Peter Thomas Roth
Water Drench Cloud
Cream Cleanser
has nourishing coco-
nut oil and a frothy
whipped texture that
helps your face feel
supple, not tight,
after use. $28, peter
thomasroth.com.
Reach for glycolic
acid, say Wexler and
Kenkare. It draws
water into skin while
removing dead cells.
SkinCeuticals Gly-
colic 10 Renew Over-
night also has jojoba
oil, which soothes
while it sloughs. $80,
skinceuticals.com.
La Roche Posay
Lipikar Balm AP+ is
Meghan Feely’s
sensitive-skin choice;
it boasts a who’s who
of skin soothers,
including shea butter
and H2O-attracting
glycerin. $20,
laroche-posay.us.
Extra-arid? A rich oil-
based formula, such
as BeautyCounter
Countertime Lipid
Defense Cleansing
Oil, binds to impuri-
ties, so you can rinse
them off without
impairing skin. $49,
beautycounter.com.
Too much friction can trigger in-
flammation, says Dendy Engelman.
The natural beta-hydroxy acids
in Indie Lee Gentle Daily Peel have
a light touch. $65, indielee.com.
Seek out ceramides, which seal
in moisture, says Feely. Curél
Intensive Moisture Facial Cream
packs them in a silky treatment.
$30, ulta.com.
Hyaluronic-acid molecules,
which can hold up to a thousand
times their weight in water, are
the MVPs in Sonya Kenkare’s pick,
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream.
$10, target.com.
Salves like Naturopathica
Gotu Kola Intense Repair Balm
deliver a mega dose of oils
that seep into skin and nourish it.
$58, naturopathica.com.
Pass the Baton
“I stash lotions, lip balms, and cuticle oils at my desk, in my bag, and on my nightstand—suffice it to say,
my skin is dry. Vaseline All-Over Body Balm Jelly Stick has lightened my load immensely. It’s the classic
formula’s first-ever reformulation, and it’s even richer than the original. I swipe it on dry patches for quick
relief without greasy fingers. Pretty neat, if you ask me.” —CS $6, vaseline.com.
Head-to-Toe
Helpers
- SHORTEN SHOWERS
Hot water dehydrates
your skin, says Feely, so
dial it down and step
out after 10 minutes, tops.
Smooth on body lotion
within three minutes of
toweling off, as the for-
mulas work by trapping
existing moisture. Wesley’s
go-to is Vanicream
Moisturizing Skin Cream
($7, target.com).
- GO FULL-STEAM
Close the bathroom
windows and door when
you shower, and put a
humidifier by your bed
to help replenish skin
overnight, suggests Feely.
- WEAR LAYERS
Artificial heat is as drying
as cold air; instead of
cranking it up, Wexler says
to get cozy in sweaters
and blankets. If your
favorite turtleneck is
wool, Kenkare advises
wearing breathable
cotton underneath to
prevent itchiness.
FOR DRY SKIN FOR THE DRIEST SKIN
OUR EXPERTS
New York City
dermatologist Dendy
Engelman; NYC
and New Jersey der-
matologist Meghan
Feely; Evergreen Park,
Illinois, dermatologist
Sonya Kenkare; Los
Angeles dermatologist
Naissan Wesley;
NYC dermatologist
Patricia Wexler.
WASH GENTLY
High-lathering soaps can strip
skin of moisture. Pick a cream or
an oil-based cleanser, says
Patricia Wexler; leave it on for
a few minutes before rinsing.
MOISTURIZE
Hard water, caffeine, and some
medications (decongestants, cer-
tain antibiotics) exacerbate dry-
ness. Choose creams over lotions;
they’re less watery—and less likely
to evaporate, says Naissan Wesley.
EXFOLIATE
Alpha- and beta-hydroxy formulas
are generally less abrasive than
physical scrubs. Use one once or
twice a week after cleansing to
remove dead cells and help your
skin absorb moisturizers better.
SLEEP ON IT
Treat your skin to something
concentrated before bed to coax
cells into regenerating and
get a head start on hydrating for
tomorrow, too.
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Rave
Review
MARTHA STEWART LIVING 53
MAX OPPENHEIM/GETTY IMAGES (FACE); COURTESY OF MANUFACTURER (CERAVE); PETER ARDITO (OTHERS)