The Friday Five: Buh-Bye Dry!

  One of the biggest side effects/symptoms of kidney failure that I deal with is dryness...dry hair, dry skin, dry nails, and so on.  The dryness is caused as a result of my phosphorous levels being too high, which causes the moisture to leach out of my hair, skin and nails.  The dry skin is the worst; I get SO itchy!! I've tried a whole variety of different products to relieve the dryness and the itching, and I've found some that I really like!  Instead of five products, this list is going to be a little different: I'm sharing my favourite products for five different problem areas.

  For dry lips:
  1.  Burt's Bees lip balms
  I absolutely love my Bees! I've tried a few of the different varieties, but the best ones (IMHO) are the Nourishing lip balm with mango butter, and the Ultra Conditioning lip balm with kokum butter.

 

  2.  Avon Moisture Therapy Lip Balm Stick

  This is my other go-to lip balm stick.  It goes on so smoothly and the moisture lasts for quite a while.  Avon frequently has them on sale for $0.99, so I stock up.

  3.  C.O. Bigelow My Favourite Lip Balm
  This one is a liquid balm and it's amazing! It's got shea butter, sweet almond oil and wheat germ, and it starts moisturizing right away.  There's also a nighttime balm too.

  For dry skin:
  1.  Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash
  Have you ever had a bad rash that itched and itched and made you feel like you'd never find relief? Imagine feeling like that all over your body, even on your scalp.  That's what happens to me when my phosphorous gets too high and causes my skin to dry out.  When that happens, I turn to my Aveeno body wash.  It's got oatmeal and emollients in it, and when I use it with my exfoliating wash cloth it helps my skin feel so much better!

  2.  Avon Moisture Therapy Calming Relief Body Wash and Lotion
  These two products also contain oatmeal, which is GREAT for itchy skin! I usually have a tube of the body wash in the shower next to my Aveeno.  For extra itch-relief, I slather myself with the lotion when I get out.

  3.  Avon Skin So Soft Supreme Nourishment Body Wash and Lotion
  This is a fairly new product from Avon, and it's wonderful! And it has macadamia oil in it, so it smells good too!

  4.  Curel Itch Defense Lotion
  I found this just the other day when I was out looking for something new to help my itchy skin.  OH. MY.  GOODNESS.  This stuff is amazing! It soaks in really quickly and it doesn't leave you feel all yechy and greasy! Winning!

  For dry hair:
  1.  Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Collection
  Even my hair seems to be getting dried out, so a good moisturizing shampoo is a MUST! This collection is shampoo and conditioner as well as a 2-in-1 shampoo conditioner.  There's also a styling mousse.  It's got coconut and orchid flower extracts, so it's a treat for your nose too!
  2.  Pantene Moisture Mist Detangling Spray
  I started buying this when I had longer hair and I needed a good detangling spray to use after shampooing.  Along with detangling, it also helps moisturize dry hair.  I spritz a little bit in my hair when I get out of the shower, work it through and then blow-dry it for a few minutes...and voila! Softer hair!
  3.  Biolage ExquisiteOil Hair Treatment
  At $26, this stuff is a bit spendy, but it works really well! My mom bought some when she got her hair cut last week and she let me try it.  Just a couple of drops on the ends of your fingers is all you need.  Work it into your hair as an overnight treatment.  You'll actually be able to feel the difference right away!

  For a dry face:
  1.  St. Ives Fresh Apricot Scrub
  The only thing I use to wash my face! I love how soft this makes my skin feel after I use it.  It's got natural exfoliants in it, so it gets rid of all the built-up nastiness on my skin and gets it really clean.

  2.  Aveeno Positively Radiant Toner
  I had one toner where, after I put it on, I could actually feel my skin tightening.  Not so with this one from Aveeno.  It's got soy in it, and it's incredibly gentle.  Which is really good when my skin is dry and irritated.
  3.  Aveeno Ultra-Calming Moisturizer
  After cleansing and toning, it's time to moisturize! Along with my Aveeno toner, I use this moisturizer.  It's also gentle and on my dry irritated skin, and it makes it feel really soft and smooth.

  For dry hands and nails:
  1.  The Body Shop Almond Hand & Nail Cream
  I've been using this stuff for years! Working with paper on a daily basis makes your hands really dry.  I tried a sample of this at The Body Shop one day, and I've been using it ever since.
  2.  Rose Cuticle Oil
  I don't have a brand for this, but rose oil is a miracle worker for dry cuticles.  Just rip a tiny dab into each of your cuticles to instantly soften them.  And it smells nice too!

Well, that's my list of anti-dry products! Hopefully there's something here that you use already, or something that sounds interesting that you want to try.  If you have a favourite product that's not on the list, share it in the comments below.

Until next time,
J.