Between cold, dry weather, indoor heating and wearing thicker, heavier clothing, there’s a lot in fall and winter that can lead to parched, irritated skin. In fact, fussy skin in the cold is so common, there’s even a term for it — the “winter itch,” according to Ohio State University’s Health & Discovery hub. Lucky for you, we spotted a shower upgrade that reviewers say is “great for winter skin!” Inspired by Korean scrub mitts, this fingerless scrubber is designed to make you “shed enough skin to clog up the shower drain,” helping “not only with smoothness, but with fighting winter itch.” Even better? It’s under $15. Not bad for what one fan calls the “best spa day tool in the arsenal.”
According to Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center, cold weather generally causes your skin to produce less natural oils, making your skin more likely to get dry and dehydrated, and feel, you guessed it — itchy.
When your skin has less natural oils, it’s not as able to retain moisture, meaning it’s at higher risk of becoming thinner and weaker. While this can lead to feeling itchy and uncomfortable, it can also increase your risk of getting cuts or infections, meaning there are even more reasons to want to keep your skin hydrated and healthy in the cold. Our skin also starts to produce less natural oils with age, meaning mature skin is generally at higher risk of becoming irritated in the cold and dealing with the winter itch.
In previous HuffPost reporting, skin experts have named the importance of exfoliation to help remove dead skin. As they’ve shared, getting rid of dry, dead skin encourages new skin to grow and allows your moisturizing products to better penetrate your skin, helping your skin retain moisture and get stronger.
Ideal for a weekly home treatment, this textured mitt helps you roll away dry, dead skin.
Made from microfiber mesh, this dual-sided mitt uses physical friction to help lift dead, flaky skin away from your body. The brand recommends soaking your body in warm water for 5-10 minutes, then using the mitt with firm pressure on your body. You’ll likely start to see the dead skin rolling off pretty quickly simply from rubbing the mitt around, meaning no extra soaps or scrubs are needed.
While you may want to do it every day, the brand and the Illinois Dermatology Institute say once a week should be plenty, especially in the winter. Plus, really hot water can make winter skin feel drier and itchier, so stick to warm water for soaking and rinsing. When you’re done, you want to finish with a gentle body moisturizer.
“This really helps my dry skin in the winter. The appearance of my skin looks better too,” one wrote. “...It exfoliates & you can physically see the dead skin roll off. Great product.” “I was skeptical if the fabric was going to be rough enough to exfoliate much, but it was perfect,” another said. “It is rough enough that it doesn’t take a lot of pressure to exfoliate, doesn’t irritate/hurt the skin, and does a stellar job!...It got rid of all the dead skin from the winter beautifully.”
Reviewers call it the solution to “winter skin blues.”
“In the middle of the winter with mostly temperatures in the teens my skin got so severely dry, I tried different methods without success but this unassuming glove got rid of all my flaky skin after couple of times,” shopper Opal wrote, calling the glove a “miracle.” “I can already tell from a few uses, it is going to be amazing for keeping my skin in good shape during the cold months when my skin is it’s worst,” another said, noting “it’s amazing what it removes.”
Shopper Terrie says they have “very dry skin from head to toe” and “am plagued with scaling, itchiness & dry patches.”
“I used this glove as the directions state and I must have shed enough skin to clog up the shower drain,” they said. “If you suffer from a build-up of dry skin, please do yourself a favor and order this item. You will not regret it.”
Others with unwanted bumps and texture said the mitt has “changed my LIFE in one shower.”
“I saw results from the first use,” Kim said. “I have ‘chicken skin’ and I’ve noticed that the bumps actually started clearing up, leaving smooth skin behind.”
“When I tell y’all I have NEVER. IN MY WHOLE ADULT LIFE. BEEN CLEANER THAN I AM TODAY. And it’s not just CLEAN. I’m dolphin smooth. I’m aerodynamic. I’m SOFT. What rough and bumpy upper arms? What dry elbows?” Dacey wrote. “...I’m so mad that I didn’t get one of these sooner.”
Reviewers love this scrubbing mitt for helping them beat dry, winter skin. Read more 5-star reviews and grab one for yourself before the weather really gets cold.
