10 Remedies for Dry Skin
By Mary Clarke
Spring may be right around the corner, but it's been a tough winter for your skin. Read on for our top 10 tips to help your skin recover in time for the warmer weather.
1. Keep your hand cream handy. My hands suffer the most during the winter and my knuckles in particular are always looking chapped. I keep a hand cream at my desk, in my bag, and on my nightstand. I use a moisturizer that really works, so I don't have to constantly reapply it throughout the day. GHRI Choice: Dior Capture Totale Multi-Perfection Hand Repair Cream ($56).
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2. Wash your face once a day. In the humid, sticky summer weather, I need to wash my face twice a day. But in the winter, I switch to just washing at night so that I don't dry out my skin and it stays balanced. You can also try replacing your face soap or wash with a cleansing oil like Shiseido Ultimate Cleansing Oil ($25, Sephora) that's extra gentle on already roughened skin.
3. Use a moisturizing body wash. This definitely helps, especially if, like me, you're a little lazy when it comes to body lotion application. We like Dove VisibleCare Renewing Crème Body Wash, which has a super creamy lather.
4. Don't take a super-hot shower. Very hot water can exacerbate dry skin, so shower in water that's warm or even lukewarm.
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5. Moisturize twice a day. Throughout the year everyone should be applying a sunscreen or moisturizer with SPF in the morning. If you don't already use a nighttime moisturizer, now's the time of year to add one to your daily regimen. Try Olay Regenerist, one of our best-tested moisturizers ever, or one of our Anti-Aging Award winning night creams: L'Oreal Paris Advanced RevitaLift Deep Set Wrinkle Repair Night Cream or Vichy LiftActiv Retinol HA Night.
6. Tone down the retinol. Especially in prescription strength, retinol, can cause dryness and irritation and combined with the dry conditions around you, can make your face look like a flakey, aggravated mess. If you must use strong ingredients like retinols, apply them every other night or even less frequently. I know that personally, my skin is more tolerant of retinol during the summer months when there's lots of moisture in the air.
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7. Moisturize all over. As soon as you get out of the shower, while your skin is still slightly damp, apply a body moisturizer. GHRI standout: Curel Ultra Healing Lotion. Anti-Aging Award Winners: Fresh Sugar Acai Age-Delay Body Cream and Olay Body Quench Plus Age Defying Body Lotion.
8. Don't forget your cuticles. While a hand cream can help dry cuticles, it's better to add a product designed specifically for them. I use cuticle pens, which are a cinch to apply and mess-free. There's always one in my pen and pencil container that I can pull out for a 2-second application during the day. Try Sally Hansen Quick Care Cuticle Treatment or Sephora Collection Cuticle Care Pen.
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9. Humidify. The heat that keeps you warm in your home is also very dry, and because the windows are closed, it stays trapped inside. Use a humidifier to add moisture back into the air. GHRI Recommends: Honeywell HCM-300T ($80).
10. Wear gloves and a scarf while it's still cold. The biting wind and cold can wreak havoc on your skin. Bundle up!
I'd love to hear your dry skin tips. Do you have any tricks for keeping skin glowing all year round? Let me know in the comments!
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