I carry mosquito repellant in the car because I react badly to those skitters too. I've bloodied myself to the point of infection because of those nasty critters (they LOVE my ankles!)

I get horrid cold sores since I contracted chicken pox when I was 32 (and pregnant no less!) which makes me very sensitive to the sun. If I get too much, I get huge cold sores (I call it "lip"rosy)LOL. I use chapstic with sunscreen and oil of olay with sunscreen as well.

The last few years I haven't been in the garden or the sun much as I just moved to this house 3 yrs ago. We planned on doing my gardens after we complete the inside so my poor yard is a disgrace!

I did go and buy a Preston Villosa Lilac yesterday. I plan on growing it into a multi-stemmed "tree". I can't wait to plant it!

I'm looking forward to seeing what others use since I find even living in Calgary difficult on the skin, let alone gardening!

The "Off Skintastic" lotion (purple stuff, marketed for kids) is really great, it doesn't stink and isn't remotely greasy. Seems to keep the bugs off, I don't know if I would take it camping or anything but it's good for around the yard.

I rarely wear sunscreen although I should because I am fair and freckly - but I try to get a tan in the spring and then I don't burn all summer.

The best moisturizing lotion IMO is Keri Unscented Fast Absorbing. Nothing works better and it's not greasy. I use it even on my face in the winter.

Living on the prairies is terrible for the complexion, with the heat and cold, sun and dry air. We have an excuse for premature aging!

I rarely remember sunscreen as well, but like Gil, i tend to tan in the spring and then am pretty much okay for the rest of the summer. Inside, i don't have a particular preference for lotions - usually just what i have around. My sister-in-law just gave me some Glysomed and it's good and smells nice too.

I've got to use a sunscreen (when I remember) or I fry to a crisp. I'm one of those fair skinned types that start to burn after 30 mins. And I do hate sunburn. But, I usually try to tough one out so that I get a bit of a tan and then they aren't quite so bad after that. I also need to wear a hat most of the time. Sunscreen - any 45 spf or more that I can find.

A product that I used a bit at the greenhouse that I worked at last year was "Gardener's Clean" waterless hand scrub. I found it on sale at WalMart so I bought 4 or 5 bottles. I really like it when I come in from planting because it takes all of the dirt out of the "gardener's cracks" in my fingers. I really disliked looking at my mother's fingers when I was young because they were always rough and covered with little black lines during gardening season. Now that I use this, I don't have the same problem and my hands generally stay pretty smooth.

Shauna

I have really fussy skin, so I have my favorites and don't want to change. I use Neutrogena sensitive skin sunblock spf30 as my daily moisturizer, summer and winter. For night I use Avon stuff- the one in the gold jar. Cleanser is Neutrogena sensitive skin, and toner is my homemade "face vinegar" with lemon balm and calendula. I do tan really easily, which is a bonus - 3 good hours of spring sun with sunscreen on and my wristwatch has a tan line. Any kind of SPF 30 does as sunscreen on the rest of me, unscented lotion in winter.
Connie

I use all of my own handcrafted products, don't need any hand cleaner when I use my own Gardener's soap or any other soap that I make.

I don't like tanned skin so always wear long sleeved shirt and jeans, only my hands and face get tanned and that is enough for me!

I keep forgetting to use sunscreen too, but I know I should since I am fair skinned too and burn to a crisp in no time flat.

I keep lots of sunscreen around for the kids though and they tend to not forget either! (go figure! LOL). DH had a severe sunburn as a kid and ended up in the hospital for a few days so he is vigalent about kids & sunscreen. We always keep Solarcaine First Aid Spray on hand in case though and it really does help get the sting out of the burn... plus its great for other incidents too. When I was growing up it was Noxzema for sunburns. My mom totally swore by that stuff. Must be the menthol in there! It sure felt soothing... not sure if it actually worked or not, but felt awesome!

For the rest I like my Oil of Olay body wash.... but I was being adventurous when I ran out last time and bought one that has some sort of exfoliating "beads" in there. I can't remember the name though, but I do like it! I poured the bottle into our "Shower Caddy" thing and now I can't even go look and find out either! LOL

Handcream? I love this stuff that some girls from our church make and sell. All natural ingredients. They make very nice soaps too.

Ang

A wonderful cream for prairie dwellers is "George's Special Dry Skin Cream". Not a terribly attractive container, but the product is made in Calgary, and was developed by a pharmacist named George. I don't know how available it is outside the city. It's pricey, but a little goes a long way.

