Lotion suggestions?

Aries_jb

I'm looking for some suggestions for body lotions. My skin has been so dry and itchy that it's driving me crazy!

So far the only thing that works is to apply oil (olive or coconut) to damp skin, then apply lotion over that. The lotion I'm currently using (Bodycology Body Cream) is fine for this purpose, but it's close to running out and I want to find something better. I'm also looking for something that isn't loaded with mineral oil (other oil is fine) or fragrance (too much and I get a headache), yet something rich to help retain moisture throughout the day.

I was thinking of trying Eucerin, since their products work so well for my face, but does anyone have other suggestions? I'll try anything at this point!

rudeechick

Curel (ORIGINAL FORMULA if you can find it) is great. Aveeno Exema relief lotion is excellent. Also, if you find those oils too heavy or greasy, i like the Neutrogena Sesame Body oil.

Aries_jb

Thank you! I've never heard of the Aveeno one, but that sounds great. Yeah, the oils are very heavy. I can't find a balance: it's either dry and itchy or coated and greasy.

I'm planning on going a lotion buying spree, so keep the suggestions coming please!

rudeechick

Aries_jb wrote: »

Thank you! I've never heard of the Aveeno one, but that sounds great. Yeah, the oils are very heavy. I can't find a balance: it's either dry and itchy or coated and greasy.

I'm planning on going a lotion buying spree, so keep the suggestions coming please!

The Neutrogena Sesame oil is very light but a nice base coat to a lotion - I use it right in the shower. I think all the Aveeno lotions are supposed to be very effective for dry skin, but we specifically have the Excema Relief one and it really works.

KindredsTwin1983

You can never go wrong with good ol palmers cocoa butter.

Wonderful scent, perfect for blemishes, etc.

Palmers also has olive butter abd shea butter. But I prefer the original COCOA BUTTER.

KindredsTwin1983

Baby oil is good too. I keep a bottle in my shower. As soon as I turn off the shower water and before drying off, I wipe it all over my damp skin and then dry off. Then keeps my skin super smooth without being greasy.

The New Black

Kiehl's Intensive Moisturizing Creme

2poodles

I like cetaphil moisturizing cream for real dry skin (not the lotion) it comes in a big fat jar.

kathymack

Don't know what your showering procedures are, but the dermatologists suggest only washing the "crevices," especially in the wintertime. That helps with drying. My DH used to switch to Dove in the winter. He is now using the natural soap bars--no complaints about dry, itchy skin this winter.

Efrizzabeth

For winter I'm in love with shea butter or cocoa butter, or a mixture as in a natural body butter/lotion bar I got from Alaska.

I also really like O.P.I. for a thinner (summer) treat. There's no mineral oil/petroleum in theirs either.

And Target, WalMart & Whole Foods carry a wonderful petro-free brand; J.R. Watkins Aromatherapy.
http://www.jrwatkins.com/jrwatkins/store.cfm?Store=E4C33ACF-2542-3708-4D6BFDC7F0F83A31&Country=Usa

And when straight out of the shower for my driest areas (i.e., shins, after shaving) I use a natural oil such as Africa's Ultimate Herbal Oil Blend with Ginseng. http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=100235&id=prod11827

sharon5152

I agree with KindredsTwin on the Palmers Cocoa Butter--they make both a body oil and a lotion, and they're both terrific! I've put the oil on straight out of the shower while my skin's still damp; let it soak in and add some lotion on spots as needed. Nice plus--you can get them at the drugstore, and they're very inexpensive! Good luck!

The New Black

kathymack wrote: »

Don't know what your showering procedures are, but the dermatologists suggest only washing the "crevices," especially in the wintertime. That helps with drying. My DH used to switch to Dove in the winter. He is now using the natural soap bars--no complaints about dry, itchy skin this winter.

Really? Never heard that. Interesting...

Tzu Love

Aveeno Intense Relief Overnight Cream is the best ever. It's in a tube with maroon accent. They have one in a tub, but it's not as good as the one in the tube. It makes my skin feel like a baby.

alacurl

Phoenix wrote: »

kathymack wrote: »

Don't know what your showering procedures are, but the dermatologists suggest only washing the "crevices," especially in the wintertime. That helps with drying. My DH used to switch to Dove in the winter. He is now using the natural soap bars--no complaints about dry, itchy skin this winter.

