Winter skin care

rachylou

Veteran

My winter claw hand is back. My skin is like Tales from the Crypt. And this year, I have claw knees.

Any recommendations? Should I try face cream on my hands? I think I need anti-aging product.

7 years ago

General

40 replies

Latest reply was from Momo

cindysmith

Veteran

I use baby oil gel on my body, coconut oil on my face. If it gets real bad (it happens, dry skin & psoriasis make winter hard sometimes) a really thick hand or even foot cream, and a dab of cortisone cream.

Sometimes, my hands or feet get so dry and cracked that I will slather them with thick cream and cover them with socks or knit gloves and sleep that way.

7 years ago

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Have you tried natural Shay Butter from Africa?

It's really great on the skin and all natural.

7 years ago

Diana

Veteran

L'occitane shea butter hand cream is my favorite in the winter. It's not greasy but still very moisturizing. (I HATE having greasy hands that get everything you touch greasy. Also, once I worked with a lady who used the greasiest hand cream ever and it was all over all the doorknobs to the office, bathroom, etc. Don't be that lady.)

http://usa.loccitane.com/shea-.....261659.htm

It's expensive but the tube lasts a long time. There is also a 100% shea butter version but I haven't tried it...

7 years ago

Eliza

Veteran

Have you tried Angie recommended Nivea 48 Hour Extended Moisture Body Lotion? Not a hand product, yet a game changer here. Love it for hands and body in our cold winters with drying heat.

7 years ago

Ledonna N.

Veteran

The natural Shay Butter can be found at any natural foods store or any African shop.

It is much more inexpensive and last quite a while on the skin. We uses it for dry and cracked skin.

7 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

I use Aquaphor. I might be that lady. I mostly put it on before bed and after washing dishes, that kind of thing. I use it on lips, hands, and my heels. It's like petroleum jelly without the stink. It's the only thing that prevents cracks in my hands.

7 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Refresh your memory with this post:

http://youlookfab.com/2015/11/.....-dry-skin/

7 years ago

El Cee

Veteran

I'm with CWS on coconut oil -- It is a superb moisturizer and also fabulous for so many other purposes: http://wellnessmama.com/5734/coconut-oil/

For badly cracked skin (for me that would be on my elbows), I use Eucerin Aquaphor Healing Ointment (Advanced Therapy).

I also regularly use Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Cream Moisturizer for my face. A dab before bedtime does the trick.

Target

Aquaphor Jar - 14 oz

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Target

Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Cream Moisturizer, 1.7 oz

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7 years ago

Diana

Veteran

(So I should add that probably 90% of the time I notice my hands are dry when I try to knit and they catch the yarn. So anything I use has to not get all over my knitting!)

7 years ago

Anonymous

I bought a bottle of argan oil on Amazon. It's a wonderful moisturizer for everything. Despite being an oil, it soaks right in and isn't greasy at all. You can moisturize hair and skin with it. My hands and nails really appreciate it. I read that in Morocco, they even eat bread dipped in argan oil, but I haven't tried that yet! Big fan of the argan oil.

7 years ago

Joy

Veteran

My secret weapon is Argon oil from Whole Foods. It is absorbed and not expensive. LOL @ claw knees! I also fight claw heels and ankles.

7 years ago

carter

Active Member

Seconding Ledonna. Don't cover yourself in petroleum products. Yuck. Shea butter is great. However, I find that since I switched from drug store soap to African Black Soap, I rarely need additional moisturizer.

Amazon

Molivera Organics Molivera Organics Raw African Organic Grade A Ivory Shea Butter for Natural Skin Care, Hair Care - 16 oz.

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Amazon

Nubian Heritage Nubian Heritage African Black Soap, 5 oz (4 Pack)

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7 years ago

LaPed

Veteran

Chronic dry skin over here (and hair too...). Yep, 100% shea butter is great. I like pure coconut oil too, and cocoa butter. Avoid any products that contain alcohol (a surprising number of lotions do), and honestly I avoid petroleum-derived products altogether as well; they seem to do more harm than good on my sensitive skin. Also -- search for the shop "Just the Goods" on Etsy; they make awesome body products at a really affordable price.

7 years ago

Ledonna N.

