Most women have come to expect the dry skin that comes with harsh winter winds and bone-dry indoor heating. But aside from the oh-so-attractive flake face, there’s another consequence that’s a little harder to shake. Skin that itches like Marilyn Monroe after seven years. Lucky for you, we’ve got the goods to get you through scratching season.
Holistic Helpers
If you’re looking for an all-natural cure, there are a few excellent options to help ease flakes and irritation. Witch hazel helps soothe itchiness and bonus, will help to prevent pimples too. But aloe vera is probably easier to find, and is just as effective. It’s a buffet for skin, too. Aloe vera is packed with vitamin C, which helps boost collagen production and cell turnover (read = helps skin regenerate and look healthier), but it’s known for its vitamin E, an antioxidant that can help delay the look of aging.
The Big Guns
If you’re still stumped, there are beauty products on the market designed specifically to soothe irritated skin. Choose a noncomedogenic one if you’re planning to use it on your face, as it won’t clog pores. Here are a few of our favourites:
Curé©l Itch Defense Lotion
It’s fragrance-free for those with sensitive skin, and has been recognized by the National Eczema Association as an accepted treatment. It’s made with olive oil, which packs vitamin E and skin-friendly monounsaturated fats.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
This is another fragrance-free cream that also boasts no synthetics dyes and no parabens (a controversial cosmetic preservative). It’s made with shea butter, which is well-regarded for its moisturizing properties.
The Body Shop Aloe Soothing Day Cream
And from the people who made shea butter a household name, this cream’s base is aloe vera, which is a great starting point to relieve itch. But it also brings in sesame oil and oat extract, both of which will help soothe irritation and keep your skin hydrated.
