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Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Remedies for desert dry skin

Before I thoroughly disgust you with my alligator skin tales, I want to announce the official return of FRIDAY FAVORITES this week! I would love for anyone who would like to help "celebrate" the return of Friday Faves to link-up and share your faves from the week (or past few weeks if you've been Fri Faves MIA like me).

Moving right along ...


Imagine my disgust when I looked down at my feet last week after a long day at work and saw skin only suitable for a reptile. To say I was horrified is an understatement and I could not get my scaly self to the Target lotion aisle fast enough.

You see, I rarely wore or needed lotion in Dallas because of the climate. I just used my favorite moisturizing body wash at night and did not look like I slathered my legs in baby powder by morn. Le sigh ... Those were the days.

Lately, however, my scaly skin and lips have been completely parched on the reg. I'm obviously not OK with this reality so I turned where any serious researcher would turn: the Internet. Now, I know a lot of you obviously don't live in the desert, but since winter is right around the corner for all of us, I thought I would share some of the dry skin remedies I found.

1. Refrain from showering with really hot water and lotion up immediately after you get out of the shower while skin is still damp to lock in moisture. Who knew?

Currently loving the feel and scent of Dove Cream Oil Intensive Body Lotion

True Life: what I look like while typing blog posts after working all day. Hash tag not cute.


2. Butter and olive oil ... Huh?

According to a post in the "kichen beautician" series on Lauren Conrad's Beauty Department blog (how clever is that series name btw), a good DIY moisturizer is a mash of 2 tsp of coconut butter and 10 drops of EVOO. She said the butter/oil concoction can be used on dry lips, elbows, knees, etc. a few times a week to combat extra dry skin.

I've never heard of this, but the benefits of coconut butter and EVOO, which you can read about here, sound worth a try.

3. This is a no brainier, but find a good moisturizing lip balm for you lips and make sure you have one everywhere: night stand, purse, desk, etc. I've just recently made sure I had my favorite mint e.o.s. lip balm handy at all times.


4. Last, but not least, apparently I should drink lots of water. I always go through water drinking phases and I really need to get back into the phase where I drink a lot of it. But coffee and diet coke are so good. OKKKKK, fine, pass me the Fiji. FML.


If you live in a dry climate, what are your glowing skin secrets? Do spill.
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25 comments:

  1. You may also want to buy a humidifier. We have to use one in the winter in new england. Its really good for skin and hair.

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  2. It sounds cray, but use Amlactin, the pump with the yellow top. I swear by it. It locks in moisture and helps to get rid of that scaly feeling. I stock up in the summer when the air gets drier and I am in the sun constantly. You'll love it. It doesn't have a scent, but I always put good smelling lotion on top of it. Plus, it's not greasy like some ultra-moisturizing creams.

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  3. I am a huge fan of body scrubs. I like to use them before I get into the shower. They work sooo well on dry skin. My favorite is bath junkie. http://bathjunkie.com/

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  4. Love body scrubs, I also love making homemade ones!

    Found you throuhgh SR, such a great blog!

    http://coffeebeansandbobbypins.blogspot.com//

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  5. Yes I so need to know each year when we are there for a week my body totally goes to alligator mode and lets face Im on a MILF vacay and cant be looking a hot mess or the hubbs may never take me back lol
    PLease do tell what you fund works

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  6. I'm originally from Phoenix, but I live in Ohio now and let me tell you the air here in the winter is the worst. It will suck the life out of your hair and skin.

    I swear by Nivea lotions and creams. I also use them for Boomer because she has eczema and the winter air makes it worse for her as well. I lotion up directly out of the shower for me, and bath for her.

    For my hair, I swear by VO5 hairdressing cream/lotion...somethin like that. Its light and a little goes a long way. (I'm talking pee size covers my all natural diana ross mane.)

    Anyway I hope your skin gets acclimated soon. And yes WATER is key! You live in a dessert now hun.

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  7. For years I hated lotion. I hate the word "lotion," I hate how a lot of them smell, and lots of times bottles of lotion remind me of old people. I still don't use it regularly, but a friend gave me gud (by Burt's Bees I think) and the scent is blood orange and I love it. So now I use lotion sometimes, but I still hate the word.

    I do drink a shit ton of water though. Not cause I'm trying to make my skin better, but because I am in a perpetual state of dehydration. I wonder why . . .

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  8. Ohhh thanks! I need to try the EVOO + Butter!! I sit at my desk with a heater on all day too...even in the summer. It's bad!

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  9. I swear by "Hempz" body lotion, it's meant for tanning, but it's GREAT for your skin in this horrible desert dryness!

    Also, i've just discovered that Coconut Oil straight from whole foods is excellent for your dry skin and hair... I think it might be my new go-to miracle product and it's cheap too for the massive amount you get!

