body cream

I've always hated and cursed my dry skin but I never realized that it was such a widespread issue - Vaseline recently conducted a Good Skin Day Survey and I was amazed to see that 76% of the women surveyed have the same problem as I do and say that their dry skin can make them feel physically uncomfortable at least some of the time - including itchiness, tightness and cracking.  Women also say that the physical effects of dry skin can interfere with a range of every day activities including sleeping, getting dressed and working.  It's nice not to be alone in this problem but it's even better to find something to solve it!

Vaseline Intensive Rescue Extra Strength - 325ml - $4.99, 600ml - $7.99, 725ml - $8.99 - is available in fragranced (chamomile scent) and unfragranced. - Accelerates the healing of dry skin by tripling the skin's moisture reserves instantly while still feeling comfortable on your skin - not greasy or sticky.  Dermatologist recommended, restores and protects the skin and delivers 24 hours of hypoallergenic soothing moisture.  For super dry skin they also offer Vaseline Clinical Therapy Lotion - 200ml - $8.49 - which is clinically proven to moisturize for accelerated healing of persistently dry skin without feeling sticky or greasy and is comfortable on skin.  Proven to instantly increase hydration by five times and to lock in moisture for 24 hours.  Instantly softens and relieves extremely dry skin and to restore - through hydration - extremely dry skin in 5 days.

And of course having dry skin means that I try every moisturizer out there so here are some other great choices:

True Blue Spa Lay It On Thick Body Cream - 170g - $17 - fragrance-free with super moisturizing shea butter, macadamia nut oil to nourish and hydrate the skin and Vitamin E to help protect and condition. If you like your moisturizer to be super thick, this is one to try - I enjoy using this one right before bed to give it all night to soak in! Available at Bath & Body Works.
Calgon Nourishing Body Cream - 236ml - $6.99 - with Vitamins E and A as well as aloe to deliver longer-lasting moisturization that will leave your skin feeling soft and silky. Comes in Morning Glory, Hawaiian Ginger, Tahitian Orchid, Cotton Candy, Vanilla Swirl, Marshmallow and Moon Petal Musk. My favourite scent is the Hawaiian Ginger, you just close your eyes and imagine yourself away from winter and on a tropical island!
Thann Body Butter - 100g - $23 - 350g - $47 - with cocoa butter, jojoba oil, licorice and shiso extracts to nourish and protect dry and sensitive skin. The tick yet smooth cream absorbs quickly into the skin for long-lasting and effective moisturizing.  It's 100% paraben-free with no artificial colours or fragrances.  Available online at www.thann.ca, in select stores and spas across Canada and at Thann concept stores in Ottawa.

St. Ives 24 Hour Moisture Advanced Body Moisturizer - 600ml - $6.99 - an innovative formula clinically proven to nourish skin even after 24 hours - replenishes and retains skin for soft-looking, smooth skin all day with 100% natural moisturizers including shea butter. Features a patented moisturizing complex that acts as a barrier to prevent moisture loss without forming a heavy film on the skin.
Dial NutriSkin Replenishing Lotion - 88ml - $2.99 - 354ml - $6.99 - focus on adding essential moisture, vitamins and nutrients for your skin - in four varieties each containg a specific BioNutrient blend: Dry Skin - with aloe and vitamins C, E and F, amino acids, and omega 3; Extra Dry Skin - with shea butter, omega 3 and 6, vitamins A,C,E and F and amino acids; Soothing - with chamomile, beta-glucan, vitamins A,C and E, amino acids and zinc; and Men's - with magnesium, niacinamide, amino acids and vitamins A,C and E.

Kiss My Face Peaches & Creme Ultra Moisturizer - 118ml - $6, 350ml - $12 - with 4% alpha-hydroxy to help speed up exfoliation that allows for new healthy skin cells to emerge from your dry, flaky mess - and the peachy smell - Amazing!  You can find Kiss My Face products in various drug and health food stores - I find the website easier though - they have a Canadian site that prices and gives shipping costs in Canadian $ - www.kissmyfacewebstore.com

If you want super duper softness, start with a moisturizing body wash - my faves right now:


