Tired of rough, dry elbows and heels that seem impossible to soften? You're not alone. These stubborn areas can be maddening, even painful at times. It only gets worse in dry, cold weather, when the skin gets apathy and cracks. But don't worry, with these three simple steps, you can get rid of dry skin on your elbows and feet (or anywhere) overnight. 5 Common Reasons for Dry, Rough Skin Dry, rough skin can be extremely uncomfortable and even painful at times. While it's often a temporary issue, it can become chronic if left untreated, especially for those with underlying skin conditions. Before diving into treatments, it's essential to understand the common culprits behind this skin concern. Environmental Factors: Cold, dry weather, low humidity, and excessive exposure to the sun or wind can strip your skin of moisture, leading to dryness; Aging: As we get older, our skin's natural ability to retain moisture decreases, making it more susceptible to dryness and roughness; Harsh Products: Using harsh soaps, detergents, or cleaning products can irritate the skin and remove its natural oils, contributing to dryness; Medical Conditions: Some skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis can cause dry skin as a symptom; Lifestyle Habits: Frequent bathing, especially with hot water, can strip the skin of its natural oils. Additionally, excessive scratching or rubbing can further irritate dry skin. Why Simply Moisturizing Your Dry Skin Doesn’t Always Work? Dry skin is just annoying... I always wondered why my skin gets so dry, even when I moisturize it daily. Simply adding a coat of moisturizer on dry skin just doesn't work. The reason is that those flaky cells don't let nourishing, ingredients penetrate deeply into the skin. They form a kind of barrier, making the condition worse. Well, this tree-step routine gets rid of the flakes as well. How I Treat My Dry Elbows and Feet in Three Simple Steps Of course, there are so many different approaches and skincare products you can use to treat dry skin. To each their own, but I have my own low-key routine for those dry elbows, brought knees, and cracked heels. It is very simple (I always prefer a minimalist approach to skincare), but effective enough to keep the skin on problematic areas soft and smooth. Here's how I do it: Step 1. Exfoliation: Acid Peel The times of those hard, mechanical peels are over! Chemical peels are reightning the beauty industry at this moment. And I can say why: they aren't scratchy, aren't sharp, they don't hurt your skin and, of course, come in so many forms. On those dry skin days, when my elbows and feet need an extra boost of smoothness I always go for a round of chemical exfoliation: in the morning, I wash the area before applying acid peel toner, generously cover the dry skin with a coat of glycolic or lactic acid and hold it on for the whole day; At the end of the day, I give my elbows a nice rinse with warm water and move on to the next step. As for the products I like using, I like the Hell Pore Aha Fruit Toner by Elizavecca, you can check out my review to find out why I love its formula. Another great product for this purpose would be The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner, or Lactic Toner from Principia. I love all three of these products for their mild action. Step 2. Deep Conditioning: Urea Lotion + Natural Oil Moving on to the next step! After an aggressive peel that got rid of all those nasty dry skin flakes, our elbows, knees, and heels are ready to get moisturized! The best way to do so is to lather the skin with a rich layer of moisturizing lotion or cream, but not a regular one. You'll need to find dry skin moisturizer with a specific ingredient, that addresses the issue.  My personal favorite is Urea. This humectant was recommended by my favorite doctor Idriss. Urea is a naturally occurring compound found in human skin and urine. It's a popular ingredient in many skincare products, so you won't have trouble finding it in the nearest drugstore or supermarket. I use Cetaphil Pro 10% Urea Smoothing Repair Lotion, but CeraVe's Psoriasis Moisturizing Cream also has Urea and two types of acids for that skin-smoothing effect. Sometimes, I top the lotion with a natural oil. I prefer something nutty like coconut, shea butter, or Elizavecca's Jojoba Oil. It has a perfect balance between richness, oiliness, and absorption. This little step is absolutely optional, so: if you aren't a fan of natural oils, you can simply skip it. Step 3. Plastic Wrap Overnight + Cute Socks And for the final step, we're going to wrap the dish with a good old plastic wrap. The SPA's favorite trick works like a charm. Wrap those knees, hands, fingertips, elbows, and feet – it works everywhere. Put on a long-sleeved shirt, a pair of mittens, and a pair of socks for those feet. The socks have to be cute because the hack doesn't work otherwise... works only if your socks are cute...sorry. Daily Moisturizing: To keep the skin in good shape, I apply a lighter moisturizer to my elbows and feet daily. This helps maintain the moisture levels achieved during the deep conditioning treatment and prevents dryness from returning. Final Thoughts... Well, that's the whole secret. It can't go simpler than that! By following these three steps, you can effectively soften dry, rough skin on your elbows and feet basically overnight. Of course, you may need a few more at-home spa sections like this, if your skin is extra dry, but otherwise, it works overnight. With a little extra attention, you'll soon be able to enjoy long-lasting skin hydration on any part of your body.

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