This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Towson chapter.
Spring is here, which means shorts, skirts and tank tops. But if you’re like me, that can be problematic. I’ve had super-dry skin my entire life, and scratch marks and red spots on my limbs have always made me self-consious. I’ve tried every skin cream, body wash and lotion imaginable, so here’s what I like and what works best.
As far as body wash goes, nothing beats Dove Deep Moisture Nourishing Body Wash ($5.47 for 24 oz. at Wal-Mart). It smells really clean, works into a nice lather and keeps skin soft and moisturized. I absolutely swear by this stuff and use it every single day.
Anyone who knows me knows I have a massive collection of Bath & Body Works lotion. It’s great for softening ashy elbows and knees, or giving yourself a mini-foot massage. Now that it’s getting close to summer, try something light and cute like Forever Sunshine or Pink Grapefruit. They’re $10.50 for an 8 oz bottle, and a you almost always get a coupon for your next visit with your purchase.
Recently, I’ve been trying out products from Lush, a store specializing in handmade and often vegan cosmetics and bath products. They’re expensive, but they smell amazing and really work. Try their Dream Cream. It’s $24.95 for 8.4 oz, which is steep. But I was able to get a tiny sample container to take home. Even used sparingly, I love how much it helps my skin. Ask for a sample, or opt for one of the less expensive massage bars. They cost less than $10 and smell drool-inducingly good, as well as helping smooth and moisturize skin.
There are also few other things you can do to keep your skin from gettting too dry. Hot shower water and excessive hand-washing can really kill skin moisture. And make sure you’re using products that work for you. If you find that a lotion or cream irritates your skin more, just don’t use it! I had to experiment a lot to find products that worked for me, and you’ll find something that works for you.