Dove Visible Care Renewing Creme Body Wash - 300ml - $5.99 - for visible skin improvement in just one week and with continued use, skin is more visibly beautiful within 3 weeks. It's designed to nourish and replenish skin with the highest concentration of Nutrium Moisture which contains skin natural moisturizers, the building blocks to help improve skin's look over time. It has a fruity, floral fragrance that I quite like and lathers like nobody's business!
Soap & Glory Clean, Girls Body Wash - 500ml - $9.99 - with a built-in moisturizing matrix and natural vanilla fruit and orchid extracts, it feels great and smells amazing!  It also suds up nicely which is something I find that moisturizing body washes sometimes lack. Available at Shoppers Drug Mart.
Bath & Body Works Triple Moisture Shower Cream - 236ml - $12.50 - with milk proteins, rice bran oil and acai berry.  Part of the Signature Collection, you will find it in lots of different scents - I love Warm Vanilla Sugar and Twilight Woods!

Are you a dry skin sufferer too?  Would love to hear about any great moisturizers that you've tried!

Smashbox Lash Revival Treatment and Conditioner - $39 -treatment and conditioning duo for  for noticeably longer, thicker, fuller lashes in as little as 8 weeks.  Can also be used to thicken up sparse brows.  It's easy to use, once a day you glide the treatment along upper lash line only, once dry, generously apply conditioner to lashes.

Brow Tech Trio - $30 - a renovation of the classic Brow, now a trio instead of a duo - now containing a filling powder, defining powder and smoothing wax enabling customization to create the perfect shade.  In five shade combinations: taupe/soft brown, blonde, brunette, auburn and dark brown.  Apply the lighter shade of powder to fill in sparse areas and then use the darker shade to define.  Apply wax to groom brows and keep them in place all day.


göt2b Rockin' it line: Rockin' it Dry Shampoo - 122g - $7.99 - effectively removes oil from hair to instantly refresh your style without having to shampoo as well as offering hold and volume; Rockin' it Hairspray 258g - $7.99 - a flexible and weightless hairspray that is neither sticky or hard to achieve strong but flexible hold; and Rockin' it Gel - 175ml - $7.99 - for strong hold that is non-flaky to mold and shape all hair types.

Clarins Extra-Firming Body Lotion - 200ml - a melting lotion that delivers the ideal solution to loss of skin firmness due to changes in weight or pregnancy. The same benefits are also available as a Extra-Firming Body Cream - 200ml - $60 - in rich, comforting cream form.  Both work on density to boost the production of collagen fibres which help the skin to resist pressure and are responsible for skin density and tone.  Contain Centella and Bocoa extracts which boost the production of collagen fibres and Vu Sua which protects collagen and elastic fibres in skin from glycation, a natural process which results in fibres becoming stiff and rigid.  Skin is replenished and firm and body contours are streamlined and toned.

Clairol Natural Instincts Vibrant - $10.99 - the first Natural Instincts permanent hair colour range! Includes the Week 2 Colour Refresher - a treatment now included in every box of Natural Instincts that turns back the clock to give you the look of freshly coloured hair. - in 12 shades, the formula with antioxidants delivers healthy-looking hair colour and great colour results, providing 100% grey coverage for up to eight weeks. 
Maybelline Superstay 24 - $9.99 - this 2 step lip colour has a film forming technology and a solid structure that flexes with lips while being ultra-resistant that delivers 24 hour wear - in 4 colour families and 30 long-lasting shades to choose from.  I must admit that I'm not usually a big fan of long lasting lipsticks because I find them really drying and I end up applying the top coat a billion times a day just to counteract the effect.  This one feels a lot moister going on and doesn't dry and feel stiff like the other ones seemed to.  This one has great staying power, feels great on and it didn't take a brillo pad to get it off - just an oil based remover.  I'll be happy when they get this out of a display and into the regular products - it was impossible to see all the colours as it looked like a pack of rabid animals had ravaged the display!

Bath & Body Works has a romantic new scent just in time for Valentine's Day - Carried Away! Part of the Signature Collection, Carried Away has top notes of Italian Bergamot, Meyer Lemon, Golden Mandarin, Juicy Pear Nectar and Lush Raspberries; mid notes of Purple Freesia, White Tuberose, White Jasmine and Soft Violet Petals; and base notes of Creamy Sandalwood, Whipped Vanilla and Musk.  I love the scent it's fruity, a little floral and really fresh!  I'm keeping the fragrance mist in my drawer at work for a mid-day pick-me-up!

