What do you do for dry winter skin? I'm using baby oil and it seems to work...

[CTyankee]

Also using a humidifier in the bedroom, vaseline on my heels (w/socks)at night.

I like the baby oil because it is hypoallergenic and has aloe vera (to reduce the redness in my complexion this type of year!).

Any other hints?

[HopeHoops]

1. For one thing, don't bathe as often and let your natural skin oil protect you.

I sometimes have to shower twice a day in the summer, but winter is a totally different matter.

[Warpy]

12. It also helps to rinse with a weak vinegar solution

especially if you've got hard water. The vinegar rinse takes off any soap residue, something that really dries out the skin in winter since it binds to the natural oils.

Soft water will generally get rid of enough of it that it isn't a problem.

Oils and creams applied just after showering and while the skin is still damp can help.

Mostly, though, it's just a case of staying well hydrated and not showering quite as often.

[Lucinda]

2. Coconut Oil!

You could also try oil pulling. It's beneficial for a lot of things but really helps external softness too
http://oilpulling.com/

[BonnieJW]

3. Baby oil is mineral oil which is drying.

Your skin may feel moist when you apply the oil, but eventually your skin will be dry. Look for products with glycerin and hyalauronic acid. Both will actually penetrate the skin, feeding it moisture. Then use a good cream (I use Cetephil) to seal it in.

[CTyankee]

13. I don't put it on dry skin...I leave moisture on from the shower and then put it on.

Thanks for the tip about Cetaphil...

[alsame]

4. Pure cocoa butter works best for me. nt

[eShirl]

5. Almond oil is great. Also olive oil.

A little goes a long way.

[frazzled]

6. Drink a lot of water

I can't verify this myself, but my mother was suffering from some dry skin so bad she actually went to the dermatologist. Even the doctor's creams did no good. So she decided to start drinking more water, and lo and behold, her skin got better. She now swears by it.

It makes some sense to me.

[Happyhippychick]

8. Your mom was right and I was going to say the same thing - water, water, water. Hydrate from within

[notadmblnd]

7. pure shea butter

I clean houses for a living and trust me, from all the chemicals I use, my hands literally feel like sand paper at times.

[doc03]

9. I used to work in a water treatment plant and

my hands were always in and out of water and in and out of the weather. The best thing I have used is Retinol Cream from Vitamin World.

[elfin]

10. Aveeno Intense Relief Cream

Along with more "strategic" sponge baths instead of showers. Also more water intake.

[CTyankee]

11. I take extremely short showers anyway, but I also like showers to "wake" me up!

Unfortunately, sponge baths don't do that...

[DearAbby]

14. Shea butter -- legs - feet- hands- elbows

I also bathe with baby oil.

[Arkansas Granny]

15. I use Aveeno Dailyl Moisturising Lotion. It goes on without a greasy feel

and makes my skin feel a lot better. I also wear long sleeves most of the time which seems to help.

[emulatorloo]

16. Coconut oil, or one of the Gold Bond Medicated products

[madmom]

17. Utter cream for hands and elbows...works great.

[gkhouston]

18. Eucerin Plus Intensive Repair products are the best thing I've found yet.

I used to use ordinary Eucerin, but my sister turned me on to Eucerin Plus and I find it much more effective and less greasy.

[enlightenment]

19. Try Crisco vegetable shortening on your heels instead

of Vaseline (which is petroleum based).

Any decent cream, applied after bathing while the skin is still damp, will work better than super expensive stuff. The key is to 'lock in' the moisture on your skin. Never use super hot water; never rub with the towel (just blot yourself dry-ish); don't turn the thermostat too high in the house, etc, etc . . .

Adding: Drinking water helps, but much current research suggests that 64 ounces of WATER a day is not necessary (depends on your level of physical exertion) - and it doesn't have to be water, just liquid. Even tea and coffee and soda in moderation, and keep in mind what you get from food sources. Not saying you shouldn't drink water; I live in the desert and certainly drink a great deal of the stuff . . . but the fixation on 'more, more, more' is silly (and potentially problematic). Too much is as bad as not enough.

[jwirr]

20. Baby oil works as long as you do not get too oily. For the feet my

health care worker recommended Eucerin Original Moisturizing Cream. She said to put it on after a bath and preferably before bedtime - put it on generously and then wear a pair of stockings to bed. It works really good.

[customerserviceguy]

21. My doctor recommended Lubriderm

but I get the store brand equivalent at CVS, since it costs less. That's one thing that drives me crazy since I moved away from the Pacific Northwest in 2007, over there on the wet side of the mountains, I never had dry skin!

[snagglepuss]

22. Olive oil. Oe of the few oils that penetrates skin. Odor dissipates within

minutes. Within about 10 minutes skin no longer feels oily. My elderly Mom had really dry scaly skin on her calves, was very reluctant but I insisted she try it. She was utterly amazed.

[SayitAintSo]

23. Safflower Oil - good Vit E source

Rec by Dr. Oz

[SheilaT]

24. Every single day after I shower I put lotion

on my entire body. For me, the brand doesn't seem to matter. I try to buy what's cheapest, since I use so very much, but the ones that are some kind of "best for dry skin" types are the best.

About twenty years ago I noticed that in the winter time I started feeling itchy from the dry skin. I was living in the midwest and of course the air in my home was exceedingly dry, after being warmed up however many degrees. I started putting the lotion on my back, which was the first part that started itching, and after a while, it simply made more sense to lotion up all over. I am now 62, and while I pretty much look my age, my skin is in pretty good condition because of the daily moisturizing.

[Odin2005]

25. I have very oily skin so I have the opposite problem.

[HuckleB]

30. +1

[Codeine]

26. Regular old Vaseline Intensive Care.

Same thing I've been using since I was a tyke. Works a charm.

[WolverineDG]

27. Vaseline

I use it all over, even on my face (but very lightly---I first put it on my hands & arms, then run my hands over the dry areas on my face). Then I put on clean socks & gloves, go to bed, & let body heat & time do all the work.

For whatever reason, the Vaseline lotions don't do a thing for me. :(

dg

[spotbird]

28. Quality fish oil supplements

and, although it's counter-intuitive, bathe in a bleach bath couple times a week.

[Crunchy Frog]

29. You need to have a double blind study before you post something like this.

If snake oil comes from snakes, then where does baby oil come from? }(

[Kennah]

31. Aquaphor

It's greasy as all hell, so use it sparingly. However, it kicks ass on dry skin and it won't sting like a jellyfish if you get apply it to cracked and even bleeding skin.

[Codeine]

32. Also works great as a tattoo treatment

to keep it from getting too scabby and peely as it heals.

[mzmolly]

33. Add vinegar to hand soap and bath water.

Seems to help the PH of the skin and lessen the impact of dry weather.

[japple]

34. Jojoba oil and CeraVe cream. On my heels, I have

to get really serious and use something with beeswax.