HALP

[aesc]

It's that time of year again, when the cold, dry air vacuums every last drop of moisture out of my skin. Seriously, I have been through most drug-store lotions, a lot of Bath & Body Works, and post-shower body oil, and nothing has worked. My sides, my shoulders, the backs of my calves, and bizarrely, the front of my thighs, itch, burn, and sting and it sucks.

Those of you with dessicated skin: what do you use? I was thinking of springing for some LUSH body lotion, but I'd rather not wait a week for relief.

(My local skin care resources are: drug stores [but pretty much everything I've found there hasn't worked well, or smells terrible], Bath & Body Works, Body Shop, Sephora, and Ulta. Of course there is also the Interwebs, but... instant gratification.)



Brendan's chafing too. No one's happy!

Comments

[chickyoops.livejournal.com]

Well, it won't exactly be instant gratification, but I can send you some stuff that work wonders for me. It's a Danish brand and it's LUSH, but also CHEAP-ish. Plus it's allergy/etc friendly. :D

[rilestar.livejournal.com]

I'd recommend some Aloe Vera gel or cream - you might need to carry a tube with you and reapply during the day. Also, I'd recommend making sure that whatever you're washing yourself with in the shower specifies that it's soap-free, as soap will dry out your skin further. :-( poor aesc

[lysambre.livejournal.com]

If you are using only products based on mineral oils, then it's normal that it keeps chaffing, as mineral oils don't penetrate, they protect.

Vegetable oils will penetrate and hydrate the skin in a much better way.

So at night, vegetable oil to hydrate the skin and in the morning mineral oil to protect the skin (from the cold/pollution/whatever else).
For the vegetable oils, don't hesitate to spend 5 more minutes massaging it into your skin and don't be afraid to put a tiny bit too much :).

I've got hands smooth like a baby's butt ;) .

[less-star.livejournal.com]

NIVEA, but maybe that's not available in the US? I have monstrously dry skin if I don't moisturize everyday. I only wish I looked as pretty when chafing and miserable.

[let-fate-decide.livejournal.com]

OT, but I get happy whenever I see that icon you're using. ♥ oh, John.

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

*points up* What lysambre said. I use straight olive oil and coconut oil to moisturize in our horribly dry climate, and they work much better than any commercial lotion I've tried.

[wojelah.livejournal.com]

I actually really love the body cream from Bath and Body Works (specifically, this)

It's relatively inexpensive and it makes my hands feel MUCH better.

[herophelia.livejournal.com]

i actually use a body cream that my company makes and i haven't had rough or dry skin since the first time i used it. that may not sound difficult in california, but remember that i travel. going from warm and sunny to dry as a bone after a five hour plane ride is not a nice thing to do to your skin. it's actually a body soufle. it's amazing. and one pot lasts such an incredibly long time. if your face is prone to drying out there's also a waterless vitamin c that is like putting liquid silk on your face, seriously. i don't know what i did before i had it. **coughcough** sorry. got carried away. anywho, if you can't find what you want instant gratification wise, let me know. i can send you some samples.

living for inspiration,
Ophelia

[anatsuno.livejournal.com]

I like Lush's massage bars... But they not all I use, either.
I second the vegetal oil vs mineral - most cheap moisturizing products are fulla mineral oild which won't do you any good in the circumstance. Also, don't forget that hydrating is done from within, too: up your liquid intake, drink more water/herbal teas and juice (remember that tea and coffee don't really count as liquid intake because of the diuretic effect)...

[ashkitty.livejournal.com]

Plain old Neutrogena. Amazing stuff.

[oriolegirl]

My dermatologist recommended Moisturel cream and I think it's fabulous; my arms and legs have never been so soft. I haven't found the jars in an actual store, but they sell it on drugstore.com.

[caersmane.livejournal.com]

Depending on whether it bothers you or not, I used to use an oil/lotion made from ostrich fat. I know, it sounds a bit odd, maybe gross, but where I lived in WA a company tried to use all aspects of the ostriches they farmed. My daughter has very bad ecsema (mine is not quite as bad as hers) and during the winter this was the only thing that worked for her. I don't have a link for ordering, but you could find it online. Several companies make it.

