But it’s not all doom and gloom. Here are some tips that can help ease and prevent further inflammation:
- Try to switch from hot and steamy showers/baths to a lukewarm temperature. If the water is too hot, it dehydrates the skin. If this is too much of a sacrifice, try showering once a day.
- After bathing, pat your skin dry with a towel rather than rubbing as this aggravates the area more.
- To lock in moisture, apply your body cream within three minutes of leaving the shower/bath.
- Try to avoid scratching the area as this can damage the skin further. If you feel an urge coming try to occupy your hands by sending a text for example.
- I know we don’t get that much sun here in Britain but excessive exposure to sunlight can cause dry skin and hard-to-banish wrinkles.
- Drinking six to eight glasses of water a day keeps your skin hydrated.
- Avoid using ‘harsh’ soaps and chemical filled products.
I tend to get dry patches of skin on the tops of my arms and shoulders and mild scaling on my calves and shins, lovely. I do bring it on myself as I love hot showers and find that the body creams I’m using at the moment don’t provide the moisture my skin craves. I am going to try some of the top body care products on the market, as well as some up-and-coming brands, to see whether the results fit the claims they declare.
Soap & Glory Spa Butter Up £7.50 200ml
Stockist - www.boots.com
Features and benefits
Soap & Glory’s special dry-skin spa formula boasts ingredients such as Cocoa Butter, Sweet Almond Oils and Shea Butter which moisturises the skin. The cream also includes Aloe Vera and Vitamin E for their soothing qualities, Grapeseed Oil for its regenerative properties and 5-Fruit skin smoothers gives the cream that luxurious scent.
First impressions
The cream dispenses as a stiff butter but transforms into a cream once you begin to rub it in. It absorbs well and smoothes over the skin nicely. The grape and citrus scent can seem quite overwhelming but sits on the skin in a subtle way. As I smoothed the cream over the dry patches on my arm I was expecting it to sting slightly, like most perfumed products do with my sensitive skin, but I felt nothing. The butter absorbs very quickly into the skin so is perfect for those always on the go. The tube is quite a handy size to fit in your handbag or have by your desk at work.
Results
I found my skin felt smoother and moisturised after one application. With continued use my dry skin subsided and the cream didn‘t irritate my skin.
Lavera Neutral Intensive Body Lotion £13.55 200ml
Stockist - www.lavera.co.uk
Features and benefits
This fragrance-free lotion is specially formulated for those with allergic or hypersensitive skin which needs extra help in dealing with dryness. The ingredients Organic Evening Primrose Oil, Shea and Shorea Butters provide concentrated moisturisation.
There are no parabens, synthetic colourants, fragrances, petrochemicals or silicones present in this cream. We have added reassurance with Lavera being approved by BDIH, Germany’s certifying body for natural products.
First impressions
The body lotion is true to its name and is intensive to rub in. The unusual consistency resembles that of a thick sun tan lotion and is a struggle to rub in. It does take a little longer than most creams to settle in the skin but once it did; my skin felt velvety-soft. The cream has no scent which is good news for those with hyper-sensitive skin and reacts to harsh chemicals in creams.
Results
My skin felt significantly smoother, more so than any cream I have ever used. I loved using this cream on my legs. It gave me the confidence to wear my party dress without sheer tights. Unfortunately the consistency made it difficult to use as an all over lotion. Instead I preferred to apply it to problem areas. I think Lavera Body Lotion would be best suited for all over use, rather than the Intensive Body Lotion.
Clinique Deep Comfort Body Butter £19.58 200ml
Stockist - www.clinique.co.uk
Features and benefits
Clinique Deep Comfort Body Butter is another fragrance free product from their range which contains Shea Butter for added moisture to nourish skin.
First impressions
Deep Comfort is a fitting name for this butter. The lovely thick consistency really soothed my skin without any stinging. It does take a little effort to rub in but wasn’t greasy like other creams. Because of the thickness, you don’t need to use as much and a little goes a long way. It also means the product doesn’t slosh around in its tub or spill out. The tub is quite big so has a generous supply of cream.
Results
I really enjoyed using this product. I like the thick texture to the cream which felt like a treat to the skin. After one day (applying morning and evening) my dry skin had reduced. There was no redness or dry patches and I could only tell I had dry skin by running my hand over the area. The butter soothed and moisturised my skin and makes a great quick-fix for my dry skin problem.
Kate Logan Beauty Rosewood Nourish Oil £19.99 100ml
Stockist - www.kateloganbeauty.com
Features and benefits
KLB is an all-natural beauty range that is free from chemicals, preservatives or artificial ingredients. Each product is handmade to order by Kate herself. The nourish body oil contains Rosewood essential oil which is known for its skin regeneration and healing properties.
