Down With Dry Skin

I've battled with my skin ever since entering puberty ten years ago. Acne, oiliness/greasiness, dryness, redness, countless dermatology trips that have cost my parents a fortune (sorry y’all), two cycles of Accutane – the list goes on and on. Until pretty recently, I thought my skin issues stemmed from having oily skin. But after a very informative visit to the dermatologist (s/o to Central Dermatology in Durham, NC), I learned that I actually have dry skin. For years, my skin was just overproducing its natural oils to give it some much-needed moisture. Meanwhile, I was treating my underlying dry skin with anti-dryness products that made my problem even worse, so I was caught in a vicious dry-but-oily skin cycle for close to 8 years. After that revolutionary dermatologist visit, I threw out all my mattifying make-up and skincare products and tried a truckload of products geared toward people with dry skin. Here are the best results of my search for healthier, more moisturized skin:

FOR YOUR FACE

Lancôme Énergie de Vie Skin care Line - $79+

I’m not going to sugar coat it – Lancôme’s skincare line comes at a hefty price, especially if you use it long term. But you only get one face, and your skin is worth protecting and investing in. Lancôme has world renowned skin care lines for women (and men) of every age and of every skin type and this one makes you look SO dewy, in the best possible way. I’ve been through my fair share of skin care lines and I genuinely can’t recommend this one enough.

Clinique Turnaround Daytime Revitalizing Moisturizer – $38.00

This moisturizer is great for skin rejuvenation and for revitalizing sun-damaged skin, plus it includes a bit of added glow! The Clinique Turnaround Daytime Revitalizing Moisturizer comes in rosy glow (which adds a pinkish tint) or golden glow (that adds a more yellow-y tint). Since I have some natural redness on my nose and cheeks, I use the golden glow and really love its subtle shimmer!

Olay Complete All Day UV Moisturizer - $8.99

I started using this stuff at a young age because my mom and my grandmother swear by it. They’ve both used it for decades and have aged quite well! My mom was a teenager in the late 70s/early 80s and used to smear baby oil all over her body before laying out on the beach. Years later, you can see some freckles and sun spots on her arms and chest as a result. But using Olay on her face kept it looking flawless and has given it sun protection for years. Any dermatologist would tell you that, no matter what season or weather you’re experiencing, you need to wear sunscreen daily. This is a great product to give you that necessary UV protection without making your face greasy like a lot of other sunscreens.

MAKE UP

Ulta Hydrating Face Primer - $18.00

Foundation wearers: I cannot emphasize the importance of primer enough – no matter what your skin type is. I’ve tried a ton of different primers from all price ranges and I’ve honestly found that the best bang for your buck is the Ulta brand hydrating face primer. It gives some added moisturizer after I go through my skin care routine each morning but keeps my make up looking smudge-free until I take it off at night!

Lancôme Tient Idole Ultra Long Wear Foundation - $47.00

I’ve been wearing liquid foundation since my high school days and have tried out both drug store and high-end brands. Nothing I have ever found has been this gentle to my skin (keeping me blemish-free), moisturizing, long-lasting and full coverage. I am 100% a Fenty supporter and a GIANT Rihanna fan, but she wasn’t the first to have 40 shades of foundation for a wide range of skin tones (although hers is, without a doubt, more affordable). With shade inclusivity and such a great formula, I don't think I can ever turn away from this foundation.

FOR YOUR LIPS

Cocolicious Luscious Ultra Sexy Lip Scrub - $7.90

THIS LIP SCRUB IS ONE OF MY GREATEST DISCOVERIES YET. My lips are very prone to getting chapped, especially in the winter. There’s only so much chapstick I can smear all over my them – sometimes I just have to exfoliate the dead skin off and start over! This is the best lip scrub out there, I'm convinced (and so are the people on Amazon). I definitely don’t recommend doing this daily because your lips could get pretty raw, so once per week should suffice. It’s also handmade, vegan and actually tastes pretty good (in case some inevitably makes its way beyond your lips).