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  10. i can totally relate. i have the most sensitive skin and any change in climate makes it act up. a tip i find useful is to exfoliate gently in the shower before moisturizing. i've also been adding a couple drops of argan oil to moisturizer (a recent discovery that works wonders)

    rachel x
    http://blushandbrunch.blogspot.com

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  11. My husband just bought me the Trader Joe's Coconut Body Butter and it's pretty amazing...and cheap. It has coconut oil, Shea butter and vitamin E.

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  12. Drinking lots of water, eating fruit or veggies at every meal and prescription body lotion. I also put moisturizer on my face twice a day!

    It's a bit of a pain at first to do it all, but once you're in the habit, you're golden!

    http://www.southerncharmnola.com

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  13. I live in hot, humid, muggy South Florida and I still suffer from dry skin and especially dry lips. I would be so screwed if I ever moved to the desert!!!! lol... I use vasoline on my lips at night when they are REALLY dry. It feels gross, but you sleep through the ickiness and it works. Target sells a cute little tiny pot for $1 in the chapstick isle.

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  14. I was going to say try using a cool mist humidifier and of course lots of H20 like you said!! :)

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  15. I always get dry skin in the fall/winter - I always use a really moisturizing body wash - I love the dove cream oil ones! Also - I like to use the body butters from the body shop - they are so creamy and really help with dry skin - also their exfoliator scrub is great too bc it flakes away the dry skin and moisturizes at the same time. Ocean Salt from Lush is also really good! I hope you are loving vegas girlie - I mean how can you not? :)
    xoxo

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  16. When you first move to the desert, it takes your body 4 weeks to adjust (so weird, but your blood actually thins out to acclimate). What's weird is that I actually know that. When I lived in LV I always used a body brush or exfoliator and I tended to use body creams. Victoria's Secret has some great ones & Caesar's has a great VS. For feet, I would put body cream on them and then put socks on so that the cream would soak into them..it really helps! I do that at night or when I'm lounging around the house. And yes, you'll have to drink lots of water. For every coke/coffee/caffeinated beverage you're supposed to drink 2 parts water. I was skinnier when I lived in Vegas because I drank sooo much water ALL of the time! Hope you are having fun!!!

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  17. This post could not have come at a better time -- I've been suffering from dry skin as of late (cold work environment, ugh!). The coconut butter + EVOO sounds awesome and I really need to try it! Thank you for all the helpful hints. <3

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  18. I swear by Nivea soft(white tub/tube). About $7 and I use it by the gallon, perfect consistency and texture. I spent a lot of time in Vegas a few years ago and I looooove that my hair never gets greasy....rocked a blowout for 4-5 days:).

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  19. Catching up on your blog!! Glad your move is going well and your found an apartment. Yes, I can only imagine what living in Vegas--and out that way could do for your skin...hair etc....but I say give me heat over humidity every single day of my life because my hair would be a dang mess!!

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  20. when i lived in ut my skin was disgusting and so dry no matter what i did. even in ca i get dry still, just not as bad. use dove deep moisturizing body wash, it seriously helps! then you can also use cornhuskers stuff on your hands and feet, you can just slather it on and wear gloves/socks. using lotion after a shower is really helpful as well!

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  21. Ohhh, all my memories of living in dry Utah are coming back now. Everyone warned me that I would get nose bleeds and thankfully, I never did. Sick. But I remember static was always an issue for me. My hair would pretty much stand straight up all the time.

    But, yes, I know that putting lotion on your hands/feet at night and wearing gloves/socks while you sleep DOES help, as ridiculous as that sounds.

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  22. I get mega dry skin too. I live in Sacramento so it's dry but not quite desert dry. I always lotion up right after the shower. That has been the biggest help for me. I love the cream oil lotion as well, but I have just discovered Vaseline Deep Conditioning Lotion with cocoa butter. It is so so creamy and my skin loves it. I recommend trying it!!!

    I'm with ya on the water drinking sometimes I drink a lot sometimes I drink coffee all day...

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  23. A great lotion for desert skin is Eucerin. My brother lives in Laredo and this is the only stuff that works for me when I'm down there.

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  24. I have chapstick everywhere. Seriously. My favorite, which is a recent find, is the strawberry eos. So good.

    And I do the same with the water phase thing. Sodas have become the norm lately, and I don't like it.

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  25. I don't know what the hell is up with my blog roll, but I haven't seen any of your posts in weeks, so I had to just find my way over here and dig around. :( Sooo, I know I'm late to the party, but I just straight up coconut oil as a moisturizer and it works wonders. Also, I'm so with you on the water thing. I can drink it {at least more of it} in the summer, but once winter hits, I hate that shit! ugh! Bring on the Diet Coke. Think I'll have one now!

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