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** RX for Dry, Winter Skin **Sep 30 '01 Write an essay on this topic.
Popular Products in Personal Care
The Bottom Line Natural products and a little pamper time is all you need to foil 'old man winter's' plan to turn you into human jerky! :)
Winter at 9,000 feet sucks moisture from my skin faster than my hubby can down a Smirnoff. By mid winter, I'm sure you would believe I was a member of the elephant family and had body bugs by the way I was scratching. I've tried numerous OTC products along with natural remedies. Here is my prescription for my dry skin. These items are natural, inexpensive, and most likely already in your home. Shopping List Laugh now! I'll explain later! (all prices are an estimate) ~Cotton gloves ($5) ~Cotton Socks ($3) ~Petroleum Jelly ($1.50) ~Oatmeal ($1.99) ~Knee-high ($.59) ~Full Fat Milk ($1.50) ~Olive Oil or Full Fat Mayo (price varies. olive oil - purchase best you can afford; mayo can be cheap) ~Full Fat Yogurt ($3.50) ~Sea Salt ($1.50) ~Epsom Salt ($1.50) ~Dark Colored Towel (you probably have one) ~Clarifying Shampoo ($3.00) ~Your Favorite Body Lotion ($?) ~Vitamin E Oil($5.00) ~H2O (Water) (Free at a faucet near you) The Pre-Season Avoid waiting until your feet are cracked and your lips look like they've been through a paper shredder before you do something about dry skin. It will take longer and will be really painful by that time and you'll wish you'd started sooner! Your Body ~~~~~First Things First EXFOLIATE! (Def. - the process of scrubbing off the dead skin freeloaders.) My favorite, natural, and cheap exfoliator recipe is 1/2 sea salt mixed with 1/2 Epsom salt. Both cost around a buck and half each, are available at grocery stores, and will last for quite some time. Now, you definitely wouldn't want to use this salty concoction on already dry, chapped, cracked, and bleeding skin - unless you are really into pain. The best way to use this recipe is in the shower before you suds up. Put a little in your hands and scrub away, all over, paying special attention to feet, knees, and elbows. Use 1-2 times per week. ~~~~~And Once a week, indulge in a bath. You know that large, white porcelain thing in the bathroom isn’t just for standing in. Take a cup of plain old oatmeal (pass on the maple and brown sugar) and put it in a knee high or other stocking type material. Toss it in a tub of warm water and soak for 15-20 minutes. Not only is oatmeal a great moisturizer, it helps relieve itching. For an added ‘kick’ add 2-3 cups of milk to the bath, too. (don't drink the bath water - that'd be gross) ~~~~~All Over Post Shower Follow Up (Insert your favorite lotion here) As much as I like petroleum jelly, olive oil, and vitamin E oil for specific parts - I have yet to find a full body cotton sock. I truly believe I have tried every lotion potion out there. The only stuff that has worked for me is Neutrogena’s Light Sesame Oil and Curel’s Extreme Care Lotion. I don’t like to ‘plug’, especially since I have not a clue the origins of most of the ingredients, but these work best for me. The Sesame Oil has a nice, light scent. Sticker price is about $10 but it’s oil so you won’t use very much. Apply before drying off after a shower. Curel’s Extreme Care Lotion has a pleasant citrus scent and runs about $7. Curel’s is gentle enough for children and is pediatrician approved (according to the label). For especially rough areas, like elbows, use petroleum jelly or vitamin E. Fine Tuning Specific Body Parts ~~~~~ Those Feet and Hands Is your spouse complaining of unexplained bloody scratches? Does your pet like to rub on your feet just a little too much? Try this every night until your feet reach your desired softness. Then cut back to once or twice a week for maintenance. ~Exfoliate with the salt mixture. ~Grab a pair of soft cotton socks and a tub of petroleum jelly before heading to bed. ~Rub feet with petroleum jelly, put on socks. This same procedure should be followed for hands, too, with cotton gloves. Cotton gloves might be a little tricky to find. Some lotions give away a free pair with purchase but your best bet is to shop the beauty supply shops. For dry cuticles, rub with olive oil before applying gloves. The process of removing the dead skin, applying the petroleum jelly and the heat produced wearing the socks will make your feet very soft! Olive oil on the cuticles will reduce hangnails and dry flaky nails. ~~~~~ Hair Bad hair day – all winter? Use a clarifying shampoo to remove any styling product residue. I like Neutrogena and there are other brands available. Use this a day prior to the treatment. The next day, warm ¼ cup of Olive Oil in the microwave approximately 10-12 seconds. Warm up a towel in the dryer. Apply Olive Oil to dry hair paying special attention to the ends. Wrap hair with warm towel and let steep for 15 minutes. Wash and condition normally. This should be done at least once a week, minimum, twice maximum. (Mayonnaise works too, but is messier and doesn’t smell nice when warmed up.) ~~~~~ Face Guess my age – go on. Whoops! Wrong answer by about 10 years too many? Well, we have some work to do. First exfoliate. I use the salt mixture. Baking soda or any other fine, even granule exfoliator will work. Unless you've had a positive previous experience, avoid apricot shells since they tend to irritate by breaking the skin’s surface. Another brand, DDS, is available through some aesthetician and beauty supply houses but is expensive ($25 bottle). Next, prepare a mask. In a blender, grind up about 2 Tbsp. of oatmeal into fine powder. Pour oatmeal in a small container and add enough Full Fat Yogurt to make a paste. Apply to face avoiding the eyes and mouth. Let dry completely and remove with tepid water. I have heard of mixtures using honey and bananas, but this gets a little too messy for my taste. Discard any unused mask. Follow up with a diluted toner (regular toner on a moistened cotton ball) and quality vitamin E oil paying particular attention to the area around the eyes. This is best used at night unless you want to look like you’re ready to fry an egg on your face. Don’t forget your neck, too. Do this at least once a week and you won’t be sorry! ~~~~~ Lip Service Put a little petroleum jelly on a dry wash cloth and gently buff your lips. Apply petroleum jelly or vitamin E nightly. Winter Sports Junkies If you do nothing else, slather on an all over body moisturizer before hitting the slopes! ********** INCREASE WATER INTAKE!********** Sure you’ll make more trips to the potty, but water is so important. Water nourishes your skin from the inside. Add a slice of lemon or orange or a mint sprig for a change. Banish Those Cracks and Bumps Forever Dry skin sufferers – there is relief. Most of these products are probably in your home right now. Spend a little time each week to pamper yourself and your skin will repay you by being softer, smoother, itch and bump free. I hope my RX helps you! Let me know! ~Thanks so much for reading and happy winter!  |
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