Best Moisturizers for Dry Skin
Avoid dry, chapped winter skin with rich, natural moisturizers.
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When the temperature and humidity drop, it’s time to switch up your skin care routine because dry air can make fine lines and wrinkles more noticeable. Replace your light face moisturizing lotion with a rich cream that contains olive or jojoba oils, shea butter, or hyaluronic acid that creates a seal to prevent moisture from escaping. Staying hydrated is also important.
“Hydrating dry skin from the inside out is critical, especially in winter,” says Lisa Powell, MS, RDN, Director of Nutrition at Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Ariz. “I recommend the Institute of Medicine guidelines, which is your body weight divided by 2 equals the amount of ounces of water you should drink each day.” Powell also suggests a diet rich in essential fatty acids from nuts and seeds, soy, and fatty fish. And since biotin is required for the metabolism of fatty acids, she includes peanuts, egg yolks, bananas, mushrooms, cauliflower, watermelon, legumes, Swiss chard, and brewers yeast in a dry skin diet.
“Since essential fatty acids are incorporated into cell membranes, they are critical for skin health,” says Powell. “Fatty acids help skin protect itself against the environment. Additional nutrients that address healthy skin are protein, zinc, and vitamin C, which are necessary to make collagen. According to a study published in Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, collagen hydrolysate helps skin retain moisture and elasticity. Bone broth is the best natural source of [dietary] collagen.”
Topically, she turns to organic and unpreserved jojoba oil. “The fatty acid configuration of jojoba oil lets it melt into your skin. Use it in place of a moisturizer or over a moisturizer to add a fat barrier so moisture won’t evaporate.”
1. Lap of Luxury
Luxe Lotion Luxury Face, Neck & Hand is packed with hyaluronic acid, CoQ10, sea buckthorn extract, and raspberry seed oil. Easily absorbed, a little goes a long way on the face, neck, hands, and body. Choose from two sizes and five natural scents, including Grapefruit (pictured here).
2. Triple Threat
Desert Essence Moringa, Jojoba & Rose Hip Oil features a unique combination of three key oils. Moringa is considered one of the greatest cosmetic oils ever discovered. When blended with jojoba oil, it helps enhance skin’s texture and glow, while GLA-rich rose hip oil helps skin look and feel rejuvenated.
3. Farm Fresh
Get quick relief for cracked lips, rough hands, scaly skin, and calluses with FarmHouse Fresh à la Mode All-Purpose Shea Butter Balm. The rich texture melts on contact and delivers scented moisture reminiscent of old-fashioned churned ice cream from a blend of shea, mango seed, and cocoa seed butters, as well as coconut, soybean, and apricot kernel oils.
4. Beauty Buzz
Soothe dry skin while cleansing and brightening with Now Solutions Vitamin C & Manuka Honey Gel Cleanser. Manuka honey, extra virgin olive oil, aloe, and vitamins C and E gently cleanse, brighten dull or uneven skin tone, and draw moisture to the skin without clogging pores.
5. Happy Day
Hydrate and protect very dry skin with Weleda Hydrating Day Cream. Biodynamic iris root extract draws moisture to the skin’s surface, while organic shea butter protects against harmful environmental toxins and organic cocoa seed butter nourishes and softens for a luminous glow.
