I received this short email recently from one of my readers: "My skin used to be so oily, I was always complaining about the shine. And now that I'm going through menopause, things have changed. It's so dry that it feels like my face will crack! I'd like to get some oil back. Any ideas?"
I can relate. My own skin used to be so oily and greasy that I'd never go anywhere without those anti-shine wipes. I swear I kept that company in business. Of course, it was so long ago that I can't remember the name of the company, but wipes like that are still around, like these.
And yes, I should have listened to my grandmother, who, when I complained about my shiny skin, said: "Oil is good for your skin. It keeps away the wrinkles. One day you're going to miss it!"
The Story.
Here's what I know. There are lots of products out there that promise to treat dry skin.
The Details.
One helpful tip to keep in mind, from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) is this:
Use only gentle, unscented skin care products. Some skin care products are too harsh for dry, sensitive skin. When your skin is dry, stop using skin care products that contain alcohol, fragrance, retinoids or alpha-hydroxy acid (AHAs). Avoiding these products will help your skin retain its natural oils.
Ammunition.
I recently came across a product called Bio-Oil. It should be called Everything-Oil, because (short of using it to cook, maybe), it can be used for so many things, including the body, face, hair and brown spots. Moisture. Smoothness. Relief from dry skin. It's got it all.
So, what's all the fuss about?
- It has a light texture.
- It's non-greasy.
- It absorbs rapidly.
- It contains natural botanical extracts like calendula, chamomile, lavender and rosemary.
- And it contains vitamins A and E, which can nourish and treat aging and dehydrated skin.
And the best thing is the cost. It won't cost you an arm and a leg, like some skin care products do. Woo-hoo.
