When it is very cold here in Sweden, skin gets very very dry. Outside when it can be -30°C, the wind and cold chaps and dries your skin. Inside the central heating dries it out even more. The constant changes in temperature are often the final straw. My eyes water, my nose drips, my lips crack, my cheekbones ache.
In these cases a normal moisturizer will not work so I use the ones above. They are barrier creams but also moisturize. I tend to apply thick layers when I get home and leave them on overnight. In the morning I apply a thin layer before going outside. Because they are not water based they do not freeze on your skin.
