Hair And Skin So. So. So. Dry? I've Got Solutions

Every winter, my husband complains that his skin is itchy and dry—and he asks me to get him more of that “stuff” that provides quick relief. Heath, my teenage son complains about his chronically parched, peeling lips, and my hair can become so dehydrated and static-y come January that I develop a permanent halo of flyaways. I assume you or your family are similarly moisture-challenged by mid-winter so here are some solutions that work for us:

For dry, itchy body skin, there is no better Rx than AmLactin body lotion. It's not sexy-smelling, the packaging is not particularly pretty, and no one would call it a spa experience in a bottle. But it works. Just ask my husband, who is not very skincare compliant but conscientiously slathers this lotion on all winter. The reason is provides relief? The secret sauce is a mix of alpha-hydroxy acids that slough away dead, flakey skin, allowing moisturizing ingredients to penetrate (and heal) dry, scratchy skin. Our favorite: AmLactin Rapid Relief.

Night Cream for Your Lips: Sara Happ The Dream Slip

For super-dry lips, I wrote here about the importance of gentle scrubbing before you apply lip balm. As I explained (above) re: AmLactin, you can slather on rich lotions all day long, but if you don’t also remove dead, dry skin, it’s like inviting guests over for a party…then forgetting to unlock the door. (They can’t get in.) I’ve gotten both Heath and my husband to use Sara Happ’s The Lip Scrub before bed, then have them slather on her new The Dream Slip, a heavier, more occlusive and nourishing version of her every-day The Lip Slip Luxe Balm. (I follow this lipcare regimen too, but if I can get two boys to do this on the regular, you know it works.)

Let the healing begin: JUARA Coconut Illipe Hand & Nail Balm

For dry hands and cracked cuticles, I’ve written about some of my favorite hand treatments here and here. But I’d like to add a third product to my must-have treatment list, one that, I think, is the best for daytime use. JUARA's Coconut Illipe Hand & Nail Balm is incredibly moisturizing but also absorbs in seconds, leaving behind zero sticky-ness  (important if you, like me, tap away at a keyboard all day long). It also creates an invisible film over the skin that stays put, even after two to three hand washings, and it boasts anti-aging ingredients that help fade dark spots and smooth and plump crepey, lined skin. (Note: It’s not plastic surgery in a tube—the improvement is subtle.) Finally, it smells faintly of coconut and tropical flowers, a welcome antidote to January slush.

For dry, flyaway hair Last week, I wrote about a new ad for L’Oreal Paris Elvive here—and have since sudsed up with both the Elvive Total Repair 5 collection (for damaged hair) and the Elvive Extraordinary Oil Lustrous Hair collection (for dry hair). When I let my fine hair air-dry naturally into loose waves, I prefer the Total Repair 5 products (Shampoo, Conditioner, Balm and Leave-In Treatment), as they helped boost shine and flatten flyaways without leaving my hair limp. The Extraordinary Oil Shampoo, Conditioner and Oil in Cream also boosted shine but, because they're a bit heavier, were better for days when I blow-dry and wear my hair sleek. Finally, I've yet to find a better flyaway fighter for fine hair than Leonor Greyl’s Serum de Soie Sublimateur, a styler I discovered a couple of years ago and use year-round in cold and dry weather to combat static (and in hot and humid climates to reign in fuzz).