It’s cold out. You know what that means: leggings, sweaters, and boots…and also dry winter skin. I often get lotion, cuticle oil, and sugar scrubs as gifts because of my perpetually dry skin. As a result, I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t to keep my skin from cracking and peeling all winter long—a big feat in dry, cold air.
Keeping skin soft on a budget can be hard! I rounded up my five favorite budget-friendly moisturizers for dry winter skin.
5 Ways to Soften Up the Driest Skin
Honest Company Organic Facial Oil. This is a bit of a splurge, but will last you forever. I know oil for your face sounds a little counter-intuitive. However, when skin gets too dry it over-produces oil to try to counteract that taut, flaky feeling. This oil works well without making me feel like I’ve coated my face in Vaseline. I mix a few drops with a light moisturizer and apply it at bedtime. By morning, my face is soft, silky, and glowing.
OKeeffe’s Working Hands: I love this balm year-round to keep my hands smooth and crack-free. It’s a thick balm with a protectant in it, and the smallest bit goes a long way. Use this before bed and you’ll see overnight improvement in cracks and dryness. I love this balm because it’s rich, works quickly, and I know it will work without breaking the bank.
Aveeno Daily Moisture lotion: This is my go-to, all-day lotion. The Working Hands balm is a bit rich to use every time I wash my hands. This light, powerful lotion is unscented and perfect for all-day, allover use. It’s inexpensive and has colloidal oatmeal and Dimethicone to soften and protect skin. Slather it on elbows, knees, everywhere, and you’ll have softer, smoother skin within just a few days, without residue or stickiness.
CND Solar Oil: My cuticles are dry and tend to peel. So, this is one area I splurge a little. I love how light the Solar Oil is and how quickly it works on my cuticles and fingertips. Just a drop or two applied once or twice a day is plenty, so one bottle lasts a long time. Combined with either the Aveeno or O’Keeffe’s, and my fingers are soft, smooth, and crack-free.
Aquaphor: I love this as an all-purpose balm. I definitely wouldn’t recommend using Aquaphor as an all-day lotion, but more as a problem-solver. I’ve used Aquaphor for everything from diaper rashes on my son, to softening cracked heels and lip balm. Because it can be sticky, I try only to use it at bedtime to give it plenty of time to absorb. A lot of people love slathering it on their feet, adding socks, and going to bed to wake up with baby soft heels and toes. However, I don’t like socks in bed, so I skip the socks and still wake up with smoother, softer skin. Keep a tube in your bathroom and purse—you won’t regret it!
So tell me, what do you love to use to keep your skin soft and supple during the driest, coldest months of the year?
