Solution: Don't wash with soap before you moisturize.
If your legs are dry and itchy, Washington D.C. dermatologist Elizabeth Tanzi, MD, suggests not washing them with soap when you're in the shower. Don't worry: Unless they're caked in actual dirt, water should be enough to get your legs clean. "After the shower, put on a moisturizer ... while the skin is still damp to lock in hydration," she says. Try Vaseline Intensive Rescue Soothing Moisture Lotion, SRP $5.99. It relieves dry skin after one use without a greasy feeling.
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Problem: scaly skin
Solution: Take a milk bath.
If your skin is dry, chapped or irritated, New York City dermatologist and psychiatrist Amy Wechsler, MD, recommends adding two to four cups of whole milk to a warm (not hot) bath and soaking for 20 minutes. The fat, amino acid, and vitamins A and D will calm your skin. Then, gently scrub. "Milk's lactic acid weakens the glue that lets dry, ready-to-shed cells stick to the skin's surface," she explains. You'll be able to easily buff away the scaly skin.
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Problem: your moisturizer won't absorb
Solution: Make a face mask with honey.
When you can't get your skin to hold onto moisture -- no matter how heavy the cream -- Wechsler recommends making a face mask with milk and honey. "Honey is a natural humectant, meaning it draws free water from the inner tissues to the surface layers of the skin," she explains. "It also soothes dry, sensitive, or irritated areas." She suggests mixing two tablespoons of honey with two teaspoons of whole milk, warming it slightly in the microwave, applying it to your face, and letting it sit for 10 minutes.
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Problem: dry patches on your face
Solution: Switch your skin care.
If you're getting dry patches -- like the area around your nose, your cheeks, or the middle of your forehead -- it may be because of ingredients in your skin care. Tanzi suggests avoiding retinol and glycolic acid because even though they exfoliate the skin, they can be harsh and drying. Instead, she says to add hyaluronic acid, shea butter, or ceramides to your skin care routine. And instead of chemical exfoliation, she suggests using a washcloth or facial brush every other day.
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Problem: Dry hands and feet
Solution: Hydrate while you sleep.
Even the most non-greasy hand cream is annoying to use when you're typing away on a computer all day. And coating your feet in lotion isn't exactly an option when you're wearing boots. If you don't mind looking a little ridiculous in bed, then sleeping in gloves and socks is the best cure for dry hands and feet. "Wear cotton gloves and socks overnight with a heavy hand cream," says celebrity manicurist Jin Soon Choi. "It will totally rejuvenate your hands and feet." You can also try Vaseline Petroleum Jelly, SRP $4, which can heal dry skin.
"Winter Beauty Survival Guide!" "Get Prepped for Winter!" "Save Your Skin This Winter!" Sound familiar? Every fall, these stories take up pages of magazine real estate, monopolize your Facebook feed, and flood the Internet.
Even though many of them contain useful information, there's one major problem: When it comes to winter issues, prevention is wishful thinking. Have you ever changed your body lotion before your legs got dry and itchy? We didn't think so.
Instead of suggesting a basket full of products to buy months in advance, we've got advice and cures for the pesky problems that plague us every winter. Top dermatologists, nutritionists, and other experts are offering their best advice -- everything from miracle baths to hair treatments.
From hair to skin to nails, every aspect of your beauty routine is covered. Bookmark this story for later -- you'll need it.
