I've Found The Best Dry Skin Lotion!
After reading through some recommendations on lotions and products that make your skin really soft (I have rather dry skin, just needs more moisturizing), I clipped these pages from a couple of magazines I read and respect and headed to the store.
Yep, I splurged for a change -- on 3 hand & body lotions, as well as 1 bath & shower wash.
Up til now, there have been 2 big bottles of Aveeno Daily Moisturizong Lotion and Jergens Ultra Healing lotion perched at my desk and near my bed. But I've still been having dry skin. Neither has the "wow" factor that I'm looking for in a lotion.
Perhaps their formulations are old? Perhaps lotion itself ages? (These bottles are over a year old.)
Either way, I was determined to try some of the newer lotions that are supposed to make your skin silky smooth.
By George, I think I've found it! During this trial, I actually found 2 lotions that I liked. One that I didn't. And a new bath & body wash that I am now using daily.
How I Tested
I did a leg-by-leg comparison with each of these lotions.
I would place one product on one leg. Another on the other leg. And wait the entire day, taking mental notes of how one was better than the other.
In all, I tried 5 lotions (the 2 I already had on hand, and 3 new ones).
Keri Renewal Serum For Dry Skin
I've heard about Keri products working well, so I've actually been on the hunt for some of the specific Keri products that have been mentioned on talk shows and in magazines, for awhile now. To no avail.
Such was the case again this time as well. I didn't look real hard, but at the 2 stores I visited (Walgreens and Target), they didn't have the Keri formulation that was mentioned in the magazine (pictured above).
Since I couldn't find Keri Long Lasting Hand Cream, I grabbed what I thought sounded like the next best thing: Keri Renewal Serum for Dry Skin.
The results were not good. Minutes after applying to one leg, that leg still felt dry. Not to mention hours later... the results were nonexistent. I believe this product is probably meant to work over time, rather than overnight. I wanted immediate results instead.
Dove Cream Oil Intensive Body Lotion (Extra Dry Skin formulation)
This one smells really good, so I liked it right away for that reason alone. But the best part came in after applying it to one leg!
This lotion truly made my leg feel silky smooth. And no greasy hands!
Plus... that hydrated, soft feeling lasted forever! Even the next morning, the leg with Dove Cream Oil body lotion truly still felt like I had just applied the lotion minutes ago.
I didn't think I could find a better lotion than this one.
They also make these versions of the Dove Cream Oil which I'm also considering stocking up on:
Dove Cream Oil Body Wash (And I'd like to try Dove Supreme Cream Oil Body Wash too. UPDATE: Tried it, didn't like it nearly as much.)
Jergens Naturals Hydrate Daily Moisturizer
The Jergens Naturals Hydrate Daily Moisturizer is a step-above the Dove Cream Oil body lotion in the sense that it's a bit thicker. Which means it's probably got a tad more of "the good stuff", whereas the Dove product probably contains more "water".
I don't love the scent of the Jergens quite as much as the Dove, but that's not a deal-breaker. The bottle says the key ingredients are: Jojoba oil, Agave extract, and Cactus extract. And there are no greasy hands after using the Jergens either!
It's next to impossible to tell which lasts longer, the Dove Cream Oil or the Jergens Naturals Hydrate lotion. That's why I'm content with a bottle of each -- one at my work desk for daytime moisturizing, and one near the bed for nighttime moisturizing.
Without a doubt, the Jergens was the better buy. I found a huge 16.8 oz bottle on sale at Walgreens for $6.99. The Dove was $7.99 for 13.5 oz at the same store.
Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion & Jergens Ultra Healing Extra Dry Skin Moisturizer
The 2 extra-large bottles that I've had and used semi-regularly for over a year are:
Comparing these lotions with my new ones wouldn't be fair, as I know that body lotions do, in fact age. Aside from the fact that their formulations are probably outdated, they've most certainly gone rancid after so much time.
That said, neither smelled as good as my new favorites do. And they seemed quite "plain" -- thin and watery. I know for a fact that my legs never felt so silky smooth with either of those products!
Dial Yogurt & Honey Body Wash
While I was at it (and since this product was featured in the same magazine as the moisturizers), I decided to try a new body wash: Dial Yogurt Vanilla Honey Body Wash.
I like it!
If you don't mind smelling like a candle all morning (until the scent wears off), then you'll probably love this body wash. It really does leave your skin feeling silky smooth as you step out of the shower. It's almost as if there's no rinsing it off! That's not a bad thing though. I like the extra-moisturizing effect.
By the way, I tried to find the Bamboo Body Sponge shown here as well. The magazine article says it's $3.50 at Walgreens. Two of my neighborhood Walgreens don't carry it.
Deodorant, Anyone?
Now, if only I could find a deodorant that I'm just as comfortable with. I flip flop and have tried so many, none strikes my fancy as "the best". Anyone?
This is a great post! I'm always looking for the perfect lotion that softens my skin but doesn't make it oily. I'll be sure to try your recommendations.
Would it be ok if I linked to this post from my beauty blog "The Confessions of a Product Junkie"?
Sarah
Try CRYSTAL deodorant........
thanks for the info I have really dry skin and your information has really helped!