Sometimes happy skin is pretty simple. Moisturize it! Keeping moisture inside your skin makes it look better, feel smoother and act tougher against outside insults. How does smooth glowing skin end up being tough? Moisture in your skin acts a barrier to all the everyday insults like heat or cold, changes in humidity, chemicals/frangrances/soaps etc etc. Your moisturizer is your skin’s daily vitamin. Put your big tub of your favorite goop in the shower with you and apply it as soon as you are done showering and have just patted your skin dry. This is prime time for your skin to take in and hold onto the lotion, so take advantage!
What to use? My favorite is still CeraVe lotion. Cetaphil Restoraderm is very similar. Some of my patients (and friends) really want something with a little more pizazz (a little fragrance? just a little bit of fun?). For people who don’t have sensitive skin or other skin conditions, I suppose a little fun won’t hurt you. Try Nivea Soft Moisturizing Cream or Kiehl’s line of Deluxe Hand and Body Lotions. The both go on very smoothly and absorb great.
The Kiehl’s line has a variety of fun smells, for those of you who insist. For really dry spots I like basic Vaseline or, for a little more fun, try L’Occitane Almond Supple Skin Oil.