Cold Cream: My Dry Skin's Soothing BFF

Cold cream actually goes back further than the senior members of our family. It was invented by Claudius Galenus, a Greek doctor who lived in Turkey during the 2nd Century. It's was first called 'Cérat de Galien'. Its composition remained unchanged for donkey's years: a blend of beeswax, olive oil and a rose hydrolat. Sweet almond oil was sometimes added for softness or rose petals for a floral scent. It was traditionally used as a base for healing, topical treatments.

It was towards the end of the 19th Century that it entered into the Cosmetics Hall of Fame. It was used to protect skin from cold, harsh winter weather. Women then began to apply cold cream as face masks and day/night creams. They mixed it with sugar or salt to make scrubs and applied it to their lips as a salve. In other words, it gradually became a popular cleanser and make up remover. As for men, it proved to be an effective shaving cream.

Cold creams' formulae have been adapted to better deal with dry skin during winter, as well as to extend their shelf life. Nowadays they contain ingredients such as vaseline, glycerin, waxes and vegetable oils. These multi-tasking creams instantly soothe and freshen up skin. They immediately soften the epidermis and leave it feeling velvety. Being lipid-rich they deeply nourish our faces and bodies without leaving a greasy film. What's more they create a protective barrier that helps our skin confront cold, windy, damp weather. Dermatologists often prescribe cold creams to calm irritations and soothe chapped skin or eczema caused by the cold. Fortunately for us, cold creams now come in a range of textures, depending on how dry your skin feels - the choice is yours!