Hundreds of products are currently on the market to treat dry skin, and there are many more products in the works. With all the miraculous claims it’s hard to know which one to choose to heal your dry skin. Know that a good moisturizer does not need to be expensive to do it’s job.
Good moisturizers should include the following;
Water-binding agent to attract moisture to the skin.
* glycerin, collagen, hyaluronic acid and others.
Antioxidants to protect the damage caused by the sun and smog.
Anti-irritants that have compounds to soothe inflammation.
*aloe, green tea, vitamin C
Emollient lotions are good to use if you have severely dry skin or during the dry, winter months.
*shea butter, lanolin
Lighter weight lotions are best for those with normal to oily skin.
*aloe, jojoba, glycolic acids
Drugstores carry several brands that cover all the above bases and have received glowing reviews by experts, celebrities and the girl the next door.
Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Triple Smoothing Body Lotion ( retails for around $8 for 13oz) and is a lightweight choice. It contains alpha hydroxy acid which exfoliates and smoothes the skin. Real Simple magazine, Allure, Makeup Alley and Drugstore.com all give the lotion extra high marks. It has been compared to making your skin feel like a cashmere sweater. Choose Lubriderm for clearing up keratosis pilaris, that annoying condition that causes tiny bumps on the upper arms and thighs. It can also clear acne and smooth dry, flaky skin. Personally, I love this lotion.
Aquaphor Healing Ointment Advanced Therapy (retails for approximately $15 for 14oz) is a multipurpose lotion that can effectively moisturizes, soothes sunburns and cracked feet. Because it is so gentle, it is also works well on diaper rashes, razor burns and irritated skin. A little goes a long way with this product, and it can be a bit messy to apply because of it’s thickness, but if you need advanced healing, this product delivers.
Nivea Crème (retails for $7 for about 6oz) This is another lotion that receives high praises but is quite inexpensive, comparatively. Especially good for rough patches on feet, elbows, knees and hands.
Now, if you are not a drugstore lotion fan, there are plenty of companies willing to take your money. Prices on specialty lotions, potions and creams seem to have no limit.
Some of the claims, and even reviews, are intriguing though. More magazine highlighted some of the best beauty products of 2010, giving testers to reviewers who gave their honest opinions.
Clarins Vital Light Night Revitalizing Anti-Aging Comfort Cream ($90) claims to be able to smooth wrinkles, firm skin and bring back an even tone, and glow. The testers liked the product, although it went on greasy, one tester begged for more samples.
La Prairie Anti Aging Neck Crème ($200) is not an all-over lotion like the rest of this article highlights, but the product seriously seemed to work for the all the reviewers. I would balk at the steep price tag for a single body part product, but if my neck ever gets crepey and I fall into riches, I’ll get it!
Elizabeth Arden Prevage Body Total Transforming Anti-Aging Moisturizer ($135 for 6 oz) is supposed to lighten age spots and clear up scars, stretch marks and cellulite, a super lotion. The antioxidents in this lightweight lotion are credited with some amazing claims.Unfortunately, review don’t line up or justify the price tag.
