Dry Skin Season Starts the Day the Furnace Kicks On

Every October there is a morning here in Ashland when the house finally loses the argument with the thermometer and the furnace rumbles on for the first time. It is a cozy sound. And within about a week of it, your hands start to feel like paper.

That is not your imagination. Heated indoor air holds far less moisture than the summer air it replaced, and the hot showers we all start taking in the cold months rinse away more of the skin's natural oils than a quick summer rinse ever did. Water leaves the skin faster, less oil is there to slow it down, and by November your knuckles, shins, and elbows are asking what happened.

You do not need a complicated routine to feel comfortable again. Here is the one we follow ourselves, with the things we make a few miles from the tracks.

Keep the shower warm, not scorching

The hotter the water, the more oil it carries away. Warm water and a few fewer minutes make a bigger difference than any product. This is the free step, and it is the one most people skip.

Switch to a gentler bar

A harsh cleanser in October feels like sandpaper by December. Our goat milk soap is the bar we hand to anyone who says the word dry. Goat milk brings natural fats into the lather, so the bar cleans without stripping, and it has been our best seller for a reason. If you like a clear, simple bar, our glycerin soap is the other gentle choice: glycerin draws moisture toward the skin rather than away from it.

Moisturize while your skin is still damp

The best moment to put anything on your skin is the two minutes after you towel off, while there is still a little water to seal in. This is where a rich cream earns its keep. Our Silky Body Butter is whipped so it spreads easily, then settles in without leaving you stuck to your sleeves. It comes in a 4 ounce jar for the bathroom shelf and a 2 ounce mini that lives in a coat pocket or desk drawer. Elbows, shins, and heels first; they dry out before anywhere else.

Do not forget hands and lips

Hands get washed a dozen times a day and lips have no oil glands of their own, so both show the season first. A pump of lotion by the kitchen sink and a lip balm in the car cover the two spots most routines miss.

Come say hello before the cold really lands

If you would rather smell everything before you choose, this Friday, October 23, is Fourth Fridays in downtown Ashland, from 5 to 8 PM around the Town Hall Pavilion, with live music and the shops open late. We will have the fall table set up. After that you can find us at the Fall Wine & Craft Fair at River Dog Winery on November 7, and the England Street Christmas Market downtown on December 5. The full list stays current on our events page.

However you shop, the routine is the same: warm water, a gentle bar, something rich while your skin is damp. The furnace can do its worst.