[toft-froggy.livejournal.com]

Oy, nasty. Hope you find something! I'm afraid I have no helpful suggestions - my skin is way over the other side into greasy.

Dry Skin

[jx-walker.livejournal.com]

What works for me is "Neutrogena Hand Cream". I have dry legs and this always works. Maybe you and John can help each other applying the lotion.

[zap99nad.livejournal.com]

zomg..you're describing my body *scratches*

I use (by Vaseline) the 'intensive rescue extra strength hypoallergenic lotion'....I practically have to marinate in it from November to March...fun times. But, it works...

[chopchica.livejournal.com]

Straight-up cocoa or shea butter with nothing added should work wonders.

[bitter-crimson.livejournal.com]

I use Cetaphil moisturizing skin cream.

Mostly for my face, which gets super-dried-out due to my meds, but also sometimes for my hands and other body parts, when they dry out.

But I haven't really tried a lot of different things, so I can't compare to anything else.

[mirabile-dictu.livejournal.com]

My husband has super dry skin that makes him miserable, too, but I found Alba Botanica's very emollient body lotion (http://albabotanica.com/?id=66) and it really works for him. I get it at Whole Foods -- do you have one there? Not only does it help his skin, it's made locally (to us), is hypoallergenic, and is 100% vegetarian ingredients. (I use a lot of Alba's products -- my poor lips get so dry but their lip balm (http://albabotanica.com/?id=304&pid=185) is a miracle worker.)

Good luck!

[beeej.livejournal.com]

Winter skin sucks. I usually trade in the lotions for heavier creams in the winter. Body butters and things that come in big tubs. I've found that if you leave your skin slightly damp from the shower when you rub in body cream, it helps hold the moisture in better. Oh, and also check what kind of cleanser you're showering with. A creamy liquid cleanser like Olay Ribbons Cream Oil with one of those shower poufs makes your skin soft and smooth to begin with. :)

[ariadne83]

Almond oil-based creams work well. I have a hand cream from The Body Shop that I swear by.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

Gah, dry winter skin is the worst! Aside from lotions, I've found using a humidifier helps a lot. And to use a very gentle soap, or none at all when you bathe.

Also, I love lotions and creams that contain lanolin. It feels good without being all greasy.

[slvrbld747.livejournal.com]

Collagen Elastin Moisturizer by St. Ives, Swiss Formula.

Collagen is one of the few things that is absorbed into the deeper layer of the skin, and is in fact one of the building blocks of healthy skin. A lot of the expensive stuff has collagen in it, and make a big deal of it. This is relatively inexpensive and has the good ingredients in it. Collagen is near the top of the ingredients list. Good luck. -SB

P.S. Have you considered running an evaporator? It will put extra moisture into the air, and will help your room stay warmer.

[windysame.livejournal.com]

I have desperately dry skin and it cracks so badly it bleeds. My doctor ( older man whose wife evidently has dry skin) recommended something sold at Target in the US. I don't know who would carry something like this anywhere else. Oh, yes, the product is called Vaseline intensive rescue moisture locking lotion (hypoallergenic moisturizer). It's wonderful, and it MIGHT just help. It has done wonders for me.

[rissabby.livejournal.com]

Eucerin. No contest. Also, no fragrance for the allergy prone.

I've been seeing dermatologists for decades. Eucerin is the best, and the oldest of all the moisturizers I have used. And, it's readily available -- probably at your neighborhood Safeway.

It's a thick, white, simple cream. It's so thick it's difficult to apply to shower damp skin. You have to be dry before you put it on. There are also Eucerin lotions, but for Really Dry skin use the cream.

BTW If you like to take baths, try to find Domol bath oil. It's an oil that somehow disperses in water.

[unflexible.livejournal.com]

Surfing in randomly. Mustela "Stelatopia" Moisturizing Cream. It's for infants, so you can get it at Babies R Us and other places they carry infant stuff. Seriously amazing. I bought it for my little dude who has excema and it is so very awesome we all started using it. (This was my last stop before calling the pediatrician -- my guy was scratching himself raw.)