Trouble in Paradise
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Tell me how you avoid winter skin.
I'm itchy already. My back, my scalp, my legs, everywhere. It's making me miserable.
Also, how do you avoid all the skin on your chin falling off when your SO doesn't shave?
I agree with everything that muddled said. You should listen to her. -ESDReturns
Re: Tell me how you avoid winter skin.
Moisturizer. Clinical strength if necessary. I get really bad dry skin from working in offices and then going out in to the cold to take care of horses or run. I seriously slather my entire body with lotion twice a day. And I make DH get my shoulder blades where I can't reach (he doesn't seem to mind... and frankly if he's grossed out I don't care if it keeps me from being all scabby). I also use tons of Chapstick and facial moisturizer from Mary Kay.
The line "It puts the lotion on its skin" is uttered often in my household.
what do you use for moisturizer?
I find that using a THICK one (body butter) w/o a lot of scents, preferably w/ cocoa butter, helps. After EVERY shower, especially.
I shower with warm (not hot) water and use plain old Dove soap (white and navy blue package). I wash my face with this:
http://www.target.com/p/Aveeno-Ultra-Calming-Foaming-Cleanser-6oz/-/A-11537197
Not sure if the face wash is a completely necessary step, but it's not broke so I'm not fixing it. After the shower I cover myself from shoulders to toe in this:
http://www.target.com/p/Aveeno-Daily-Moisturizing-Lotion-18-0-oz/-/A-10801059
Then use this on my face and neck:
http://www.target.com/p/Aveeno-Positively-Radiant-Daily-Moisturizer-SPF-15-4-oz/-/A-11048719
I usually get the generic equivalents. That schit is expensive (at least for my cheapass). The Target brand is usually half the price and the ingredients seem to be the same.
It should be mentioned that I have eczema, but doing this routine every day has kept it away. If I skip any of that I end up with nasty patches of OMFG IT ITCHES!!
I'm a huge fan of Burt's Bees chap stick. Without it the skin peels off my lips in sheets. It's gross.
http://pandce.proboards.com/index.cgi#general
Like SRS, I am a big fan of the Aveeno (or the store's equivalent) brand. I have found the Aveeno just works better for me in the winter with itching and dryness.
Costco sells Aveeno "soap" and moisturizer for a decent price, too.
Slather it on 1-2 times a day, and especially after a shower or bath.
For my hair, I just use a good moisturizing conditioner.
I also use a lot of chapstick - Burt's Bees (original) or Natural Ice are my preferred brands.
Regular exfoliation/dry brushing helps too. It helps stimulate the blood flow and new skin and gets rid of dead, itchy skin.
Keep hydrated! Sometimes in winter people lessen up on the water/fluid intake since it is not so hot. Your body still needs it and sometimes even more so as there is so much dry air being circulated in buildings, etc.
Cover up your skin when you go outside in the cold. Freezing air is a sure way to dry out skin! This means hat/toque, gloves/mitts, scarf, etc.
Wash with a net sponge and a moisturizing body wash, I also like Aveeno - you don't want something that's filled with perfumes and shiits.
Moisturize your entire body every day post-shower, I use Lubriderm unscented for sensitive skin.
My age is requiring a night cream, which is new for me, I'm trying the Oil of Olay Regenerist.
For your hands - Kiehl's Ultimate Hand Salve, every night before bed.
For your cuticles - Burt's Bee's lemon cuticle balm
If your hands are really bad, slather with Vaseline and put clean cotton socks on them before bed.
My nails are actually peeling this year, which is a new thing for me. I never wear polish but the peeling is starting to go beneath my nail beds so I can't cut it out by keeping my nails trimmed. I think I'm going to have to start wearing clear polish.
I find that my hair does better if I leave my conditioner in for a few minutes and quickly run my head under warm water after putting it in, like the warm water makes it absorb better or something. Also I'm not using the high heat setting on my hair dryer.
Yeah that's right my name's Yauch!
I forgot about the drinking water. Lots and lots of water to moisturize from the inside out. I usually hit about 80oz a day, which is likely excessive... but I'm thirsty gd it.
I have shiitastic skin as is because of Keratosis Pilaris, so I always slather on a buttload of lotion immediately after a shower (which is generally sometime before bed).
Lately I've been slathering my hands and feet (and elbows) in vaseline before bed then putting on cotton socks and gloves because otherwise they are all ashy and dry during the day.
I use the Curel superduperwhateverextradryskin lotion FWIW.
Edit: I also always drink a lot of water anyway.
Apply lotion while you're still wet from your shower - not dripping wet, but don't dry off completely. Aveeno, Cetaphil and Dove all make good moisturizing lotions. I use Aquaphor as my chapstick- there is no wax in it, so it doesn't dry your lips out. Highly perfumed or colored lotions are not good for moisturizing.
