If You Live in Central PA, You Know Exactly What I’m Talking About

Hey friends! Stacie here. Let me paint you a picture:

It’s January in Central Pennsylvania. The temperature is hovering around 20°F. The air is so dry you can practically hear it crackling. Your indoor heating is blasting, sucking every bit of moisture out of the air. You walk outside, and the cold wind hits your face like a slap.

Your skin doesn’t stand a chance.

By mid-winter, you’re dealing with:

Hands so dry they crack and bleed
Elbows that look like sandpaper
Heels that catch on your socks
Face skin that’s tight, flaky, and angry
Lips that no amount of chapstick seems to help

Sound familiar? If you’ve lived through a Central PA winter (or anywhere in the Northeast with brutal cold and indoor heating), you know this struggle is REAL.

Let me share what actually works - not generic “drink more water” advice, but real solutions I’ve learned from making skincare products in Enola for years and surviving these winters myself.

Why Central PA Winters Are So Brutal on Your Skin

Before we talk solutions, let’s talk about why our winters are so tough:

Problem #1: The Cold, Dry Air

When temperatures drop below freezing, the air can’t hold much moisture. That means:

Outdoor humidity plummets
Cold wind strips moisture from exposed skin
Your skin’s natural protective barrier breaks down faster

Problem #2: Indoor Heating

We crank the heat to stay warm, but heating systems:

Remove even more moisture from indoor air
Create a constant cycle of drying
Mean your skin never gets a break (dry outside, dry inside)

Problem #3: Hot Showers

When it’s freezing outside, who doesn’t love a hot shower? But:

Hot water strips your skin’s natural oils
Combined with harsh soap, it’s a disaster
You step out into dry heated air = instant moisture loss

Problem #4: The Heating/Cooling Cycle

Central PA weather is unpredictable. One day it’s 15°F, the next it’s 45°F. This constant temperature swing:

Confuses your skin
Makes it hard to maintain moisture balance
Stresses your skin’s protective barrier

The result? By February, everyone in Central PA looks like they need an intervention for their skin.

What DOESN’T Work (Let’s Be Honest)

Before I tell you what works, let me save you some time by telling you what DOESN’T:

❌ “Just Drink More Water”

Yes, hydration helps. But drinking eight glasses of water won’t fix skin that’s being stripped dry by 20°F winds and indoor heating. You need external moisture protection too.

❌ Generic Drugstore Lotion

Most commercial lotions:

Contain mostly water (which evaporates in dry air)
Have synthetic ingredients that sit on top of skin
Need constant reapplication
Don’t actually LOCK IN moisture

Plus, they’re usually in a pump bottle by your nightstand, and you forget to use them anyway.

❌ Petroleum Jelly

Yes, it creates a barrier. But:

It’s greasy and heavy
Doesn’t absorb
Gets on everything (clothes, sheets, steering wheel)
Petroleum-based (not natural)

❌ “Use a Humidifier”

Helpful? Sure. Enough on its own? No. You’d need humidifiers in every room, running 24/7, and you’d still need to protect your skin when you go outside.

What ACTUALLY Works: Real Solutions from Experience

Alright, here’s what I’ve learned from years of making products in Enola and testing them through Pennsylvania winters:

Solution #1: Switch Your Soap

The Problem: If you’re using harsh commercial soap (those syndet bars we talked about in my last post), you’re stripping your skin every single day.

The Solution: Use gentle, moisturizing soap with natural glycerin.

Our Lavender Goat Milk soap is a winter favorite because:

Olive oil-forward recipe (gentle, won’t strip)
Raw goat’s milk (naturally moisturizing)
Contains all the natural glycerin (commercial soap removes this!)
Leaves skin clean but NOT tight

Real customer feedback: “I switched to your goat milk soap in December and by January, my skin wasn’t cracking anymore. I didn’t change anything else.”

Also great for winter:

Honey Donkey - Ultra-gentle, unscented, donkey milk luxury
honeysuckle - Gentle, soothing, perfect for winter skin
Any of our cold process soaps - they all keep the natural glycerin

The key: Stop stripping your skin, and you won’t need as much moisturizer to fix it.

