My skin is dry all year round. It could be 90 degrees and I'm sweating my butt off by the pool and my skin still feels dry, scaly, and tight. I use two body lotions, daily, and my skin is still dry. However, nothing compares to the dryness I feel during the cold, winter months. 

The part of my body that is dry, day in and day out, are my hands. Add in cuticles and nail beds and you've got a true nightmare. My hands are just always parched... they have dry patches, scaliness, and just the overall uncomfortable tight feeling that dry skin gives you. 

Because of that, I've tried so many hand creams over the years and I finally feel like I'm in a good place with the items I use to keep my hands in good shape. I don't exclusively use these in the winter but some are too thick for the summer months and I figured most people experience bad dry skin in the cold! 

I've talked plenty about my struggle with dry skin over the years. This year, though, it has been particularly bad. It hasn't been abnormally colder than other winters but my skin is truly bugging out.

Since around October, I've been having trouble not with my face but with the rest of my body. My eczema just won't go away... even with a prescription ointment from my dermatologist. Therefore, I've taken matters into my own hands and of course, have been trying a ton of products targeted for dry skin.

Almost everything I've used has really helped both my body and my face to relieve my dry, itchy skin and then also clear up some eczema patches that were being stubborn.

Weleda Skin Food

I bought this a few months ago after reading countless reviews on it but really Grace Atwood and Olivia Muenter are the ones who sold on me on Welda Skin Food. I bought it to use on my face and while I do use it on my face, it is the thickest cream I have ever seen or used. It is very soothing and I've used it on other dry skin patches on my body and it works really well. It's very emollient and a little difficult to blend in but it gets the job done. My skin feels incredible when I wake up in the morning and any dryness is immediately gone. It's filled with almond oil and sunflower oil which I think my skin responds well too. I've heard people say it's like poor people's La Mer; I've never used La Mer but hey, that's a decent comparison!

Glossier Balm Dot Com

This has been my go-to for years. It's officially the only lip balm that does anything for me. I've tried so many balms over the years and while I'm always intrigued by a new one, I come back to Glossier. It might seem like a fancier Vaseline but truthfully, it works better for me than Vaseline. Not only do I use it on my lips but I've had a really stubborn eczema patch on my thumb (so weird and random) and this is helping that as well. It's truly an all in one salve.

First Aid Beauty Pharma Oat & Hemp Multi-Fix Salve

When I saw this new product from First Aid Beauty, I immediately added it to my wishlist. I love anything with hemp and I thought the mixture of oat would be really interesting. Oatmeal is a key ingredient in First Aid Beauty's line and I know it does wonders for the skin. When I finally bought it, I was pleasantly surprised because it's not what I expected. This is definitely a salve but it is so tender and blends into the skin immediately. It's not hard to scoop out like a regular salve, which I appreciate. I have only used it on my eczema patch on my arm (that I have had since September and won't go away) and it definitely calmed it a bit. I have to try it out more but for the few weeks I've had it, it's been an excellent addition to my skincare routine.

Dove Sensitive Skin Body Wash

I asked my dermatologist which body wash I should use and she recommended Dove. She also recommended I not take scalding hot showers but as a female, it is my duty to take showers that would make the devil gasp. However, I noticed that using Dove really does help my skin. I've used other sensitive skin body washes but Dove is by far the best one for me, particularly the sensitive skin formula. I also just started using Trader Joe's new almond body oil and it is delightful; my skin has been loving that!

Kopari CBD Body Calm Cream

I received the entire Kopari CBD line in PR and I couldn't be more thankful. I've never tried any Kopari products because coconut oil has always kind of confused me but you put CBD in the name and I'm sold. I've only tried the Body Calm Cream because I was most excited about that and it has been a game-changer. It's the least greasy body lotion I have ever used in my life, blends into the skin without leaving behind a residue and makes my skin less inflamed and red. I itch my dry skin too much and this really helps relieve the itchiness and really does make my skin feel calmer.


xoxo
B

If you have been following my blog for a while, you know that I suffer from incredibly dry skin. This winter though, it's been really bad, probably the worse it has ever been. I'm constantly itching and my skin is bleeding from me itching and just the dry skin patches in general.

I don't remember my skin ever feeling this parched or having this many dry patches... I didn't change anything but something must have changed in the air or my skin is just becoming more sensitive.

I've bee suffering for a few months, ever since the Fall began but I think I finally cracked the code to help me this year. These are my must-have items for smooth, hydrated skin this winter.

Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion

I notice the biggest difference between when I use this and when I don't. I always hated applying lotion when I got out of the shower and it was a step I always skipped. I hated how it made me feel and I didn't like being greasy. When Nivea released this a few years ago, I immediately bought it and my life was changed.

