Q. Taking off winter woollies and thick tights has revealed some un-beautiful patches of very dry skin, elbows, feet, shins – and the rest! What’s the best product for (almost) instant softening?

A. If you are happy to use a product that makes no pretensions to be natural, then we highly recommend CeraVe Moisturising Cream for dry to very dry skin/£14.50 for 454 g, from a very popular US drugstore brand developed with dermatologists and newly launched in the UK. As skincare expert Caroline Hirons says, CeraVe is ‘a great range to investigate’, and a true beauty steal in our book. 

We tried CeraVe Moisturising Cream on rough scaly heels (after buffing) and were amazed at the immediate transformation. Daily use really makes a difference.  (Cracks in skin, which can affect older people particularly on feet and hands, can let in infections so it is important to treat them.)

The CeraVe effect is attributed mainly to three essential ceramides (oils found naturally in the skin) and hyaluronic acid.  The second ingredient (after water) is glycerin, and petrolatum (petroleum jelly) is quite prominent in the ingredient listing too. (Ingredients are listed in order of the amount in the product.)

If natural products are your preference, we suggest turning to Green People, one of our favourite organic ranges.  Try Sugar Scrub/£21 for 160 g, with – yes - sugar plus skin-softening oils, followed by Body Butter/£21 for 135 ml, a multi-tasking body balm.  When it comes to your feet, Charlotte Vohtz, founder of Green People, suggests massaging in Body Butter before bed then popping on clean cotton socks.  Et voilà! Super-soft feet in the morning.

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