I have been in Canada for almost 6 years (from Vegas).. and each winter my skin has gotten worse and worse... the first year I lived here I didnt know what was happening to me when I literally was up all night scratching myself because I was so itchy!..I thought I had a skin disease, and later found out its common to get itchy in the winter... I read up on what to do about it and started taking warm, short showers...instead of long hot ones...... and I always put on lotion when I get out..and I drink water all day long (always have)...

Now, 6 years later my arms and legs dont itch AS MUCH but now in the last 2 years my dryness has moved to my face..I always wear chapstick to bed, and put moisturizer (Vichy) on my face...but by the time I wake up I look like I have a milk moustache and my whole mouth area is white and dry...LOL

any recommendations for facial moisturizers??

Winters were ALWAYS bad for my skin and I was born and raised there! In the winter, my skin was so dry that it would hurt when I put lotion on. Shea butter is pretty good for dry skin so maybe look for something with that in it.

I have got severely dry skin to the point my skin around my toes will crack and bleed sometimes. Try Eucerin, it is comparable to a prescription lotion the dermatologist gave me once. If you can't find it, second option would be Gold's medicated for the body.

I haven't found a good facial one yet, but best one so far is made by Clinique (and no, not that yellow stuff). I try them all because it looks like I have dandruff of the face

I never had any problems with dryness when I started using Lush bath products. Choose the rich and creamy bath gels. Dream Cream body lotion is amazing.

Also the best moisturizer for your lips (I spent years searching for the perfect one) is the Prescriptives Lip Specialist ($20 at Holt Renfrew)

I never tried Gold Bond, but have heard people swear by it..

but maybe not for your face..

I always used Hempz products.. smelly yummers!!!

is your husband still asleep with a smile on his face when you wake up?

About the only thing that works in these situations is Vaseline. Urea based creams will work to some extent but the only thing that will work every time is Vaseline before you go out in the cold. Shea butter, cocoa butter and udder cream are supposed to be good but Vaseline seals the moisture in. At night you probably don't need to use Vaseline every day, only every other day.

What are you suggesting?

LMAO!!!

I have sensitive skin and an inherited tendency towards eczema and winter itch, so I feel your pain.

Some suggestions:
1) Aveeno makes a very good lotion that contains menthol, which helps kill the itch.
2) In the winter I switch to an oil-based facial cleanser made by Burt's Bees. It's orange oil based and comes in a tube. It's not drying at all.
3) Burt's Bees also makes a good moisturizers (Vanishing Marshmallow) for your face.
4) Shea butter works pretty well, too.
5) Get a humidifier if you don't have one. It'll make the air less dry.

Yes, a humidifier makes a HUGE difference!

I thought Kimmbo had a humidifier. That is the first place to start.

Only moisturizer I use is Pond's Cold Cream for my face. I've lived in Northern Ontario all my life and we can hit some pretty cold temps in mid-winter. All I know is that Pond's does it for me.

For my lips, I use Vaseline. Works great!!

I'll agree with the Ponds Cold Cream - I used it as well when still in Canada and it helped a lot. A humidifier was also important overnight. My hands and feet would get very very dry - what I found helped them a lot was "Miracle Foot Repair" - I would use it on both my hands and feet. It works. I don't miss the itchy, dry skin at all! It gets dry here but it is no where near as difficult to cope with as it was up North.

I use Glysomed on my hands and feet ( 2 bottles for $14 @ costco), it works like a charm. For my face I used Elizabeth Arden 24H Hydriance lotion and eyecream. Regular pedicures also help with my dry feet...atleast thats what I tell myself

I never had dry skin when I lived in BC Canada, but living here in Utah has totally dried out my skin.
I have tried Everything but nothing seems to work that well. I'm using the gold Bond lotion right now but my skin is still pretty dry and itchy. I can't believe how dry it is here~

I recently bought the miracle repair for hands, and you are right Kathryn, it actually does work! Bought a trial size at Linens and things.

There is this other stuff that actually works, it's an apricot oil based product. I knew a woman whose lips were perpetually cracked - nothing worked, gave her some of this stuff and voila - fixed. I used to work for the co who makes it - Nutrimetics - myavalla.com - nutri-rich oil.

Ultra-Rich Hand Cream works wonders! Even my friends with diabetes who use it swear by it and use it all over! I get exema in winter time, and it even helps with that.

Aloe Lip Balm. I wouldn't even use Chap-Stik, its just wax. Works great maybe as a preventive if you're out skiing for an entire day, but as a repairer, nah, not so much. A non-petrolum based moisturizing lip balm will work much better to heal chapped lips.

And a humidifier in the bedroom works wonders.

RUN to the nearest LUSH and get:
1. Helping hands.
2. Skin shangri-la

they are a life saver in canadian winters.

Boy do i miss living on the West Coast!
Now in Montreal where the incessant wind and dry cold has begun, I am freaking out.
Bleh.
My hair is fine and long and flies around...the static is driving me nuts! Sticks to my face, and everything.
Looks like hell.
My skin (legs/arms) looks like alligator...I am not accustomed to lubing my entire body. Ha!

Recommendations:
do not buy commercial products and vaseline is a petroleum based product
do make your own or go to a health-food store type of place and get anything made with hemp, shea butter, coco butter, olive oil-based, there's so much...almond oil, grapeseed, the list is long.

For face a lighter cream and for body the heavier ones.

I have home-made hemp cream that a friend made me...I love this stuff.
I even put it on the ends of my hair.

I highly recommend this book for the more environmental-types:
http://www.ecoholic.ca/
I found it in my local library.
Talks of everything...


Try to find more natural products.
Too many additives just dry out your skin more and make them addicted to it...hence needing to apply more.
That is how most lip balms work, like Chapstick.
Once you start using this you cannot ever stop.

I usually end up going to Lush and asking an employee for help. (Just make sure you get an employee who knows their stuff. I'm currently using Celestial moisturizer in the daytime and Almond Kisses moisturizer at night from there, good stuff especially during winters. Also, my skin is crazy sensitive (Dove sensitive hurts like crazy) and those are the only two so far that work really well without burning my face.

But, if it's dry skin you're worried about, they do have moisturizers that are made up of 40% butters & oils, and they try to use more natural ingredients.

And for your hands... Lemony Flutter also from Lush. It's some really rich butter that can be used everywhere. Hands, heels, elbows, lips. Crazy good especially if your hands are super dry, cracking or just feel like sandpaper. If you do have super bad hands though, ask them if they can show you their hand treatment. "Magic hands" they call it. ... or was it "Spirit fingers?" :3