The in-shower body lotion is just that -- you apply it in the shower and then rinse off before you get out. I was wondering why my skin was acting up so badly and then remembered I hadn't been using this. I purchased a bottle, started using every day and voila, my dry skin was instantly better. I cannot rave about this or recommend it enough.

I use the Extra Dry skin/Cocoa Butter version and it's so rich and creamy, it makes all the difference.

Ouai Rose Body Oil

While I hate the feeling of a body lotion, I love body oil. I used to have a sample of the Caudalie Body Oil and after a shower, I'd slather it on and my skin felt so good. I figured that oil might work again for me! The only oil I had was Ouai Rose Hair & Body Oil (as I'm writing this, I remembered I have a whole thing of argan oil) and after I put it on, my skin instantly felt better. That, combined with the Nivea In-Shower Lotion has been a real saving grace.

Lip Care

Aside from my body, my lips have been insanely dry and chapped this winter. I cannot even handle it and I've been experimenting with so many different balms. Usually, Vaseline and Aquafor are the best for me but sometimes even that isn't cutting it. I am testing out two items now that if they work, I'll let you know but two saving graces have been Glossier Balm Dot Com (which I have used in the past but now I have the original and it's to die for) and the Milk Kush Lip Balm. The Milk Makeup balm is infused with cannabis so it has anti-inflammatory properties which apparently does wonders for my lips!

Scalp Care

My scalp has also been a disaster but it's very rare that it ever behaves. I needed something new and tried the Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal Shampoo but it made my hair incredibly tough and greasy. I went out and got the Dove Dermacare Scalp Reviv Shampoo after seeing Teresa's post and have fallen in love. I thought I had used it once before and didn't like it but I'm not sure because it is really hydrating my scalp and keeping it itch-free. I also like to the use Briogeo Scalp Massager to give more of a deep clean and get the gunk out of my scalp.

Aside from products, there are a few other things you can do, like make sure you're drinking enough water, avoid hot showers (which is super hard for me because I like to boil) and use a humidifier in your room.

What are your favorite ways to treat dry skin?
xoxo
B

These products were sent to me but all opinions are my own

It's been years since I realized I had psoriasis on my scalp. I can't even remember a time where my scalp didn't itch or burn. It's been something I've struggled with since I was little and nothing ever quite does the trick.

I've tried lots of shampoos, conditioners, creams, and treatments, but some either don't work, or they make my hair so greasy, it's not even worth it. I've tried prescriptions, high end, drugstore but nothing quite ever works.

When I saw that DermaE, one of my latest favorite skincare brands (and also available in the drugstore) had a psoriasis and eczema line, I jumped at the chance to review it for all of you.

I've talked before about my skin issues, but this just hit so close to home. My psoriasis is MAINLY on my scalp, and it's been getting worse and worse as of late, so why not try something new?




Well, I was certainly surprised when I opened this little package from DermaE and they included lots of goodies from this specific line.

I received the Scalp Relief Shampoo & Conditioner, as well as the Psorzema Creme and body wash. I was super excited to see the other items too because like I said, while my psoriasis is mainly on my scalp, my skin acts up from time to time. These items won't go to waste.



DermaE describes these products as the best natural alternative to prescriptions, because as we know, a lot of people may not be able to afford prescriptions for something like this, or may not have access to it--or just don't like the idea of prescriptions (there are tons of different people out there!)

Both the shampoo & conditioner work to detangle, deflake, soothe, and nourish the scalp & hair. They contain Salicylic Acid, Tea Tree, and Menthol and are also sulfate free (perfect for keratin treated hair), tar free and steroid free. I mean, who doesn't want all those things in a haircare line?

I've used both of these products a few times and I can attest to saying they have helped. My scalp feels slightly less irritated, and my hair is definitely easier to maintain. I know that as I continue to use it, the benefits will start to reap bigger rewards.

My skin hasn't been too bad lately, even though it does act up from time to time, so I haven't used the creme and body wash as much as the shampoo & conditioner, but I have used them.

The unique thing about the body wash? It can be used as a face wash which would definitely come in handy if you have severe psoriasis or eczema on your face. The body wash looks like the shampoo, clear and very gel like. It feels soothing on the skin, which is always a plus. Like I said, my skin isn't acting up at the moment so I can't say whether it helps with the psoriasis but I'm guessing it would because of how soothing it is.

The creme is very, very thick. This would be IDEAL in the wintertime, maybe even now that Spring is nonexistent in NYC at the moment. But anyways... this creme is super thick, and hydrating and soothing. I'm very, very impressed. I've tried a lot of eczema cremes and this is by far the best one.

If you suffer from psoriasis and/or eczema, I highly consider trying this line. You will definitely find something that works for you.

DermaE is always available at DermaE.com, your local Health Food store, Whole Foods, and The Vitamin Shoppe.