Here is a link that might be useful: George's Special Dry Skin Cream

DonÂt laugh, but I woke up this morning and I must have about a dozen mosquito bites on my plump derriere ;)
Seriously when I get bite I break out in big welts and itch like hell!

How the heck they got into the house last night has me boggled, I guess I will have to spray before I go to bed!

Ok, you can all laugh now ;)
LOL

Sharon

Years ago I had a friend who liked to garden in her bare feet. She showed up at work one Monday morning in thongs, looking like she was walking on eggs. She'd been out gardening on Sunday, and didn't realize the mosquitoes were busy - you couldn't count the bites on the soles of her feet!
Connie

Shauna, thanks for mentioning the "Gardener's Clean" waterless hand scrub. I'll have to keep an eye for it.

What I use for a hand lotion is Herbacin Kamille. I find it works really at replenishing the moisture loss. Then to help heal cuts I use Aloe Vera gel, it helps speed up how long it takes for cuts and nicks to heal.

For bug spray I usually use whatever has a high concentration of deet. I did find that Watkins sells a bug repellant that is a lotion and it works well. I usually use that one on my face as it smell like body lotion. A nicer than the stench of bug spray. Oh I also have a bottle called Marigold Horse Spray made by EQyss grooming products. There is no deet or chemicals in it so I can use it on the dogs. It smells nice too and seems to last fairly long.

Syreeta

Connie

I would love to have the recipe for your "face vinegar with lemon balm and calendula" It sounds wonderful.

Tabardca, how about sharing some of your recipes too?

I use Ombrelle SPF 30 in the spring and summer and SPF 15 the rest of the year.

I like "cosmecuticals cold cream with 20%urea" better than Georges. You have to request it from the pharmacist at London Drugs. The Shea Butter handcream from L'Ocitane. is wonderful but very expensive.

Tova, I use the 'cosmecuticals cream' from LD too, the pharmacist suggested it was better (and waaay cheaper!) than the shelf alternatives. Do you keep yours in the fridge?

Other than that, I use Dormer 211 SFP-15 for a daily face cream. If I don't put it on and spend 5 minutes in the sun I am covered with freckles the next day, and not the cute little 'sprinkling over the nose' type freckles, the big blotchy, everywhere type freckles.

I find it best to just stay in the shade - call me old & whimpy! lol

garden_chicken

I keep my 'cosmecuticals cream' on the night table otherwise I forget. I don't think I would like using it cold, do you use it from the fridge?

Tova

No, not straight from the fridge, that would be cold cream! I dole it out in small (1/2 cup) portions to another container & keep the original jar in the fridge (why don't they sell it in smaller amounts?). The phamacist said that if it's not refrigerated, the urea can get a little - she pulled a face - at room temperature. I've never had it go 'off', but I'd imagine it would be fairly gross if it did.

garden_chicken

Whew, I couldn't imagine using it cold. I keep it on the night table so DH can use it too and one jar lasts us for months. I've never had it go off either. Yeech!

kuzari princess

I very seldom use sunscreen gardening. Although I should because I am fair skinned like alot of you. I do wear foundation mostly everyday with sunscreen in it.
As for face creams I use Pure Gardens skin cream. It is all natural and works well for alot of things. I use it for eye make-up remover, for sunburns, insect bites, rashes, etc. It is a wonderful product.I have been using it for years. Best of all I believe that it contibutes to me not showing my true age. I'm in my 40's and most people guess me to be in my early to mid 30's.
Shelley

Another good natural skincare remedy is plain old Extra Virgin Coconut Oil.

Shelley, I'll soon be 45 and I too get lots of compliments that I don't look my age, a new girl at work thought I was 30 and that there was no way that I was 44 yrs old, lets just say she's my new best friend ;)

Years ago in my 20Âs when tanning was the thing, remember those tin-foil blankets and face tanner boards? My Granny always said to me, "Sharon, get out of that sun, you're going to look like an old moccasin someday".
Oh, how true her words echo in my mind today ;)

Sharon

My skin so far is pretty good (I'm 46). Its my hair that shows my age - plus. I'm very grey, snow white around the face. I do dye it a very light blond once in a while - gets rid of the few remaining dark ones. So I look pretty good, but definitely not 30's. Coloring it dark is just too much work. Fun thing is, I've been flirted with a few times by older men (in their 50's). That's a hoot - been years since anyone's flirted with me. Then they ask about my kids, and find out the youngest is only 11. I credit part of the skin to faithful use of sunscreen, ever since the early ones that were SPF 2 or so, and I'm outside as mucy as possible all summer when school's out. The other part is no smoking and genetics. My Dad has a few wrinkles now - he's 79.
Connie