TESTING 1-2-3: Do lotions help soothe dry skin?

When the cold weather sets in and the wind kicks up, it creates ideal conditions for dry skin to begin irritating, flaking and generally becoming a nuisance. This is when those of us with skin that feels taut and parched in winter find ourselves reaching for a bottle of moisturizer nearly as often as we reach for water during summer months. We’re slathering our bodies with creams and lotions at all hours in the hopes of battling drying air from forced heat as well as the outdoor elements. Since there’s no place to hide, the best defense is to find an effective moisturizing lotion.

I found three drugstore brands of body lotions with labels touting that they could handle what ails dry skin. I slathered on Jergens Ultra Healing extra dry skin, Vaseline Intensive Rescue Clinical Therapy and St. Ives Swiss Formula Mineral Therapy. The results follow.

Jergens Ultra Healing extra dry skin moisturizer by KAO Brands

$7.49 for a 12.5-ounce bottle at most drugstores and mass merchandisers

First look: Jergens comes in a curvy, white plastic squeeze bottle with an aqua cap. The label boasts “new Ultra Healing.”

The rundown: This moisturizer is formulated for extra dry skin and contains vitamin 3, which according to the label contains a blend of vitamins C, E and B5. It also brags that it penetrates through five layers of skin’s surface to start healing at the source. Apply daily, giving special attention to elbows, knees, hands and other dry areas.

Upside: This lotion is highly scented, which works for those who gravitate toward products with plenty of fragrance. It’s lightweight and doesn’t leave your skin with an oily feel. It penetrates quickly and will make moderately dry skin feel moisturized. Although it’s billed as a body lotion, Jergens also works on your hands without feeling heavy or tacky.

Downside: Those who like their lotion sans fragrance will be disappointed because the floral scent is strong and lingering. While the lotion works well enough, it won’t heal dryness in the sense that your dry skin goes away permanently. It simply keeps it feeling hydrated as long as it remains on your skin.

Bottom line: Jergens might appeal to a broader audience if it offered a fragrance-free version.

Vaseline Intensive Rescue Clinical Therapy skin protectant body lotion by Unilever

$7.49 for a 6.8-ounce bottle at most drugstores and mass merchandisers

First look: It comes in a flat, white squeeze bottle, and the label lets you know that it offers a “unique formulation clinically proven to provide prescription strength moisturization.”

The rundown: Unlike the other lotions tested, Vaseline offers drug facts on the back label, listing dimethicone (1 percent) as an active ingredient, but all three lotions contained this ingredient, which provides the soft, slick feel of many creams and cosmetics.

Upside: The unscented version really does offer no fragrance at all. It works fairly well as a heavy-duty hand lotion that stays on even after rinsing your hands. It also works well on rougher parts of your body such as elbows and feet.

Downside: When you apply it to your arms, legs or other fairly smooth body parts, it leaves a film that seems to last until you wash it off, and the residue causes your fingers to sort of skip over your skin, rather than glide. It’s pretty expensive for a Vaseline product with no special ingredients.

Bottom line: It doesn’t provide perfect therapy for dry skin.

St. Ives Swiss Formula Mineral Therapy maximum moisture advanced body moisturizer

$4.99 for an 18-ounce bottle at some mass merchandisers and drugstores

First look: It comes in a large plastic pump bottle. The lotion touts advanced body moisturizer.

The rundown: Mineral therapy offers a blend of minerals essential for healthy skin, according to the manufacturer. The mineral blend contains potassium and iron, and ingredients also include glycerin, mineral oil and shea butter.

Upside: St. Ives makes affordable bath and body products, and this moisturizer is no exception. It goes on smoothly and absorbs quickly without any sticky residue whether you apply it to your hands or other parts of your body. You can reapply often and won’t get any tacky buildup. It boasts a clean fresh scent. It works very well as an everyday hand lotion.

Downside: St. Ives works best on skin that’s not extra dry because it’s more of a lightweight lotion for normal skin.

Bottom line: This fragrant lotion will make a perfect summertime moisturizer.

Got a product for a pro to test? Let us know at ajc.com/buyersedge

Every other week “Testing 1-2-3” road-tests a wide range of products. It’s not scientific testing —- we use the items just as consumers do, checking to see if they deliver as promised. The tests can help you make buying decisions.