Recently, Consumer Reports did a study on body moisturizers, and the results were surprising, to say the least. Do you need to spend a lot of money to avoid dry skin? Let’s find out. Here’s how the study worked:

Twenty-six female staffers helped us out. In our temperature- and humidity-controlled lab, we measured the skin moisture on their bare legs in the morning with a special device. Then we applied the lotions and measured again after 2 hours, 5 hours, and 24 hours. Many of the products are claimed to moisturize up to 24 hours, and the ratings are based on that time frame.

Sixteen other staffers took home the four pairs of look-alike products. (We covered the labels.) A panel of 10 used the highest- and lowest-scoring lotions side by side. Our sensory panelists assessed each lotion’s scent and feel.

What they found in the study:

All lotions left skin more moist, but top-rated brands were about twice as effective as (other) brand(s)… Our staffers had no preference when they compared look-alike pairs. But most thought the highest-scoring lotion moisturized better than the lowest-scoring one.

What was the favorite? One of the lowest-costing lotions in the study. Surprise, surprise. You don’t have to pay a lot to moisturize your skin, and sometimes better products are less expensive. Good news for us penny-pinchers. And the winner is …

Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream scored the highest. It has almost no aroma, can be used on the entire body, and is even good for use on the face. It’s a moisturizer ideal for dry, sensitive skin. Cetaphil is fragrance free, and does not contain irritants like lanolins and parabens. It actually binds moisture to your skin, so you don’t lose it throughout the day. That’s good news for the upcoming winter months. If you have trouble with chapping or your skin drying out during those cold winter days, Cetaphil can help keep that from happening.

Do you use Cetaphil? I must admit, I haven’t. I am certainly going to try it now, however. Tell me your thoughts on twitter, Facebook, or leave me a comment here on the blog.

Do you have dry skin? Have you been using expensive soaps and body washes in the shower to try and correct this problem? If so, you might be shocked to learn that an inexpensive, off the shelf product is rated better for dry skin than more expensive alternatives.

That’s according to Dr Laura Baumann, skin care specialist, who has this to say about buying expensive soaps and body washes in her article Mass vs Boutique Brands : …but you’ll be shocked to learn that Dove is a much better choice for your skin since it deposits fatty acids on the skin that leave it soft.

Dove soap. That’s right. That old faithful you’ve been using for years is better for your skin than even the $125 dollar a bar soap that her clients use. (And who pays $125 for a bar of soap, anyway? Is that not the most ridiculous waste of money you’ve ever heard?)

If you want to soften and moisturize your skin, use Dove soap. I’ve been using it since I was a child, and though I strayed once in a while, I always went back to good old Dove. Why should I pay lots of money for a soap that promised to make my skin soft and smooth when I could get better moisturizing and skin softening with Dove?

I use the Dove soap for sensitive skin, which is hypoallergenic and fragrance free. It leaves my skin feeling as smooth as silk.

So I’m taking the advice of skin care professionals and crossing that expensive body wash off my list. From how on, I’m never going to stray. I’m going to use my Dove soap, and my skin will thank me for it.

Do you use Dove soap? Let me know on twitter, Facebook, or leave me a message here on the blog.

Anyone can get stretch marks. Your age doesn’t matter. You get them from over exercising, weight changes that occur rapidly, or even from growing too quickly. Pregnancy is the culprit, often times.

There are two kinds of stretch marks – new ones that appear red, and older ones that look white. When the redness fades, stretch marks turn whitish.

Are there any treatments or products available that can completely remove stretch marks?

Unfortunately, the answer is no – but it’s a qualified no. even costly laser treatments you get at a dermatologist office will not guarantee that your stretch marks fade completely. They’ll be minimized and they’ll look better – but it might take more than one treatment to do even that. With a price tag running in the hundreds per visit, not many people can afford treatment.

You can make stretch marks look better and fade faster by using over the counter creams and moisturizers, and it won’t cost you a fraction what laser treatments cost. Cocoa butter cream moisturizers improve skin elasticity and help reduce the appearance of stretch marks. While it won’t make them go away, you might be surprised at the difference it makes.

Cocoa butter is wonderful for the skin, even if you don’t have stretch marks. Just apply it daily to dry skin areas. You’ll have soft, supple, beautiful skin with no dry patches and no ‘ashy’ skin, and your stretch marks will start to look better.

Do you use cocoa butter lotions and creams to moisturize your skin? What do you think of them? Let me know on twitter, Facebook, or leave me a message here on the blog.