Available in the collection are:
Eau de Toilette - 50ml - $34.50
Body Lotion - 237ml - $11
Body Butter - 200g - $15.50
Shower Gel - 295ml - $11
Creamy Body Wash - 236ml - $12
Fragrance Mist - 237ml - $12
Bubble Bath - 295ml - $12.50
Body Cream - 225g - $12.50
Hand Cream -  70g - $10.50

It's the time of the year the skin on my body and I become estranged and try to crawl out of each other. It ain't pretty. I fight the good fight. I take my vitamins, slather, grease, beg and plead, and for the most part manage to avoid turning into a creepy crawler, but it takes work and products, and come January and February I turn to the big guns. I've already tried some of the most amazing products on the market, those priced in the three digit range and they really work (they'd better). I was considering buying a jar or two when I decided to give Lancome a chance and ordered their Nutrix Royal Body Cream. I can't help it- I hear something contains royal jelly and I must try it. Not sure where this fixation came from.

My one and only issue with Lancome body products has always been the scent. They smell synthetic and fruity, and Nutrix Royal Body Cream isn't different in that regard, though by the time I get dressed it's mostly gone. The important part, though, is performance. Nutrix Royal delivers like a cream that costs three times as much and continuous use has lingering effect. I haven't touched any other body cream in more than three weeks and haven't seen that ugly dry earth pattern on my legs since then.

Bottom line: I don't know if its the royal jelly, but this cream is made of awesome.

Lancôme Nutrix Royal Body Cream ($34) is available from Lancome counters everywhere and the company's website. I ordered it online.

Photo: images.com

If you are anything like me you are dreading the cold weather that is due to hit us anytime now (depending on where you are, you might already have it) because of the total havoc it causes to our skin!  This is the time to start thinking about upping the moisture ante with your skin care products and if you aren't already familiar with L'Occitane's Shea Butter line, it's time to become acquainted!


Mini Pure Shea Butter - 8ml - $10 - 100% Shea Butter and the perfect size to pop in your purse and pull out when anything feels dry!  Good for lips, face, cuticles, hands or anything else you want to put it on!



Shea Butter Hand Cream - 150ml - $30 - enriched with 20% Shea Butter, it penetrates quickly to protect, nourish and moisturize your hands.  Absorbs rapidly with no greasy aftermath and makes it through multiple hand washings.  It has very little scent so even your guy will be a fan!
Shea Butter Foot Cream - 150ml - $30 - protects, soothes and hydrates your tired feet.  It has a non-greasy formula that quickly absorbs into your skin, leaving it silky smooth while repairing dry, rough skin on your feet and heels.  The scent is a light lavender to relax you.
Shea Butter Ultra Rich Body Cream - 200ml - $48 - with a rich, smooth texture this multi-benefit cream for dry or very dry skin deeply nourishes, protects against harsh environmental elements and helps to restore the skin's hydrolipidic film.  Enriched with a 25% concentration of Shea Butter, it provides long-lasting, 24 hour hydration and leaves skin soft and supple.
Shea Butter Lip Balm Stick - 5g - $12 - to repair and nourish your dry lips

Shea Butter Extra Gentle Soap - Verbena - 250g - $14 - has a 100% vegetable base and is rich in softening and protective Shea Butter while the Verbena adds an invigorating lemony fragrance.

You can find all these products and the entire L'Occitane line on their website at www.loccitane.ca
 
Seeing is believing - Try before you buy - whatever cliche you prefer, how about a gift basket full of every single product we just showed you above?!

This contest is open to Canadian residents. All you have to do is join Beauty Crazed as a follower if you aren't one already.  You can either do it through Google or through Networked Blogs on Facebook - you can find both signups on the right hand side of the Beauty Crazed site.  Once you belong to our crazy family just leave a reply to this post letting us know you want in and let us know what part of your body gets the driest during the winter months! If you give the contest link a tweet and/or post it on your blog, there's an extra entry in it for you! If you "like" L'Occitane on Facebook, that's another extra entry! Including an e-mail address would be extra helpful and you can write it like this - info(at)beautycrazed(dot)ca - so the bots can't find you but we can.  If you prefer not to leave your info on a public post, please leave a post saying you want to enter and then e-mail us your info to info@beautycrazed.ca, please put "L'Occitane Contest" in the subject line.  Winner to be decided by random drawing and you have until December 10th to enter.