Really? Never heard that. Interesting...

I've also heard that, and I almost never soap up my extremities (except for my feet). I am a bit oily on my torso, so I do cleanse there, but I have switched entirely away from cleansers with sodium sulfates. Those are too drying and rash-inducing for me.

Instead of soaping up my arms and legs, I often will use a non-foaming but moisturizing sugar scrub to get rid of the dead skin. Feels great!

kathymack

Phoenix wrote: »

kathymack wrote: »

Don't know what your showering procedures are, but the dermatologists suggest only washing the "crevices," especially in the wintertime. That helps with drying. My DH used to switch to Dove in the winter. He is now using the natural soap bars--no complaints about dry, itchy skin this winter.

Really? Never heard that. Interesting...

I've done it for years. "The Doctors," just had something on in the last two weeks where they interviewed a dermatologist about dry, winter skin--that was his most prominent suggestion.

maebytonight

Burt's Bees has an after-shower oil start smells good and feels wonderful.

Rednaturalcurls

My friend was telling me that Vaseline Intensive Lotion Clinical Strength is really good. I haven't tried that one yet but she said in 3 days she saw a huge difference in her dried out elbows.

egyptiancurls89

ooo i LOVE kbb olive oil lotion.....the best lotion i have ever tried.....and sounds like we have similiar skin issues

Aries_jb

These are great suggestions everyone! I'm making a list.

About my showering...I use Chagrin Valley soaps. I try really hard not to put the water too hot, but it's something I have to train myself to do.

I've never even heard of many of these! I've been buying Ulta brand and Bodycology lotion lately for the different scents, but it was over the summer, so I didn't need the moisture.

maebytonight, the Burt's Bees oil sounds great! I've found their lotions to be too light but I didn't know they made a body oil.

Kindred and sharon, I love Palmer's! Over the summer I used the cocoa butter lotion with spf 15 and it was awesome. I always smelled like chocolate

I think I'm going to have a lot of fun trying all these out, and my skin will be happy too! Thanks everyone!

TillyMunchyWaves

I second mixing up a sugar or salt scrub instead of soap in the winter (except of course for few um strategic areas.) You get exfoliated, and a nice base of moisture already on your skin when you apply lotion out of the shower.

cara4curls

for me, I'm a huge fan of both shea butter and coconut oil for general skin care. All I use on my body, while it is still damp from the shower, is extra-virgin coconut oil - no lotion comes even close it's that good. Be sure to apply while you're still damp though, for it to really work. This goes for any kind of natural oil. Many commercial body lotions end up actually DRYING the skin out, necessitating more and more applications and continuing the cycle. Also consider this, fully 60% of what you apply to your skin eventually ends up in your bloodstream. This is why so many alternative practitioners advise their clients to stick with only food-grade products applied to large areas of the skin. For my face, I use my own shea butter-coconut oil combo and it's fabulous!

BrewCrewGrl

Rednaturalcurls wrote: »

My friend was telling me that Vaseline Intensive Lotion Clinical Strength is really good. I haven't tried that one yet but she said in 3 days she saw a huge difference in her dried out elbows.

I have to give a vote for this lotion. My DH and I usually have cracked dry hands in the winter (I am a nurse, so constant handwashing, my DH works out in the cold everyday) So far our hands are nice and soft, and not a single crack in the skin.

I use Vaseline Cocoa Butter for everywhere else on my body.

noelani

cara4curls wrote: »

for me, I'm a huge fan of both shea butter and coconut oil for general skin care. All I use on my body, while it is still damp from the shower, is extra-virgin coconut oil - no lotion comes even close it's that good. Be sure to apply while you're still damp though, for it to really work. This goes for any kind of natural oil. Many commercial body lotions end up actually DRYING the skin out, necessitating more and more applications and continuing the cycle. Also consider this, fully 60% of what you apply to your skin eventually ends up in your bloodstream. This is why so many alternative practitioners advise their clients to stick with only food-grade products applied to large areas of the skin. For my face, I use my own shea butter-coconut oil combo and it's fabulous!

Which brands do you use and what's your shea butter/coconut oil recipe?