fragrance-free and sold for that purpose, and if the skin is settled on a cream, leave it alone. If you would rather have a cream that is fragrance-free and paraffin-free with colloidal oat, the table above shows how Ovée compares.

Cetraben or Doublebase?

Both are paraffin-based emollients with no perfume and no steroid, and neither contains oat. The difference is the form and the base. Cetraben Cream is a cream, with white soft paraffin (13.2%) and light liquid paraffin (10.5%), and it is available free on NHS prescription. Doublebase Gel is a gel, with liquid paraffin (15%) and isopropyl myristate (15%); it is a UK-licensed emollient sold through pharmacies, and the manufacturer information we checked does not say whether it is available on prescription, so ask your GP or pharmacist about cost. Its own product information describes it as a hydrating, protective base for dry or chapped skin, for adults, the elderly, infants and children.

In practice the choice usually comes down to how each feels on the skin and whether it is available to you on prescription. As with Epaderm and Cetraben, the better choice is the one that suits the skin and gets applied generously every day, and it is common to try more than one before settling. If you would rather use a paraffin-free cream, the tables above show how Ovée compares.

Questions people actually ask

Is Ovée better than Aveeno for baby eczema?

Not straightforwardly, no. Both are fragrance-free and both use colloidal oat. The main formulation difference is that Aveeno Baby Dermexa contains petrolatum and Ovée contains no paraffin at all, using plant oils and shea butter instead. Which suits your child is mostly about texture and tolerance, and the honest answer is that you may need to try both.

Can I use Ovée instead of an emollient my GP prescribed?

Speak to whoever prescribed it before you swap. Prescribed emollients are chosen for a reason, and if the current one is working, changing it is a risk with no obvious benefit. Ovée is a cosmetic emollient, not a medicine, and it is not a replacement for prescribed treatment.

Why does Ovée cost more than Cetraben or Oilatum?

Because those are prescribable emollients sold in large tubs, and much of the time patients do not pay for them at all. Ovée is a retail product with a different formulation and a different cost base. If price per 100ml is your deciding factor, a prescription emollient will win, and we would rather say so than pretend otherwise.

Does perfume in a moisturiser matter for eczema-prone skin?

It can. Fragrance ingredients are among the more common causes of contact allergy, which is why UK guidance for eczema-prone skin generally favours fragrance-free products. It does not mean a scented cream will cause a reaction in every child — many tolerate them — but if skin is already inflamed and reactive, removing perfume is one of the simpler variables to control.

Is a paraffin-free cream better for sensitive skin?

Not for the reason people usually assume. Paraffin itself is chemically inert and rarely causes allergy — that is a large part of why it is used in so many emollients. Where someone does react to a moisturiser, it is far more often to the emulsifiers or preservatives in it than to the paraffin.

There is one real paraffin-specific consideration: very greasy, highly occlusive products applied heavily can block hair follicles and cause folliculitis in some people, and some find them uncomfortably warm to wear.

We formulate without paraffin because we prefer plant oils and a lighter feel that people will actually keep using every day. That is a formulation choice, not a safety warning. If a paraffin-based emollient is working for your child, there is no reason to change it.

What is the difference between Ovée and Aveeno Dermexa?

Both are steroid-free emollients that use oat ingredients and list no perfume. Aveeno Dermexa Daily Emollient Cream (for adults) lists petrolatum and ceramide 3. Ovée’s Dermatologist Lipid Cream contains no paraffin or petrolatum and no added ceramides, using plant oils, shea butter and oat instead. Neither is a medicine, and either can irritate an individual’s skin.

How does Ovée compare with CeraVe Moisturising Cream?

CeraVe’s UK ingredient list shows petrolatum and three ceramides, with no perfume listed. Ovée’s Dermatologist Lipid Cream has no petrolatum and no added ceramides and is built on plant oils, shea butter and oat. CeraVe states that it does not treat underlying skin conditions; Ovée is likewise a cosmetic emollient, not a medicine.

How does Ovée compare with Doublebase Gel?

Doublebase Gel is a UK-licensed emollient gel containing 15% liquid paraffin and 15% isopropyl myristate, made for adults, infants and children and sold through pharmacies. Ovée’s creams contain no paraffin. The manufacturer information we checked does not say whether Doublebase is available on NHS prescription, so ask your GP or pharmacist about cost.

Is Epaderm or Cetraben better for eczema?

Neither is clearly better on the label. Both are perfume-free, steroid-free, paraffin-based emollient creams, and both are available free on NHS prescription. Cetraben Cream lists white soft paraffin (13.2%) and light liquid paraffin (10.5%); Epaderm Cream lists yellow soft paraffin and liquid paraffin. Use whichever suits the skin and gets applied generously every day, and ask your GP or pharmacist if one doesn’t suit.

Does Aveeno contain paraffin?

The two Aveeno Dermexa creams in our tables both list petrolatum, which is a paraffin-derived ingredient: Aveeno Baby Dermexa and Aveeno Dermexa Daily Emollient Cream for adults. We have not checked Aveeno’s other ranges, so read the ingredient list on the pack you have. Petrolatum is chemically inert and rarely causes allergy (see the paraffin question above). Ovée’s creams contain no paraffin or petrolatum.

Aveeno Baby or Childs Farm for a baby with eczema?

On the label, Aveeno Baby Dermexa is fragrance-free, contains colloidal oat and contains petrolatum. The grapefruit and tea tree Childs Farm Baby Moisturiser contains perfume and tea tree oil, no paraffin and no colloidal oat; Childs Farm also sells a fragrance-free version. Both are steroid-free and neither is on NHS prescription. For eczema-prone skin, UK guidance generally favours fragrance-free products, so start there, and if the skin is settled on a cream, leave it alone.

Childs Farm or Nala's Baby for a baby with eczema?

Neither is fragrance-free in the versions in our table: the grapefruit and tea tree Childs Farm Baby Moisturiser lists parfum and tea tree oil, and Nala’s Baby Body Lotion lists parfum which the brand states is free from known allergens. Nala’s Baby lists oat; Childs Farm does not. Neither contains paraffin, both are steroid-free, and neither is on NHS prescription. Nala’s Baby Body Lotion is sold as a general baby moisturiser rather than an eczema emollient. For eczema-prone skin, UK guidance generally favours fragrance-free products, so the fragrance-free Childs Farm version, or another fragrance-free emollient, is the simpler starting point.

Is Cetraben or Doublebase better for eczema?

Neither is clearly better on the label. Both are perfume-free, steroid-free and paraffin-based, with no oat. Cetraben Cream is a cream (white soft paraffin 13.2%, light liquid paraffin 10.5%) available free on NHS prescription. Doublebase Gel is a gel (liquid paraffin 15%, isopropyl myristate 15%), a licensed emollient sold through pharmacies; the manufacturer information we checked does not say whether it is available on prescription. Use whichever suits the skin and gets applied generously every day, and ask your GP or pharmacist if one doesn’t suit.