Dry Skin
 

It's winter so dry skin happens. Maybe it's the new habitat, but my face has never been this dry before. I exfoliate and moisturize, but it's still dry.

It's always dry in the cheekbone area and on my forehead. I must confess that my skin has been dry around my mouth theses past few days. A New Year's Kiss/makeout session with a boy with stubble probably caused that. (Don't focus on that, I'll talk about that later when I'm ready.) I still have the forehead and cheekbone problem and might kiss Mr. Stubble again so I am looking to alleviate these problems.

My diet hasn't really changed, so I don't think it's that. It's not dry anywhere else either. Just the face.

Before I see a dermatologist do any of you ladies of any suggestions? I use a Clinique product line as an exfoliator and moisturizer. Is there a better product out there? How about natural home remedies? Should I get a facial? Any suggestions?

Hmm...well, I live where you live and don't have the same dry skin problem, so I'll tell you what I use.

I use the Clinique Exfoliating scrub every couple of days, alternating with a Neutrogena Acne Wash redness reducer cream wash, but for my moisturizer I use the generic Kroger Cetaphil lookalike. I like it because in the winter I can slather on a little bit more without worrying about breaking the bank. On days when my skin is really dry, or after skiing, I bust out the Nivea creme.

http://images.teamsugar.com/files/us...Niveacreme.jpg

The Nivea creme, or Eucerin (which is similar but fragrance-free), are both excellent on stubble-irritated faces.

I do not really have a problem with dry skin so I do not really have any advice on products to use. However, I love looking into the benefits of different natural products.

My recent kick has been apple cider vinegar. It has been claimed to help in many aspects of health and even beauty. I use Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar, because it is not distilled and will still have the natural properties that it is praised for. It can be found in stores like Henry's and Whole Foods, so I am sure you should have no problem finding it where you are.

Here is an article I found on its effects on skin. The Cultured Word on Apple Cider Vinegar :: Beauty :: Skin Care :: moisturizers I have been using it as a toner for the last month and my break outs have been less this than they were at this point in my previous cycles. It is supposed to help with dry itchy skin and acne. I add it to my drinking water with some honey and sip on it throughout the day as well, it is a good gentle detox drink.

You can do a google search on it and find many recipes for skin treatment as well as for drinking it. What we put IN our bodies affects our skin just as much as what we put ON them. Give your diet a look and see if there is something that might be causing this.

Ditto.

But I use the Extra Enriched lotion. Just a little bit goes a long way. My skin is incredibly dry and has been since high school. I've used the Nivea for many years. No, it hasn't cured my dry skin. But the lotion gets rid of it for the day. Hail mineral oil!

I'm on Accutane. My doc says my skin looks better than most people on the medication, even though we're having a retarded dry/cold winter. I'm using Vanicream products. No dyes, soaps, formaldehyde, parabins, lanolin, etc... all the stuff that makes me dry and uncomfortable on a regular basis. I use the bar soap (no washcloth, just clean hands) and let my skin dry completely. Then the Light Lotion on dry and flaky spots, wait another 5 -1o min and re-evaluate some of the drier places that need more help. I have the Moisturizing Cream for the rest of me to prevent cracking, bleeding, and "winter itch" especially where clothing rubs... shins, hips, boobage. Just be careful if you use it on your feet overnight and get in the shower the next morning :lol: My dermatologist recommended these and I'm sticking with them. It healed up one of the eczema spots on my hand in two days.

Oh, yeah, I'm gorgeous in my dry skin this winter, mmm, mmm, good. :rolleyes:

Vanicream is also really nice. I have a kiddo at work who has to use it.

Another fan of Nivea cream here. It takes a little bit to work in, but I find that hours later it is the one holding the moisture the best.

Recently I've discovered "Kiss My Face" ultra moisturizer. It has honey & calendula in it and has done wonders for my skin. It treats extra dry skin and smells wonderful and fresh.

Got it at the health food store and it costs $4.99 for a tube of 4 fl. Oz. Way less $$ than any Clinique stuff I've purchased in the past. (I used to buy into the Clinique hype.)

I'm always looking for better products for less...and I'm so thrilled with this product. There is no paraben in it & it's not tested on animals.

So glad I found it.

Even in the humid summers my dry skin requires creams to keep it hydrated.

My best friend found me one through crabtree & evelyn that works wonders. It has avocado butter, olive oil, and basil. I use it primarily on my face, hands, elbows, and any other dry spots that creep up. For the rest of my body I use St. Ives Advanced Body Moisturizer, Intensive Healing.

Here's a link to the body cream I use:
Naturals Avocado Butter, Olive & Basil Body Butter | Bath & Body | Crabtree & Evelyn

Oh, and like the Kiss My Face that Hunny mentioned above, these products contain no parabens and are not tested on animals.

I don't have any product recommendations (I use Olay regenerist serum and superstructure cream and like them both), but I have found that if I over-exfoliate, my skin becomes irritated and then tends to flake. We have very, very dry winters here, so trying to keep my face looking decent in the winter is difficult. I try to exfoliate once a week with a microdermabrasion scrub and I use a washcloth daily. Are you using a toner? Sometimes they have a tendency to dry skin out.

Thanks for the product suggestions. I'm going to experiment!!!


I stopped using my toner to see if that is causing the problems. So far no results. Still going to keep it off to see if my skin gets better.

Correction - it's 'Essentially Enriched.'
It smooths on really nice and absorbs, but not too much. I like slightly shiny skin. So if that's what you're after, try this stuff.

:)

oh, and don't bother with the 'Original' lotion. It's complete crap.