Help For Dry Winter Skin ~ Body, Hands, Lips

Seems everyone’s having a tough time with dry skin this winter! Between the lack of moisture in the air, the indoor heating, hotter showers etc., I  suffer from dry, flaky, itchy skin all over, and I’m always on the hunt for products that offer some relief!! So, I did a body wash comparison, a hand cream comparison, and a lip balm comparison, and here are the results.

Body Wash: Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash vs. Yes To Blueberries Ultra Hydrating Body Wash vs. Olay Sensitive Body Wash

Winner: Olay Sensitive Skin Body Wash ~ $6.99 at drugstores

Soap free and dye free with a container of Olay moisturizer in each bottle. This says it’s fragrance free, but it does have a very light fragrance. There’s less foam with this one than the others which I like. After 1st wash my skin felt clean and comfortable, after a few days it felt more moisturized, and after a full week, my skin felt smoother and softer and looked better too.

Middle of the Road: Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash ~ 6.99 at drugstores

Soap free and dye free with a rich thick lather (a little too much for me). I’ve used Aveeno body wash for years and this was the best of the brands I’d tried previously. My skin feels comfortable after a shower, but I need to moisturize after my shower but my back still feels itchy. Didn’t do anything to improve my skin.

Loser: Yes To Blueberries Ultra Hydrating Body Wash ~ $8.99 at drugstores

Lavender scented and 99% natural without parabens. Medium foam with an earthy lavender scent. The cap is a big problem because it gets clogged with product and it stops coming out after the first few uses. After 3-4 days of use my skin was itchy and dry and getting dryer. I’ll use this in the summer.

Body Lotions: CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion vs. Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion vs. Eucerin Smoothing Repair Lotion

Winner: CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion ~ $15.00 at drugstores

I love all thing CeraVe for my face and this body lotion doesn’t disappoint! It’s a thin, unscented lotion that applies easily, absorbs quickly, and dries down to a smooth finish. My skin stays hydrated and comfortable all day.

Middle of the Road: Eucerin Smoothing Repair Lotion ~ $12.00 at drugstores

I had a sample of this from my dermatologists office that I keep in my dop kit for travel. I used it after my shower on a ski weekend and was pleased with it’s consistency, fragrance, and dry down. Not quite as moisturizing as CeraVe, but close.

Loser: Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion ~ $10.00 at drugstores

 

This moisturizes okay, but my skin gets itchy a few hours after applying. It’s also very thick and so doesn’t spread as easily or absorb as quickly. It leaves a sticky coating on my skin that makes it hard to pull on skinny jeans, leggings, and tight sleeves.

Hand Creams: Gold Bond Ultimate Healing with Aloe vs. Neutrogena Norweigan Formula Hand Cream

Winner: Gold Bond Ultimate Healing with Aloe ~ $6.50 at drugstores

 

I LOVE this hand cream!! It’s got aloe, and vitamins a, c, & e, and a little goes a long way. This is the first winter I can remember where my hands are comfortable. It feels rich and thick when applying, but then it soaks in and leaves my skin feeling soft and silky without any greasy residue on my palms & fingers. 

Middle of the Road: Neutrogena Norweigan Formula Hand Cream ~ $4.00 at drugstores

 

My daughter loves this one, but it leaves a greasy film on my palms and fingers that lasts for a long time. It’s moisturizing but doesn’t make my hands feel silky.

Lip Balms: Blistex Five Star Lip Protector vs. EOS vs. Blistex Deep Renewal vs. Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm

Winner: Blistex Five Star Lip Protector ~ $2.00 at drugstores

 

SPF 30 lip protector that glides on, leaves a non-sticky, non-shiny coating that lasts a long time. When it wears off my lips are moisturized and comfortable! 

Losers: All the rest
They all left my lips uncomfortably dry and chapped feeling after they were worn off.

One last awesome product, and a real Winner: Earth Theraputics Exfoliating Hydro Towel ~ $6.00 at Target

 

Better than a washcloth, better than a loofah or a pouf for cleaning and exfoliating every inch of your body! At 3 feet by 1 foot, this towel can be rolled, scrunched, or folded to buff away dry dead skin, but it can also go long to scrub hard to reach spots like the back! It’s rough, yet soft, rinses easily and dries quickly.