One of the biggest pet peeves I have with the winter months is not just the fact that I hate snow, but also the way the most delicate areas of my skin start to crack, chafe, and peel after the moisture of summer’s air gets zapped from the atmosphere. My skincare routine is one of the major ways that I show myself love and attention, and it certainly ramps up between November and January. My personal holy grail for dry skin? Eucerin’s Original Healing Rich Cream. (Watch the specific way I apply it in the video below!)
There are a few reasons why I’m obsessed with this cream. First, it’s super thick, which is just what I need to protect my skin from the frigid air if I make the mistake of going for a cold-weather run. Second, it goes on like a lotion—meaning I get that soothing sensation you’d get from a typical liquid-like moisturizer—but settles like a cream. When I apply it, the initial texture prevents it from pulling on my skin. After a few rubs, it feels thicker and envelops my skin in a comfortably gooey protective layer. Lastly, this cream is emollient-based. Emollients seal in moisture and prevent it from escaping through your pores.
I’ve found that the best time to apply it is when my skin is still damp—not wet—after a shower. (If your skin is too wet, the cream will basically feel like your hand is hydroplaning on your skin and won’t really do anything.) In fact, according to the Cleveland Clinic, the best time to apply lotion to your skin is about two to three minutes after showering or bathing. This gives the skin time to dry a bit, but not so much that there won’t be enough moisture for the cream to trap water and push it into your skin for optimal absorption.
I lather this cream all over my body and most of my face (after I’ve applied my other facial products, like toner, serum, and night cream). I say most of my face because I only put on my upper lip and chin (and a little on my lips when they start to feel less-than-supple), because those are the areas that get the driest and most alligator-like. You can, of course, smooth it over your whole face, especially if you want some extra protection from the wind.
This cream is fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog your pores or cause breakouts. So, if you’ve got oilier or acne-prone skin, this cream is a good option. It’s also an excellent choice to alleviate dryness and itchiness associated with eczema, psoriasis, and any products you might be using that suck moisture out of your skin, like benzoyl peroxide, which is in many acne-fighting gels and creams.
Plus, if you’re like me and get dry cuticles, I’d recommend massaging it into your hands and fingers before bed, so it has time to really soak in and work its magic. If you put anything on your stocking stuffer wishlist this year, it should be this cream.
The post How I Keep My Skin Moisturized All Winter Long appeared first on Outside Online.
