As much as we love to talk about mascara and lipstick, sometimes we need to get into the nitty-gritty of beauty. Sure, we could wax poetic about acne, dullness, and the like — but there's another skin ailment that most of us suffer through (and no one seems to talk about): itchy, irritated skin. And now that we're in the throes of winter, tight, itchy, and sometimes even cracked skin is at its peak. So, we rounded up a few proven skin soothers that alleviate the urge to scratch. Check 'em out in the slides ahead.
Although this body oil is technically for babies, we love using it
post-shower to hydrate and soothe our dry, sensitive skin.
Burt's Bees Baby Bee Nourishing Baby Oil, $9, available at Burt's Bees.
One layer of this treatment swathes the skin with a layer of cooling menthol, which temporary alleviates cracked and inflamed patches.
Eucerin Skin Calming Itch Relief Treatment, $7.99, available at Drugstore.com.
This body wash is formulated with eczema-prone skin in mind. It's super-gentle and free of any artificial fragrances and parabens, meaning it won't irritate itchy skin. Plus, unlike most body washes, this one never makes our skin feel tight or parched after a shower because of the shea butter and sunflower-seed oil in the formula.
Cetaphil Eczema Calming Body Wash, $13.99, available at Drugstore.com.
For anyone with eczema (myself included), this hydrocortisone cream is a great over-the-counter option to treat dry, raw patches.
Cortizone 10 Intensive Healing Formula, $7.99, available at Target.
This is, by far, one of the the best hand creams I've tried. It's super hydrating, yet absorbs in a matter of seconds. Plus, since the formula is infused with aloe vera and chamomile, it's a great treatment for itchy, eczema-prone skin, too.
Skinfix Hand Repair Cream, $17.99, available at Skinfix.
Although the directions on this pack of bath salts call for just two cups, we like to double the amount for a super soothing soak. Mixed in with the epsom salts are bits of colloidal oatmeal, which coddle inflamed skin. Unfortunately, these salts aren't available to buy just yet, but they'll be rolling out at Walmart stores this month.
Next time you feel an urge to scratch, reach for the aloe vera gel you've got relegated to your sunscreen stash. The cooling gel doesn't just relieve sunburns— in a pinch, it immediately alleviates skin irritations, too. Plus, you can get a pretty sizable tube for less than a fiver.
Fruit Of The Earth Aloe Vera Gel, $4.99, available at Drugstore.com.
If you have easily irritated skin, chances are you've tried and loved this no-frills lotion. The lightweight formula is enriched with colloidal oatmeal, which we know calms skin on contact.
Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion, $6.99, available at Target.
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