Stay hydrated, like pp's have suggested. And, if you can't find relief with the suggestions here, go to a dermatologist.
When I was on an acne medication (Accutane) that made my skin unbelievably dry all over, along with random eczema-like rashes, after a lot of trial and error I found that the ONE lotion that worked reliably was Curel. Seems simple, it's just a drugstore lotion but it was a miracle for me. I still use it and my skin never dries out in winter, I use the one for severely dry skin (has a red logo I think). Back then I even used it on my face although it obviously isn't face lotion but I was desperate, because I was red and peeling like a burn victim!
Now for my face I love Bare Escentuals/Bare Minerals Purely Nourishing CREAM (not lotion) and the Purely Nourishing wash as well - it smells like something at a spa and is so much less drying than even Cetaphil. Another tip my derm gave me was to turn down the temp of the shower in winter. I always want the water to be super hot since it's so cold out but it's so drying for the skin. Or if you do take a hot shower, make it shorter.
ETA: this is the face duo that I love: http://www.bareescentuals.com/Naturally-Luminous-Daily-Duo%3A-Dry-Skin/53833,default,pd.html?start=8&cgid=BE_SUB_MOISTURIZE_FACE
I don't take super hot showers. I have soap made with shea butter. I exfoliate every shower. I think I have gone through just about every lotion that Target sells. It's not enough. I use the Eucerin itch relief stuff and if this year is anything like last year, it will be a life saver through December, but come January I'll be immune. Suuuucks.
I am going to try putting on lotion more often and drinking more water. That is something that I am really bad at. Drinking water. I just forget.
Perhaps I'll try the Curel. It's been a few years. Or go back to the body butter.
Olay in shower body lotion. This is the best stuff ever: http://www.amazon.com/Olay-Moisture--Shower-Lotion-Butter/dp/B0013ND5X2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1322790595&sr=8-3
It's hard to find...I was getting it on auto order from Amazon for a while and stocked up and then they cancelled my subscription due to availability. Sometimes I can find a small bottle of it at Target, Walgreens or Walmart. I have eczema on my legs and this keeps it from getting really bad and doesn't irritate it at all.
Aveeno body souffle is good too for elbows and feet. It smells good too: http://www.amazon.com/Aveeno-Positively-Nourishing-Whipped-Souffle/dp/B003K75V72/ref=sr_1_9?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1322790939&sr=1-9
Lips: http://www.amazon.com/Fresh-Sugar-Rose-SPF-Treatment/dp/B002LHIQKQ/ref=sr_1_4?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1322791101&sr=1-4
It also comes in just a balm without color (which I've never used), but the Rose is really pretty and natural looking and I use it instead of lip color some days. It smells great and keeps my lips really moisturized.
Awesome handcream (their body butter is good too): http://www.amazon.com/LOCCITANE-Shea-Hand-Cream-5-2-Ounce/dp/B002U0KUSU/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1322791230&sr=1-1
This is also good handcream. I always have a tube in my purse.: http://www.philosophy.com/bath-handandfoottreatments/hands-of-hope-product
Morty! Haven't seen you around in a while...
I wanted to tell you that I stared using the Help Me and I think it's working! No zits this cycle. Amazing. My fingers are crossed that it's not a fluke.
Thanks!
I'm glad that it appears to be working for you!
I just don't shower for the 7 months of winter in MN. No worries about drying the skin out.
I kid, I kid.
I love the Body Shop's lotion that's got craploads of Vitamin E in it. Goes on light, doesn't feel greasy, but it keeps the cracked elbows/fingertips/whatever from happening. My SIL got it for me for Christmas last year (I don't tend to buy myself anything more than cheapo Walgreens stuff), and I'm all stingy with it and try to save it.
For the face? Burt's Bees face lotion. Don't remember the exact name (obviously I'm not at home to look at the bottles).
I use a moisturizing body wash. My every day is Aveeno Skin Relief body wash (it's fragrance free). Since I already have dry skin, I need more in the winter and will usually use the Olay body was with ribbons (the purple one). I'm also trying out the new Cetaphil skin restoring body wash, which is pretty moisturizing. Also, the Eucerin shower oil is nice.
My current go-to lotion is CeraVe, but I'm thinking I may need something more moisturizing. I also really like Paula's Choice body butter. You can also get a moisturizer with AHA or BHA included to help with exfoliating dry skin.
For my face, since I have dry skin already, I use a gentle, moisturizing cleanser, a moisturizing toner with lots of skin-beneficial ingredients, a chemical exfoliant at least once per day, antioxidant serum, and moisturizer. I'll also use a washcloth to gently exfoliate my face sometimes after using the chemical exfoliant. I found a 10% AHA solution that I use once per week which keeps my face really smooth and flake-free.