How to Care for Your Dry Skin, According to a Dermatologist....from BHG 1/5/21

 Keep your body hydrated this winter with these expert tips.

By Jennifer Aldrich

I'm barely going outside right now, but my skin is still feeling the effects of the cold, harsh winter. As someone with dry, sensitive skin, the low temperatures and the lack of humidity can make my body feel super itchy and flaky, which are major signs that I need to moisturize ASAP, says Orit Markowitz M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Mount Sinai in New York City. She says these are symptoms of severely dry skin, and no one should wait until it gets to this point. "If you start to see a white film, or your skin gets red when you scratch it and it doesn't go away, or your skin just isn't as supple or smooth, you need to manage it so it doesn't get worse," she explains. Just like your face and your hands, your body needs lots of moisture, too.

Here are Markowitz's top tips on how to moisturize your dry skin this winter.

Pay Attention to the Formula: 

Choosing the best products is pretty easy. When it comes to moisturizer, the thicker the formula, the better, Markowitz explains. So, the best would be an ointment, then a cream, next a lotion, and lastly, gels and most oils.

When it comes to washing your body, Markowitz says to avoid shower gels and anything with a strong fragrance as they can all be drying and irritating.

Moisturize Right After the Shower

The best time to apply your cream is right after you shower, and it doesn't matter what time of day it is. You just need to take the time to moisturize thoroughly, Markowitz says. "Once you get out of the shower, pat your body dry, but do not rub or scrub," Markowitz says. Then, apply your thick moisturizer to seal the moisture into your skin.  I apply my body cream right after I put toner on my face.

Use a Humidifier

Even if you're not spending much time outside in the cold, the air inside your home can still negatively affect your skin. A humidifier increases the amount of moisture in the air and can help with dry skin.

Don't Scrub Your Skin

Markowitz says to never harshly scrub your skin in the shower, especially with micro beads. "Skin is your barrier from the outside environment; when you’re scraping your skin, you're compromising your barrier," she explains. "Originally, you'll think, 'Hey, my skin feels so smooth,' but over time, the skin requires more and more products to repair it."

Bree's Popular Suggestions:

Mary Kay® Extra Emollient Night Cream $15   For dry patches that are peeling or bleeding, this intense oinment forms a protective shield to minimize moisture evaporation and allow increased hydration of dry areas, especially hands, elbows, knees and feet.

Mary Kay® 2-In-1 Body Wash & Shave $16.  The Mary Kay^® 2-in-1 Body Wash & Shave is a unique botanical gel that delivers the convenience of a cleanser and shaving cream in one product.  No added fragrances or micro beads that would dry out skin.

Satin Body® Silkening Shea Lotion $18   Shea butter bliss for the whole body.

Satin Body® Whipped Shea Crème - White Tea & Citrus $22  A thick shea butter cream which is shown to moisturize instantly for 24 hours.

• Clinically tested for skin irritancy and allergy
• Dermatologist-tested

To request a sample of the Shea Lotion, email breestillings@gmail.com and explain your concerns.  To order, visit: https://www.marykay.com/bstillings

Aldrich, Jennifer. "How to Care for Your Dry Skin, According to a Dermatologist." Better Homes and Gardens, 5 Jan. 2021, www.bhg.com/beauty-fashion/skin-care/dry-skin-body/?did=601461-20210126&cmp=bhgdailyinspiration_012621&utm_campaign=bhg-daily-inspiration_newsletter&utm_source=bhg.com&utm_medium=email&utm_content=012621&cid=601461&mid=49591947261.

God's Not Done

 I was scrolling back through old posts.....and I found this entry from 2015.  I have no idea who the friend was I was talking about, or what the problem was....but I felt that the thoughts I conjured up for her/him that day could easily be applied to anyone today:

I'm sitting here...confused and hurting...for a friend.  When life throws us a damaging blow, how do we respond?  With guilt?  With anger?  With sadness?  With resentment?  Its hard to find the peace and love in some moments in time.  Everyday in my car before I walk into work I ask God "Let's make something great happen today."  I have to keep hearing the words "God's not done."  But, when the bad news doesn't stop how is it SO hard to keep hearing this?  I don't know.  I can't know. However what I do know is that God's not done.  He can't be done.  There has to be more to his plan than this.  He does have a plan for us all, and its is good.
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans of good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 All we can do is wait for it.  If we keep doing what is right every day, the blessings will come at just the right time - his time.   "So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone-especially to those in the family of faith" Galatians 6:9-10 We ask for him to bless us even when all we see are pains and brick walls, but we ask him to bless us so that we can enlarge his territory.  "He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, "Oh that you would bless me and expand  my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!" And God granted him his request." 1 Chronicles 4:10  Somehow, these burdens may or may not be part of his plan for us, but his plans are that we enlarge his territory.  So, then by process of association, how are/can these burdens be part of the blessing?   I hope we find an answer..I don't have it...but God will never be done! And he hasn't left you my friend. There is work still to be done.

Fresh Year, Fresh Skin...Skin Care 411

Who's ready for a new year?

Who's ready to keep it simple this year?

Dr. Cristi Gomez, Director of Product Safety and Environmental Toxicology, and David Gan, Senior Principal Scientist, Skin Research and Technology answered questions for 2021. 

Q: Why do I need a skin care routine?

Christi: Skin is the largest organ, made up of millions of skin cells, and it renews itself every 28 hours.  That's a lot to take care of, and a skin care routine helps do that.

Q: I don't like a lot of steps in my daily routine.  What is the bare minmum I should do?

David: At the very least cleanse and moisturize each morning and night.  Also use suncreen to decrease the risk of skin cancer.  Tip: Use a moisturizer with SPF to avoid an extra step.

Q: Why is cleansing important?

Cristi: Washing your face morning and night helps remove makeup, dirt, grime and impurities that can lead to blocked pores and breakouts.  Makeup tends to migrate to our fine lines and creases while we sleep.  You will wake up looking fresher if you remove makeup and the day's dirt and grime at night.

Q: Why is moisturizing important?

David: Our skin naturally produces oil to moisturize itself, but it's important to replenish moisture after cleansing skin.  Skipping moisturizer can lead to extra oil production or dry skin.  If you have oily skin, an oil-free moisturizer can be a good option.