Nivea Moisture Chapstick - $2.49

I have probably tried at least 30 different chapstick brands and no other chapstick has worked better for me than Nivea. Nivea has several types of chapstick, but after testing out a variety pack that included the Shimmer, Mint & Minerals and Milk & Honey kinds, nothing comes close to giving you smooth lips like the dark blue Nivea Moisture chapstick.

Vaseline - $4.19

I’m convinced Vaseline could fix anything. You could probably smear it on a crack in the sidewalk and it would seal right up. It is the perfect salve for almost any surface-level thing your skin might endure and could belong in almost any category in this blog post – body care, hand/foot care, face care, etc. It’s a miracle substance. I've gotten into the habit of putting a generous amount of Vaseline on my lips every night to make sure they are nice and moist when I wake up. During the day, I typically just apply some when my lips are in desperate need of hydration, but I know people that use Vaseline all the time to protect their lips from chapping.

FOR YOUR BODY

CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion – $10.49

CeraVe is a highly trusted brand among dermatologists (at least, in my experience) and you can find it in just about any drug store for a relatively low cost. It's is perfect for people with sensitive skin and is free of any rash irritants. CeraVe is gentle enough for your face and your body and can be used to soothe skin irritation as well as eczema or psoriasis (although you should consult a dermatologist beforehand). I’ve used it all over my face and body and it’s been a really effective moisturizer, especially on days that I didn’t want to rub a scented lotion all over myself.

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula - $4.94

I have to give credit where credit is due – I would not have known about the miracles that cocoa butter can work without the incredible Black women in my life (Hiwot and Ida, I’m looking at you). Not only does it smell amazing, but the natural fats inside cocoa butter actually form a protective layer over your skin to hold in moisture. Long term use of cocoa butter also improves skin elasticity. It has even been shown to fade scars and stretch marks. It’s also great for treating eczema and dermatitis (although, if you have either of those skin conditions, you should first consult your dermatologist about what OTC or prescription products to use).

Urban Outfitters Rosebud Multi-Use Oil - $28

I tried this UO multi-use oil several years ago on some dry skin areas I had on my arms and it got rid of them SO quickly. Plus, this is some of the best smelling oil on earth – get it for the fragrance alone if you’re not interested in using it as a moisturizer. If you have dry scalp issues, you can also use this magical stuff in your hair! And, let’s be real, UO has A-1 packaging. The rosebuds floating around make the bottle look really pretty, so you’ll definitely want to display it on your vanity. There are two other types of their multi-use oil that I’ve never tried, Globe and Forget Me Not. I’m sure they also smell incredible, so if anyone wants to gift them to me in the future I am absolutely okay with that. ;)

Aquaphor Healing Ointment - $4.97

I took a trip to New York City for New Year’s Eve and it got down to -6 degrees (F) with the wind chill! That did not agree with my skin, and my hands were dry and cracked for days. It was painful. But after a trip to the drug store and about 48 hours of using Aquaphor’s healing ointment, my hands were back to being soft and smooth. It’s not a lotion – it’s a salve, so it is a bit uncomfortable and sticky until it’s absorbed into your skin, but it works wonders.

Burt’s Bees Coconut Foot Cream -$8.99

It’s unpleasant to talk about, especially for those of you with foot phobias out there, but cracked heels are actually super common. They always appear for me in the winter and I usually try to ignore them. That is, until springtime rolls around and I’m scrambling to get my feet looking right for sandal season. Avoid spending so much money on a pedicure (and avoid the judging eyes of the pedicurist), and use this stuff to keep your heels ready for flip flop season all winter long.

There you have it – my list of approved products for those of us with dry skin. But take this list with a grain of salt: I don’t use each of these products daily, and it’s taken me years to figure out what works well for my skin and what doesn’t. Before making a major change to your skincare routine, I highly recommend making a trip to a dermatologist to get their medical opinion and recommendations (because they’re a bit more qualified than yours truly). If you can’t make it to a dermatologist, at least head to a Sephora, Ulta or hair salon and talk to one of their trained/licensed cosmetologists. I’ve gotten some of my best skincare and make up advice from them!

I’m sure there are also tons of other great products and regimens out there that I have yet to discover, so feel free to comment any recommendations you might have below!