This was in my email the other day from Allure...it has some pretty good dry skin care tips. 
The timing of Valentine's Day is less than idealFebruary's freezing temperatures and harsh winds are more conducive to dry, irritated skin than the silkiness required for romance. For skin that feels softno matter the weatherwe took our lizard-like selves to top dermatologists. Their favorite tips and tricks, along with a complexion-boosting face scrub and a come-hither lipstick, can be found in the February issue of Allure, on newsstands January 24. Visit allure.com for more information.
SOFT SKIN ALL OVER
Softening and smoothing flaky skin may feel like an uphill battle. But a few easy tweaks to your beauty routine can make peace in just a few days:
Just take a quick dunk. A long bubble bath will make all your troubles seem to float awayuntil you dry off. "Soaking in a hot tub depletes skin of its natural oils," says Ariel Ostad, a dermatologist at New York University Medical Center. Instead, he suggests a five-minute shower at a lower temperature. And because water evaporates off the skin when you climb out, taking essential moisture with it, "don't bathe more than once per day," says Lisa Kauffman, chief of dermatology at Georgetown University Medical Center.
Always rub the right way. Good technique is essential when applying your moisturizer. "Slather on lotion while your body is still slightly damp," says Audrey Kunin, assistant clinical instructor of dermatology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. And smooth heavy creams in one direction. "A back-and-forth motion can cause the hair follicles to become inflamed, resulting in little red bumps," Kauffman says. If a rich formula is difficult to spread over moist skin, she suggests warming it in a sinkful of hot water while you shower. "You'll be able to massage it in without nearly as much effort, and it will absorb more readily," she says.
Humidify the bedroom. High humidity holds more moisture in the skin, leaving you glowing. In winter, the dry outdoor air and indoor heat has just the opposite effect. A humidifier in your bedroom "will add back some of that lost moisture, re-creating a more summer-like climate," Ostad says. To avoid replacing dry air with mold from an unclean tank, doctors recommend washing out the humidifier at least every three days with a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution.
Find more strategies for flawless skin in the February issue of Allure.
The timing of Valentine's Day is less than idealFebruary's freezing temperatures and harsh winds are more conducive to dry, irritated skin than the silkiness required for romance. For skin that feels softno matter the weatherwe took our lizard-like selves to top dermatologists. Their favorite tips and tricks, along with a complexion-boosting face scrub and a come-hither lipstick, can be found in the February issue of Allure, on newsstands January 24. Visit allure.com for more information.
SOFT SKIN ALL OVER
Softening and smoothing flaky skin may feel like an uphill battle. But a few easy tweaks to your beauty routine can make peace in just a few days:
Just take a quick dunk. A long bubble bath will make all your troubles seem to float awayuntil you dry off. "Soaking in a hot tub depletes skin of its natural oils," says Ariel Ostad, a dermatologist at New York University Medical Center. Instead, he suggests a five-minute shower at a lower temperature. And because water evaporates off the skin when you climb out, taking essential moisture with it, "don't bathe more than once per day," says Lisa Kauffman, chief of dermatology at Georgetown University Medical Center.
Always rub the right way. Good technique is essential when applying your moisturizer. "Slather on lotion while your body is still slightly damp," says Audrey Kunin, assistant clinical instructor of dermatology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. And smooth heavy creams in one direction. "A back-and-forth motion can cause the hair follicles to become inflamed, resulting in little red bumps," Kauffman says. If a rich formula is difficult to spread over moist skin, she suggests warming it in a sinkful of hot water while you shower. "You'll be able to massage it in without nearly as much effort, and it will absorb more readily," she says.
Humidify the bedroom. High humidity holds more moisture in the skin, leaving you glowing. In winter, the dry outdoor air and indoor heat has just the opposite effect. A humidifier in your bedroom "will add back some of that lost moisture, re-creating a more summer-like climate," Ostad says. To avoid replacing dry air with mold from an unclean tank, doctors recommend washing out the humidifier at least every three days with a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution.
Find more strategies for flawless skin in the February issue of Allure.
