Winter Skin Solutions (while at home sick with the plague…)

So it has finally happened -- the inevitable when you work in a school with small children…. I AM SICK. No, this is not your run of the mill stomach bug or even the evil, but ever prevalent strep throat, NOOO, this is the full on PLAGUE!! Ugh!! My nightstand and coffee table look like a shrine to the multi-symptom God known only as, VIRUS. Cough drops, Ginger Ale cans, empty tea cups, Kleenex boxes, Chloraseptic spray and various other useless medication all offered up in supplication….but to no avail! Alas, I am permanently ensconced in a nest of blankets and pillows on my couch -- from which, I fear, there in no foreseeable escape!! But at least I have the internet…and Netflix!

But however humorous my whining may be that is not why you are reading my post (or maybe it it, who knows?!). Why you are most likely here today is because I have some fabulous body lotions to recommend that are sure to banish that dry, itchy winter skin. I take moisturizing very seriously -- our skin is our largest organ and it is constantly being abused. Especially in the winter, when the elements are not our friend, our skin needs a little extra (or a lot extra) TLC to help it get by.

I am religious about my lotion use. Everyone morning (and sometimes in the evening) I use some kind of lotion all over my body. You might think I am completely nuts and in all seriousness that debate is still being waged, however I really attribute the elasticity and strength of my skin to the fact that I moisturize every, single day.


One of my favorite lotions for seriously dry winter skin is Kiehl's Creme de Corps. This lotion is truly a splurge, clocking in at $48 for a 16.9oz bottle (don't worry there are smaller and larger sizes) but it is not a lotion I use year 'round. I turn to Creme de Corps only for the driest of days when it is below zero wind chill and my body needs that extra thick layer of moisture. Creme de Corps is heavy duty, without feeling that way. It is unscented and thick, but sinks into your skin pretty quickly, which is important because there is nothing I hate more than that greasy, sticky feeling. Creme de Corps contains coco butter, which is a must for dry skin as well as sesame seed oil, which skins into skin quickly and doesn't leave any greasy feeling. This lotion also contains Beta-Carotien, which is an antioxidant found most famously in carrots. Finally, many of Kiehl's products contain something called Squalane, which is a botanical lipid that is similar to your skin's own lipids. It is easily absorbed, has softening properties and helps skin retain moisture. I nab my bottle of Kiehl's Creme de Corps at Nordstrom.

My other favorite lotion for winter skin is Bliss' Lemon + Sage Body Butter Maximum Moisture Cream. Ounce for ounce, at $29.00 for 6.7oz, this cream is basically just as expensive as Kiehl's but you can often find it at a steep discount at stores like Nordstrom Rack, TjMaxx or Marshall's. I scored a haul of this stuff back in December at a TjMaxx and the bottles were like $12.99 each. In the winter this is my go to, every day lotion. It sinks in immediately and provides an excellent moisture barrier for those cold, but not (my nose hairs are freezing to the inside of my nose) kind of days. This body butter is paraben free and has a subtle lemony scent (although there are other scents too). Skin saving ingredients like coco butter and shea butter round out some of it's top five ingredients -- making Bliss' Body Butter a great all around choice.

So what are you using to help combat winter skin? Hit me up @lovelyincolumbusblog on Instagram and check out my Instagram only pick of the week -- G.M. Collin Hydrating Cream.

Stay warm and as always…
Stay lovely, Columbus!

XOXO - Ann