Veteran

I second the coconut oil also and the black soap. So lovely year round.

7 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Aquafor is the only thing I've found that really does it for my chapped winter hands. I even carry a little tube in my purse!

7 years ago

Anonymous

Another recommendation, this one for Weleda Skin Food. It comes in a tube, and is rather thick, almost a paste. I use it at bedtime on hands and feet, and it works its magic overnight. It has a sort of medicinal smell, but not unpleasantly so. It's a lifesaver in the winter! It's available at Target and on-line.

7 years ago

Anonymous

Another vote for Shea Body Butter. I buy mine on Amazon.com. NOT GREASY. REALLY WORKS. I would never put it on my face though. I use something from eucerine (spelling?) on my face. It is pretty amazing too.

7 years ago

cindysmith

Veteran

I use an argan oil product on my hair, never thought about looking for a skin care version! I far prefer the natural products for so many reasons. LaPedestrienne, thanks for the heads up on the etsy shop. I'm an etsy junkie LOL

Also, Angie, I'm gonna have to try the Vick's trick, AND suggest DH try it on his feet when they get all cracked from working outside in the cold weather. He has diabetes and we have to take extra good care of his feet!

7 years ago

bj1111

Veteran

i got a giant bottle of skII dupe that i paint on my extremities by the handful then coat with eucerin moisturizer which contains shea butter. this two-step has really really softened my crocodile skin.

7 years ago

lady

Active Member

For standard commercial products we use CeraVe cream as recommended by our dermatologist. We are a family of crispy eczema prone individuals. The ceramides are the key. If you're getting a drugstore cream look for ceramides.

Otherwise, I'll vouch for shea butter. Excellent stuff. Once you heal the "claw" (have you checked to see if it's eczema? My "claw" hand is), you can maintain the health of your skin with the shea.

Drink more water. Yes, more than that! Get thee a humidifier. Omega 3 oils are also excellent. I take a fish oil supplement and add flax to my smoothies.
Hope that helps!

7 years ago

binkle

Veteran

A dermatologist recommended Lubriderm to me many years ago. The Sensitive formula does not have any lanolin, dyes, or perfumes. I always use it after dish-washing, hand washing, showering, before bed. Aquaphor advanced therapy is good for the super rough spots like elbows and heels.

7 years ago

lpr200

Veteran

I make a coconut and brown sugar mix (sometimes I add honey) keep it in a plastic (learned this the hard way) tub in the shower. After I soap, I use this as a "scrub" (its extremely gentle) and rinse off. I rarely need moisturizer after. It smells good on its own, but I add essential oils or even spray a generous amount of my perfume into it.

7 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Coconut oil helps some of my dry skin patches (a completely new experience since menopause), but for truly cracked dry skin on my fingers Flexitol heel balm - smelly as it is - makes the most difference.

7 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Oh whoa! Lots of the things to try!! Maybe travel size testers...

Thanks bunches! It is sooo cold now!

7 years ago

bj1111

Veteran

One. Last...look for urea in the ingredients list

7 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Is that good or bad, bj?

7 years ago

rebekahphoto

Veteran

I use calendula olive oil healing balms which are awesome, and super on my sensitive skin. 2 different ones:

Mama's Healing Salve. Amazing on my skin. I have used it for years. It is from a small business in Sebastpol, you might be able to find it locally.
http://leslieainsworth.wixsite.....alingsalve

MJ Herbals:
https://www.amazon.com/MJs-Her.....it?ie=UTF8

Another tried and true...dont laugh, farmer's swear by it: "Bag Balm" originally used to treat chapped udders. It is fantastic for winter hands and feet at night. may be a little too camphor smelling for day..lol

https://www.amazon.com/Bag-Bal.....B0014CI4X8

7 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

I have very dry hands in the winter and chronic eczema on my face. I use a good hand cream (lots recommended here) and a face cream by Avene for eczema. I also drink lots of water. All of this was advice from my Derm.

7 years ago

Sara L.

Veteran

Another vote for Aquaphor - I use it on my knuckles when they crack in the winter. I also slather my kids faces with it at night - their cheeks, lips, and chins get chapped in the winter. I've never tried it on my face though. My MIL swears by Bag Balm.

7 years ago

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