The Best Lotions and Other Solutions for Healing Wintertime Dry Skin

Everyone knows that dry skin is more prevalent in the wintertime. The lower air temperatures, along with the lower humidity in the winter months, combine to make drier air. And the drier air is what makes our skin feel itchy and dry.

What can we do about this wintertime dry skin? The obvious answer is to apply lotion. But which lotion? Is one lotion better than another, or are they all about the same? And is there anything consumers should know about applying lotion?

To begin with, all lotions are not the same. There are a few different types of lotion, each of which has a different purpose. Here are the basic types:

Bath/Body Lotion: This is a smooth, creamy lotion that can be applied after a bath all over the body. Or, it can be applied all over the body at any other time, such as right before bed.

Cr�me: This is a thicker lotion that is used in areas of extreme dryness, such as the elbows or knees. It is not meant to be applied all over the body.

Hand Lotion/Cream: Slightly thicker than body lotion, this product is used on the hands after hand-washing or whenever the hands feel dry. Quite often, this lotion is applied several times throughout the day.

For each of these lotion types, there are some specific lotions that I would recommend. As someone who is prone to extremely dry skin throughout the year, I have tried just about every lotion that one could find at the local drugstore or mass merchandiser-as well as some you cannot find at the store. In doing so, I have discovered some clear winners. Here are my top selections:

Bath/Body Lotion:

--St. Ives Collagen Elastin Advanced Therapy Lotion is my favorite in this category because it is thick and creamy and feels nice against the skin when applied. But not only that, for some reason this lotion has helped to reduce the appearance of some of the stretch marks left from my pregnancies from years ago!

Cr�me:

--Nivea Cr�me is a wonderful product. I have used it on dry patches on my face, my elbows, my feet, anywhere my skin has been excessively dry-and it really helped to clear up the dryness. This cr�me comes in a small tin and, best of all, it is very inexpensive.

Hand Lotion/Cream:

--The product I prefer in this category is one that cannot be found in a store; it is from Avon. It is their Moisture Therapy Deep Healing Hand Cream. This cream is simply the best; if you try it, you will not want to use another hand cream.

Now, even if you do not use the same exact types of lotion that I have recommended, there are some specific strategies you can use with lotion to help your dry skin. Here are a few tips:

--Apply lotion all over the body immediately after each bath and shower. When you get out of the bath or shower, the moisture evaporating from your skin can cause your skin to become even drier than it was when you got in the bath or shower. So, make sure not to skip lotion application at this time.

--Make sure to apply the lotion all over your body. It bears repeating, because many people do not think to rub the lotion into some areas, such as the buttocks and the back. (But, do skip your privates, ok?)

--Keep a small bottle or tube of lotion next to each sink where you frequently wash your hands. Try to apply lotion after each time you dry your hands off.

--Stash a tube of hand cream or a tin of cr�me in your purse or backpack so that you can use it when you aren't at home.

--Before going to bed, apply bath/body lotion or cr�me to your feet and then put on a pair of socks. After a few nights of doing this, your feet will become softer.

--Reapply body lotion all over before bed if you have time, but make sure it is completely absorbed before getting into bed.

So, if you have wintertime dry skin, as most people do, check out the lotions I mentioned above. And be sure to try the tips, too. Hopefully these will help you to alleviate the itchiness and discomfort you have with wintertime dry skin. Keep taking care of your skin all winter long, and your skin will be much healthier and it will look better, too!