Permanently dry skin - what helps?

[easterlemma]

My skin does tend to be naturally dry, but even more so on my legs. I’ve tried daily moisturising (various types) and a moisturising ban in case it was doing more harm than good - nothing helped.

Now summer’s (possibly) here I went to get my legs out! Help me find something that will rehydrate my skin again

Are you in a hard water area by any chance? I am and have recently had a water softener installed. It has definitely made a difference.

Other than that exfoliating as well as moisturising maybe?

I am in a hard water area yes, but as I rent I’m not sure whether I can install a softener. I’ll have to check that out, thank you.

Hmm exfoliating I’ve never really got into, so maybe it’s time to add that to my routine.

Cut to the chase and go get cetraben. Pinched mine from my DD (who has mild eczema) and a little goes a longgggggg way.

When they installed my water softener they did say it could easily be taken with me if I ever move. So maybe it's something you can do in a rental property.

Wash with aqueous cream

Stop using shower gel (use some sort of natural soap - faith in nature is good and cheap), use cerave cream.

Thank you everyone for really helpful tips! Going to try all of these!

Aveeno moisturiser. The green one during the day.
If they are really dry the slather Skin food on at night

I have terribly dry skin and eczema in places, tried everything and the best are:

Keihls ultra facial balm (moisturiser)
LUSH good times roll (face scrub)
Bodyshop vitamin e face wash

Avocado oil - from the supermarket, around £3 for 250ml. I use it on face, body & hair (AND IN FOOD!) - brilliant stuff IMO.

Exfoliating really helps. The dry dead skin sits on top and if you don't remove it the moisturiser won't be able to keep the new skin underneath flexible.

It doesn't take much, scrubby gloves or a shower puff will remove the dead skin. If you're short on time and of the body scrubs will exfoliate and moisturise in one go.

Shower with shower oil not gel. The Aveeno spray on oil after showering helps my legs.

Also salt and oil scrub

You will be really greasy after doing this but it works.

Have a bath / shower. While still damp rub bath oil on your skin. Let the water dry off (you’ll still be oily). Rub an emollient cream onto your skin.
Like I said you’ll be greasy as hell but it really works.

take an omega 3 supplement, ideally flax or algae derived. It really helps moisturize from the inside

Scrub scrub scrub, remove body hair, then pack on some khadi oil. Amaaaazing. Also, as much as I HATE AND DESPISE all things MLM, I have to give credit where credit is due, with much shame and sadness in this case.
Tropic Body Love Firming Buttercream is some seriously heavy duty stuff. Fixes any and all dryness.

Another vote for salt and oil scrub. There are commercial ones around that smell divine but any old salt and oil do the trick.

Aveeno the one with the blue cap.

And drink lots of watery, too