Winter skin tips: #MyAquaphor Challenge

When I was a child, winter used to be my favourite season, with deep snow, skating rinks, Christmas tree and twinkling lights, lovely treats and gifts, TV all night until the early hours of the morning on the New Year's eve. Winter could be great fun.

On the other hand, cold weather with blustery winds could be hard on your skin, leaving it at dull, flaky and dry.
Last month has been relatively mild. My Mum stayed with us for a month, but a week ago she returned home to a proper cold and snow.
While we were lucky not to have any snow yet (though there was a small scattering of snowflakes once last week), the heating is on in the house, as it gets too damp and cold.
This combination of the damp air and harsh winds outside as well as the heating inside could do a lot of damage to a delicate skin.
A contrast between cold outdoors and warm indoors could leave your skin stressed.

One of the solutions is not to keep the heating maxed up to the hilt. I know many people swear by the humidifiers, but I haven't noticed any difference, having bought a digital humidifier a few years ago. We tried it for a while, and since then it just sits in the box in the attic.
My mother-in-law uses the ceramic humidifiers which are hanging on the radiators in all rooms. They look like long-ish narrow rectangular containers, which she tops up with water. They seem to work quite well, and they are more environmentally-friendly.

Another way of dealing with the problem of dry skin is to up your intake of liquids. You need to drink plenty of water. Alas, my favourite latte or hot chocolate is not considered to be a great contribution to hydrating. If you find it hard to drink plain water, add a bit of lemon juice, fresh mashed berries or grated ginger. Tea is also fine.

And finally: moisturise, moisturise, moisturise.
My personal tip is to keep a hand cream or any good moisturiser by the front door, so you don't forget to use it as you go out.
This way it reminds me to apply the cream to my sons' hands as well as my own.

My boys are 16 and 8, but both have a skin prone to dryness and eczema.
In the cold weather the skin on the cheeks and hands might get dry and rough. Gloves would help, but of course, the cool guys don't wear gloves. Every time I go to collect Eddie from school, most kids run out without any coats, hats or gloves (while parents are all fully-dressed in warm clothes).

We've been battling with eczema bouts for years with our elder son, we have tried many creams, lotions and ointments. Most of the prescribed medication in big tubs (like Diprobase, Aqueous cream and such like) didn't help at all, if anything, the skin was getting more and more irritated and inflamed.

Recently BritMums  asked bloggers if we'd like to try Eucerin Aquaphor Soothing Skin Balm.
The range is suitable for all ages including babies.
Eucerin is a well-known family skin care brand. It was first introduced in the States in 1925, and has since become popular around the world.

Formulated with only seven ingredients, Aquaphor is considered to be gentle enough for such skin issues as a highly irritated skin and sensitive baby skin including the nappy area.
I think that was the main reason we first came across Eucerin all those years ago, when my elder son was a baby and we lived in the States. A friend who had a baby a bit older than our Sash recommended it.

You can use it on dry, cracked skin, cracked heels and feet (my winter problem), dry hands and cuticles and baby sensitive skin. After several applications, the skin appears to be soothed and better protected.

It is fragrance, colouring and preservative free.

It could be applied in the morning and used during the day, as it is a lighter cream.
It can be used as a skin moisturiser and also as a skin balm for hands, nails, body, face and even lips. It is not greasy, and works well, leaving skin softer and smoother.

To sum it up, it's great to have a product that is multi-tasking, i.e. it treats so many skin irritations and is also suitable for grown-ups, babies and older children.

It is scent-free. It soothes rough patches. I tried a little bit on my lips. It is similar in consistency to some of the nipple creams that I used in the past, especially after Eddie was born and my breasts were really sore, it is less sticky than those creams, and is of a less dense consistency, making it easier to spread on the skin if you are using it as a barrier cream when going outdoors with your child.
It lasts quite a long time, as you only need a very small amount to apply.

Have you tried Eucerin Aquaphor Soothing Skin Balm?

This post is an entry for the BritMums #MyAquaphor Challenge, sponsored by Eucerin. Discover the benefits of Eucerin https://www.eucerin.co.uk/products/aquaphor/soothing-skin-balm-45ml

Disclosure: I received an Aquaphor Soothing Skin Balm for the purposes of testing and reviewing. All opinions are my own.