“Have winter skin blues? This is the solution. I felt amazing! Like I shaved my whole body, so soft and smooth. The glove is grippy, but soft, it’s strange awesome” — Lauren
“These mitts are pretty incredible! I read how exfoliating the back of your arms and upper legs can smooth the skin and removed the little bumps I get at times. It works decent in the shower, but if you take a long bath in epson salts and then exfoliate... wow! I could not believe I had that much dead skin to remove. Just don’t do it in the tub, yuck! Immediately after bathing, get into the shower to exfoliate. I do not recommend doing it during the summer when you already have a great tan, because I really think it would take it right off. But, in the spring, I will be using it regularly to prep for a summer tan. And during winter, I can already tell from a few uses, it is going to be amazing for keeping my skin in good shape during the cold months when my skin is it’s worst. It’s nice that it came with 2, because it’s not something I recommend sharing with anyone... gross!” — Angie
“This mitt was really great for deeply exfoliating dry, flaky skin. Even though I use a body scrub with spa gloves every other day, I was still shocked by how much dead skin was sloughed off. This really helped not only with smoothness, but with fighting winter itch! The only thing I’m not that jazzed about is having to soak in hot water for 15 minutes and doing the actual scrub outside of the water, but the hassle is well worth the results.” — Nicole
“In the middle of the winter with mostly temperatures in the teens my skin got so severely dry, I tried different methods without success but this unassuming glove got rid of all my flaky skin after couple of times.” — Opal Klaus
Looking for some post-shower skin care to keep your body feeling soft? Check out these three body butters, from previous HuffPost reporting.
An affordable whipped body butter
Tree Hut’s lightweight whipped body butter melts into the skin, leaving it soft and smooth. The vanilla version, one of my drugstore go-tos for its delicious scent and affordability, blends vanilla bean, coconut cream and warm sandalwood, leaving a fragrance that lingers all day. Shea butter deeply nourishes, while oat kernel extract soothes, smooths and protects. Get the body butter in a dozen other scents, including favorites like Moroccan Rose and Tropic Glow.
Promising review: “This body butter is incredible! The whipped texture feels so light going on, but it leaves my skin soft and hydrated all day. After using it, my skin honestly feels smooth as a baby’s — it’s that good. The Vitamin C gives it an extra brightening boost, and the scent is fresh without being overpowering. I love how quickly it absorbs without feeling greasy, which makes it perfect for daily use. A little goes a long way, and the jar itself lasts quite a while. This has quickly become one of my favorite skincare treats — both effective and indulgent.” – Evelyn M
A cult favorite that’s gentle enough for sensitive skin
Naturium’s Glow Getter Multi-Oil body butter is a whipped, vegan body cream that hydrates, firms and nourishes with a powerhouse blend of botanical oils, shea butter, squalane and plant-based peptides. Shea butter softens and smooths, squalane delivers lightweight, non-greasy moisture while supporting the skin barrier, and peptides help firm and boost elasticity. Infused with a natural vanilla and coconut scent, this cult favorite not only transforms dry, dull skin into a soft, radiant glow, but it’s also one of my personal favorites for being gentle on my sensitive skin.
Promising Amazon review: “I bought this for the first time at the recommendation from a friend. I am impressed with the way it smells and the way it softens my skin. It makes my skin shine and it keeps me moisturized all day. I have eczema and this product doesn’t affect it at all. It feels very creamy but not heavy. Did I mention that I love the way it smells?! I love the quality and will most likely purchase again.” – Ms Tema27
A cult-favorite body “milk”
While Herbivore describes this moisturizer as a milk and not a butter, this firming body cream promises to contain all the hydrating prowess of its dairy counterpart. The fatty acids found in coconut are designed to soak into the skin and vegan squalane helps to lock in softness.
Promising review: “This is a very thick body cream with a whipped like consistency. It contains shea butter and coconut oil which contributes to its thicker feel. Although it's thick, it melts into the skin beautifully without having to use that much and leaves my skin feeling super soft and silky. It smells like a sweet soft coco vanilla that settles into your skin. I use this before bed and I wake up with a very soft sweetness, which I absolutely love! I use a body serum before using this on top and this provides a lot more sealing moisture rather than hydration, and this feels like it would be best during the cold. I love that this absorbs really well despite the thickness, I didn't notice much firming but it was a secondary affect that I didn't put much weight on. One thing I just wish it wasn't as pricey. Because a little goes a long way with this, it definitely feels worth the price as it will last me well throughout the fall and winter weather and then some. I'm reaching for this more and more that I know I will replace this once I run out.” – AmazonReviewer
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