First impressions
A lot of Kate’s products have strong scents and this oil is no different. As soon as I unscrew the cap my senses are hit with a woodsy, almost minty scent which some may favour and others might dislike. I quite liked the menthol aroma and looked forward to trying it out. This oil can be used on its own as a body lotion or be added, along with a tablespoon of milk, to your bath. I did both and found the bath incredibly relaxing. Applying the oil to my arms and legs was simple enough but had to be rubbed in for slightly longer than most creams. It is quite tricky to control how much oil comes out of the bottle, which is unfortunate, as there is the danger of having too much oil spill out. A little goes a long way, especially on damp skin so this bottle should last quite a while. As the products are fresh and natural, they do have an expiry date of 3 months.
Results
This nourish oil does exactly that, leaving my skin moisturised and scented. The handful of all-natural ingredients contained in this oil meant that it was very kind to my skin. This product is perfect for those with extremely sensitive or highly reactive skin.
Nephria Jade Beauty Bar £20.00
Stockist - www.nephria.co.uk
Features and benefits
Using the unique ingredient of Jade, this Beauty Bar can be used on the complexion and all over the body. Pure oils derived from apricot, olive and jojoba as well as Chitosan and Vitamin E ensures that the bar cleanses and moisturises the skin.
The bar is to be used twice a day in addition to your moisturising face/body cream. To begin with the skin might feel tight and some blemishes and bacteria may be brought to the surface. This should fade after a couple of weeks to reveal much smoother and more revived skin. Nephria is used by sufferers of acne, rosacea and impetigo.
First impressions
The Bar has a nice earthy smell to it and applied easily in the shower. I had no trouble building up lather and it smoothed over my skin nicely. It didn’t dry my skin like other soaps have done previously. Instead, it felt more like I was applying a moisturising cream. My skin did feel slightly tighter once I left the shower and I needed to apply moisturiser afterwards.
Results
Although the instructions recommend using the Bar twice a day, sometimes my busy schedule meant I only used it once a day. Unfortunately, because of this, I cannot report definitive results.
This Beauty Bar isn’t that cost-effective as you have to use it as well as a moisturiser post-shower. This didn’t really make a difference to my arms which I was disappointed with. I have those annoying red bumps on the top of my arms and was hoping this would draw them out. It’s not all bad news. My legs do feel smoother and I haven’t experienced any skin irritation.
Elemis Vitamin-Rich Body Lotion 200ml £21.00
Elemis Exotic Island Flower Body Balm 125ml £25.00
Elemis Exotic Frangipani Monoi Moisture Melt 100ml £29.00
Stockist - www.timetospa.co.uk
Features and benefits
All three of Elemis’ body moisturising products are designed to nourish and repair dry skin. The Vitamin-Rich Body Lotion is packed with ingredients including Wheatgerm Oil, Carrot Extract, Milk Protein and Sweet Almond Oil to soften, soothe and smooth dry skin. The Body Balm includes added ingredients such as St John’s Wort and Pat Kernal Extract to moisturise and reduce skin irritation. The Moisture Melt is a multi-purpose concentrated oil which can be used all over the body, hair and nails.
First impressions
Although I enjoyed the milky/coconut scent of the Vitamin-Rich Body Lotion, I wasn’t fond of the thin and runny consistency. The Body Balm has a slightly thicker texture but an overpowering scent which some may be fond of but I didn’t particularly warm to it. The flowery scent does subside slightly once it has fully absorbed into the skin. My favourite of the three would have to be the Moisture Melt. I let the bottle sit in a sink of warm water whilst I had my shower. This was enough time for the product to melt. The oil smoothed onto my skin with ease and smelt lovely. The oil can be used all over the body; in particular those stubborn areas such as the elbows, feet and knees that often crave moisture. I like the fact that I can use the oil on my hair and nails.
Results
The Moisture Melt is a true luxury. I am not a fan of the Vitamin-Rich Body Lotion or the Body Balm purely on the basis of the consistency (first) and scent (latter) which do not suit me personally. The Moisture Melt did exactly what it said on the tin and soothed and nourished my skin. I also used it on my nails and feet and felt the benefits straight away. If you’re looking for a bit of pampering minus a budget then Elemis Exotic Frangipani Monoi Moisture Melt is for you.
BDIH - http://ecolabelling.org/ecolabel/bdih-certified-natural-cosmetics-seal/ |
