Winter can be very hard on your skin; cold weather and wind, together with dry indoor air means that most of us suffer dry, itchy skin during this long, frigid season. Add in long, hot showers, and obsessive hand-washing due to all those cold and flu viruses floating around, and you have yourself the perfect storm for flaking, cracking, and itchy skin.
Happily, help is as close as your nearest drugstore! We have the five best drugstore creams and lotions for soothing that scaly skin.
If you can tell a woman’s age by looking at her hands, then I could be mistaken for the Cryptkeeper. Fortunately for me, Aveeno Skin Relief Hand Cream soothes and hydrates, and lasts through several hand washings. Between the kitchen and my mild germ-phobia, I wash my hands dozens of times a day, and I typically only apply this cream once or twice a day. Bonus: it’s fragrance free and suitable for those with sensitive skin.
Of all our senses, smell is most closely linked with memory. This must be true, because the scent of Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Daily Therapy takes me back to the days when I would rub my pregnant belly with cocoa butter to soothe the itchy, stretching skin. Not only does this rich lotion smell heavenly (and evokes happy memories of baby-dreaming) but it works wonders on even the driest skin. It also absorbs quickly, which is nice if you need to turn a doorknob or open a jar of pickles after applying it to your hands.
Years ago, a popular beauty tip was to apply hand cream and then wear gloves to bed, to keep the skin hydrated and soft. Here’s the thing: who wants to wear gloves to bed? Certainly not me. Happily, Glysomed Hand Cream works like an invisible glove, as the silicone in the product locks in the emollients, resulting in very soft hands by morning. It can be a little slippery, though, and so this intense hand cream is best used before bed for an overnight skin miracle.
For all-over body care, St Ives is a workhorse: it’s instantly soothing and moisturizing, smells great, and is incredibly affordable. Smooth this oatmeal and shea butter formula all over after your morning shower, for immediate softness and dry skin relief, and moisture all day long. Say goodbye to itchy skin!
There is only one problem with Cake’s Delectable Triple Moisture Body Lotion: after applying such formulas as Vanilla and Cream or Coconut and Cream, you will want to lick your own arms. The scents are delicious, so perhaps apply after breakfast! Do not use on an empty stomach! This vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free product absorbs quickly, resulting in incredibly soft skin – and did I mention the scent? Heavenly.