Solution #2: Lotion Bars (Your Winter Secret Weapon)

This is my #1 recommendation for Central PA winters, and here’s why:

What’s a Lotion Bar?

It’s solid, concentrated moisture in a bar form. Made from:

Cocoa butter
Shea butter
Coconut oil
Beeswax

You rub it on your skin, your body heat melts it, and it leaves a protective layer of moisture. No water, no pumps, no mess.

Why Lotion Bars Are Perfect for Winter:

✅ Concentrated moisture - No water to evaporate in dry air ✅ Creates a protective barrier - Locks in moisture and protects from cold wind ✅ Portable - Keep one by your kitchen sink, one in your purse, one in your car ✅ No spills - TSA-friendly, won’t leak in your bag ✅ Lasts forever - One bar lasts 2-3 months even with daily use ✅ Perfect for targeted areas - Elbows, heels, knuckles, cuticles

How I Use Lotion Bars in Winter:

Morning routine:

After washing hands, rub lotion bar on damp hands
Massage into cuticles and knuckles (where cracks start)
Also hit elbows if they’re feeling rough

Throughout the day:

Keep one by the kitchen sink
After washing dishes (brutal on hands!), quick swipe with the lotion bar
Takes 5 seconds, no greasy hands

Before bed:

Slather lotion bar on feet
Put on socks
Wake up with soft feet (this is my winter secret!)

Pro tip: Apply lotion bars on slightly damp skin. The moisture on your skin helps it absorb better and locks in that extra hydration.

Customer story: At our Carlisle Creative Vibes booth, a nurse bought a lotion bar because her hands were cracking from constant washing at work. She came back two weeks later and bought six more - one for every pocket of her scrubs and one for home. “This is the only thing that’s worked,” she said.

Solution #3: Body Butter for Serious Dryness

If lotion bars are your daily defense, whipped body butter is your heavy artillery for seriously dry skin.

What Makes Body Butter Different:

Lotion bars: Solid, concentrated, protective barrier Body butter: Whipped, fluffy, deeply moisturizing

Body butter is made from:

Shea butter
Cocoa butter
Nourishing oils

Whipped to a fluffy texture that melts into skin.

When to Use Body Butter:

Before bed - My winter ritual: slather body butter on arms, legs, and especially elbows/knees. By morning, skin is SO soft.
After showers - Apply to damp skin to lock in moisture
On really rough patches - Elbows, knees, heels that need intensive moisture
Self-care Sunday - When you want to feel pampered and take care of yourself

Stacie’s winter favorite: I keep our Pineapple & Coconut Body Butter by my bed. Before I go to sleep, I massage it into my arms and legs. The tropical scent is uplifting (reminds me spring will come!), and by morning my skin is hydrated and soft. During Pennsylvania winters, this is non-negotiable for me.

The difference you’ll notice: Body butter is richer than lotion. A little goes a long way, and it actually STAYS on your skin instead of evaporating.

Solution #4: Don’t Forget Your Lips

The problem: Lips have no oil glands. They can’t protect themselves. In winter, they crack, peel, and bleed.

The solution: Our lip balms are made with:

Nourishing butters and oils
Beeswax for protection
No synthetic flavors or harsh chemicals

Pro tip: Apply lip balm BEFORE you go outside in the cold. Prevention is easier than dealing with cracked lips.

Also try: Our lip scrubs to gently exfoliate dead skin before applying balm. Game-changer for winter lips!

Solution #5: The Vapor Balm Bonus

This isn’t technically for dry skin, but since we’re talking winter survival: our Vapor Bear Balm doubles as a moisture boost!

Yes, it’s designed for congestion and stuffiness (read the full story here). But the coconut and olive oil base is so moisturizing that many customers tell me they use it:

On dry patches during winter
As a hand balm (the eucalyptus and peppermint smell fresh!)
On cuticles that are cracking

Bonus: If you’re dealing with winter colds AND dry skin, Vapor Balm tackles both problems at once.

