Why oh Why am I so Damn DRY?!?!

Winter weather may be nice for those of you who love a good ski or a simmering cup of hot coco (or even a ski-apres), but for moi, all this weather offers is DRY SKIN and depression.

My hands, feet, elbows, knees, stomach, back, butt, lips, face, hair, even my eyes, are all dry. And it's like, no matter how much lotion I put on my skin, or how much conditioner I use on my hair, I still feel like a dry, decrepit, old prune! Sure, there are certain products that can help, but the truth is, nothing gives ultimate relief.

People swear by shea butter to help combat really dry skin (even hair). Tons of my lotions have shea butter listed in the ingredients, but I wanted to look it up so that I knew exactly what it is.

From Wikipedia.org:
"Shea nut butter is a slightly greenish or ivory-colored natural fat extracted from fruit of the shea tree by crushing and boiling... Shea butter absorbs rapidly into the skin without leaving a greasy feeling... known for its skin softening effect."

• Try de~luxe Shea 25% Shea Butter Body Balm. They also have a 100% shea butter, but I like this one best. It's creamier, thus easier to apply, yet it still does the heavy duty job of effectively moisturizing dry and cracking skin. And, the best part about it is that you get a giant tub (8 fl oz) for $8.99 (order today, and it's a mere $6.74)!

• For the hair, try Frederic Fekkai's Hair Mask with Shea Butter - it's meant to restore moisture and replenish damaged hair.

Another ingredient that people swear by is petroleum jelly. Most likely, you have used petroleum jelly at some point in your life. Vaseline, that's 100% petroleum jelly!

From Wikipedia.org:
"Petroleum jelly, vaseline, petrolatum or soft paraffin is a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons (with carbon numbers mainly higher than 25), originally promoted as a topical ointment for its healing properties."

• I'm obsessed with Aquaphor, although it's not as potent as Vaseline (it's not 100% petroleum jelly), Aquaphor is a serious skin saver! It's not only for dry, cracking lips, I spread Aquaphor all over my hands, feet and elbows. You can purchase this product, in a tube or jar, at your local drug store. P.S. I also used this on my tattoo to keep it hydrated... it's the real deal!

Oils are also fabulous for dry, winter-worn skin. Try adding oils into the bath, or use an oil in lieu of a cream. Apply the oil (like Johnson's Baby Oil... oldie but goody) right after bathing, before you've completely dried your skin. This way, the oil will absorb into your skin, leaving you hydrated and smooth.

• I also love the Paradise Potions Lip Bling. It contains shea butter (of course) and sweet almond oil. It's an awesome lippy for chapped lips (and comes in a variety of tropical scents)!

Keeping with oils, I am a true fan of Vitamin E oil (from your local drugstore). I use the pure oil on my lips and cuticles. It not only moisturizes, but adds incredible shine (better then most lip glosses).

• Try Jason's Vitamin E Pure Beauty Oil - this one's great for your bod too! Like after bathing, smother it all over your damp skin!

I hope these tips come in useful as you embark on these brutally cold Winter months!