SOS

Um, that would be Save Our SKIN, in this case.

My face is peeling off.

I've had trouble with my skin being dry since we moved from Austin to Long Island. I'm not sure why since it's probably equally humid in both places but whatever. Maybe it's something in the water--my hair doesn't want to curl as much either. Maybe it's the dry, heated air of winter--which begins a lot earlier and lasts a lot longer than the three days of winter that we have in Texas. But whatever the reason, my face is flaking right off.

I'm not the most vain woman. As you all know, I feel appropriately dressed if my shoes match and there are no (visible) stains on my shirt. So, y'all, the fact that I have even NOTICED how badly my skin is flaking tells you something.

And the fact that I noticed it's been getting worse should tell you something further.

And the fact that, today, I realized that I had to DO SOMETHING or my whole dang face was going be in pieces in the sink should tell you even more.

As should the fact that THIS is what I chose to put on it in my desperation. (Click to enlarge.)

Comments

hokgardner said…
My aunt, who lives in Upstate New York, swears by that stuff, but for her hands. I've never heard of using in your face. You'll have to let me know how it works.
Susan said…
It is extremely dry here on the Canadian Prairies in the winter. The cold outside air, in which the humidity is frozen, and the centrally heated indoor air are dry, dry, dry. We have a humidifier on the furnace and that helps a lot. It's not the pathetic humidifier that are standard issue on the furnaces; it's an upgrade. Water from your pipes is hooked up to it and it cascades slowly down a metal filter. The air intake passes through the filter and humidifies the air as it is blown into the registers.

As for facial moisturizers, the best that I've found is Clinique.
Mary Ellen said…
I TOTALLY love the bag balm. It's the only thing that keeps my hands from cracking into bloody canyons this time of year.
Burt's Bees hand cream for me...if you have forced-air heat, it really dries your skin out. The one year we lived in RI and had radiator heat, I had no problems whatsoever.
Mama Ava said…
We have UNHOLY dry weather here in Beijing, even with radiator heat. The furniture is cracking along with my skin. LOTSA humidifiers running 24/7 (your furnace might have one, if not you can get them attached)...mine mists my face all night long and it's made a huge difference. This week I ran out of distilled water and in 24 hours I could tell by my eyes and skin. Dry dry dry.

I can't vouch for face but the Shea it Ain't So foot lotion is amazing. I use it on my elbows and knees and legs in the winter a lot. Also love the Burt's Bees coconut/peppermint lotion--it's oily but put it on before bed (feet), wear socks, and voila. It's like a mini-magical pedi!
Lynn said…
Parched and peeling in North Texas, too; it's not just you! Taking notes of all the good suggestions above.
Unknown said…
It's dry in the Texas Panhandle as well. Bag Balm is an old remedy for practically everything skin related around here.
Anonymous said…
Bag balm is the best...I found it when I was in college upstate many years ago. It is great on cuts, dry skin, diaper rash.... My husband is from Maine. I saw one of the little tiny tins of BB at my MIL's house with a prescription label from a local hospital with application instructions. LOL

Aquaphor also works really well and unscented...and the jar doesn't have udders on it.
Karen said…
I have never even heard of that stuff, but the other comments from people who obviously lived in harsh northern climates know exactly what it is so I guess I am just out of the loop.

Please tell me that this is one of those instances where someone's mother always used this and you heard about it from them. Please tell me you did not already have this stuff in your house, unless you did, then just tell me what you used it for.

I hope it helps!
Barb Matijevich said…
K., I already had some in my house --a huge honkin' tin of it--because, before my foot had to be rebuilt, I was a hardcore runner and my feet were as tough as saddles. I used to slather this on my heels, put on socks and go to bed. It made my heels not crack anymore. So, it was just sitting there in my cabinet because I was so in denial that I MOVED IT TO NEW YORK with me.
Ann in NJ said…
It's the forced hot air heat. Humidifiers help, and if you have or can retrofit a whole-house humidifier on your furnace, that can work really well. Just keep it clean! Spewing mold is even less healthy than dry air, doncha think?

Bag balm is supposed to be great stuff. I'm currently trying a hemp oil handcream from Body Shop (yes, it smells, but not like that). So far so good, because regular hand cream just isn't enough. I do know people who swear by Crisco or Vaseline, so Bag Balm doesn't sound so bad!
Mokihana said…
I have used Bag Balm for years and years! Love the stuff!
Miri said…
Oh, dear.

My father in law suggested Bag Balm for sore nipples after nursing... he is from a dairy farming family... but still. Still.

Lansinoh works on my incredibly dry skin and has just one ingredient. Added benefit: no trace of the word "bag" in the label.
LaDonna said…
I'm seeing lots of good suggestions for dry skin. As long as we're on animal products, here's one that's great for hair!!!

http://www.manentailequine.com/shampoo.shtml
Unknown said…
HA! my first thought was "she needs Bag Balm!"

I actually use Oil of Olay's extra high test moisturizing skin cream (in the purple bottle) on my son;s face and it works like a charm
MadMad said…
OK. PLEASE tell me you're not going to put bag balm on your face. Won't you end up with big fat zits, which will be worse than flaking?
Lynn said…
You put Bag Balm on your face?!?!! OMG!!!! I've heard quilters use it for their hands and fingers, but never the face. So have you broken out yet???

My hair was straighter on LI and my skin was flaky the entire winter. Not as much of a problem in Orlando, but my heels are bad and what works great for me is Eucerin lotion, NOT the cream. The cream is too thick and doesn't soak in. The lotion soaks in and stays in. I'm not sure abt your face, Oil of Olay might be ok. If you use enough of it anyway....
Unknown said…
You're getting so many suggestions that I hesitate to leave another, but here goes. I live in the California desert, have terminally dry skin & all I use is the Ponds face cream in the white jar with the blue top. Unlike Bag Balm, it's unscented & won't clog your pores. Works much better for me than the prescription stuff from the dermatologist! Best of luck.
Kathy Ireland said…
Remember we were talking about the dehumidifier for your basement? In the winter, you definitely need a humdifier. As well as helping with the dryness of your skin, it will help with the nosebleeds too if it's really dry.
TheOneTrueSue said…
I love bag balm for, um, my feet. Not so much for the face, I'm thinking.
Tiny Tyrant said…
Oh sweetie that stuff is WAY too strong for your face.

Go get some CeraVe from the Walgreens.

It's light enough to be used on your face and SHOULD be hypoallergenic. Best of all it's not greasy either.

And exfoliate. :-)