The Winter Skincare Routine That Actually Works

Here’s my real, no-BS routine for surviving Central PA winters:

Morning:

Shower with gentle soap (Lavender Goat Milk or Honey Donkey)
Pat dry (don’t rub!)
While skin is slightly damp, apply lotion bar to hands, elbows, any dry spots
Apply lip balm before going outside

Throughout the Day:

Keep lotion bar by kitchen sink
Quick swipe after washing hands
Reapply lip balm as needed

Before Bed:

Wash face with gentle soap
Apply body butter to arms, legs, rough patches
Extra lotion bar on feet + socks (winter secret weapon!)
Lip balm before sleep

Weekly:

Lip scrub to exfoliate dead skin
Extra body butter on elbows/knees if needed

Time investment: Maybe 3 minutes total per day. That’s it.

The payoff: Your skin doesn’t crack, bleed, or hurt. You’re comfortable all winter.

Real Talk: Prevention Beats Treatment

Here’s what I’ve learned: It’s easier to prevent winter skin damage than to deal with it after it happens.

If you wait until your hands are already cracked and bleeding, you’re playing catch-up. Start protecting your skin in November, before the brutal cold hits.

Think of it like this: Would you wait until you’re freezing to put on a coat? No. Same with your skin - protect it BEFORE winter destroys it.

Products Designed for Central PA Winters

Everything we make at Momma Bears Creations is tested during Pennsylvania winters. If it doesn’t work in our climate, we don’t sell it.

Winter Essentials:

For Hands:

Lotion bars (keep everywhere - sink, purse, car, nightstand)
Soap that doesn’t strip (Lavender Goat Milk, Honey Donkey)

For Body:

Body butter (before bed routine!)
Gentle moisturizing soap (daily use)

For Lips:

Lip balm (before going outside)
Lip scrub (weekly exfoliation)

For Feet:

Lotion bar + socks before bed (seriously, try this!)

Bonus:

Vapor Bear Balm (congestion + moisture)

Where to Get Winter Survival Products

Shop in person:

Carlisle Creative Vibes (152 N Hanover St, Carlisle, PA 17013)
Come in, feel the products, ask questions about your specific winter skin struggles

Shop online:

Momma Bears at Carlisle Creative Vibes Online Store
Ships fast - don’t wait until your skin is already cracked!

Find us at events:

Follow Facebook for winter craft show updates

Gift Idea: Winter Care Packages

Heading into the holidays? Our winter skincare products make AMAZING gifts:

For teachers: Lotion bar + lip balm (practical + thoughtful!) For coworkers: Body butter (luxury they won’t buy themselves) For family: Full winter care set (soap + lotion bar + body butter) For yourself: Because you deserve to survive winter comfortably!

You Don’t Have to Suffer Through Winter

Look, I know Central PA winters are long, cold, and brutal. We can’t change the weather. But we CAN protect our skin from it.

You don’t have to accept cracked, bleeding hands as “just part of winter.” You don’t have to slather on petroleum jelly and hope for the best. You don’t have to wait until spring to have comfortable skin again.

You just need the right products - natural, effective, made for THIS climate.

From Someone Who Gets It

I’ve lived in Central Pennsylvania my whole life. I’ve survived decades of brutal winters. I’ve had the cracked knuckles, the bleeding cuticles, the sandpaper elbows.

That’s WHY I make these products. Because I needed them. My family needed them. And I figured if we needed them, other Central PA families probably did too.

Every lotion bar I make, I think: Will this survive a Pennsylvania winter? Every soap I formulate, I ask: Will this strip skin, or protect it?

Your comfort matters. Your skin matters. And you deserve products that actually work in our climate - not generic solutions designed for California winters.

— Stacie, Maddi & Scott (Momma Bears Creations, Enola, PA)

P.S. - Don’t wait until January when your hands are already cracked. Start protecting your skin NOW. Your winter-self will thank you. Come see us at Carlisle Creative Vibes or order online - we’re here to help you survive another Central PA winter!

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Surviving Central PA Winters: What Actually Works for Dry, Cracked Skin