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This winter has been epic torture on my skin. Here in Alabama, we had an abnormally warm October followed by a cold snap that essentially had us skip the entire season of fall, hitting our Southern winter (I know, laughable to our northern neighbors) full throttle. It's been enough to send my already dry skin into a spiral of cracking and redness. I was applying lotions and creams constantly, usually to marginal improvements that didn't outweigh the resulting stinging and burning. I thought I had met my fate for the season until CeraVe sent a sample of their new Healing Ointment—cue the choir.

This stuff is made specifically for cracked and chafed skin (check, check). It's a clear, thick formula that's similar to the consistency of petroleum jelly, but doesn't leave skin slippery and greasy once it's been thoroughly rubbed in. My problem area is my hands, which also spend 80 percent of the day tapping away on my keyboard. Needless to say, any product that leaves a residue behind is immediately given a big no-go in my book. CeraVe Healing Ointment passed the test.

Finish aside, the actual effects of this clear, putty-like formula are amazing. The first time I rubbed it on my hands they were in bad shape: red, inflamed, cracked, and bleeding. It was truly a beauty editor's nightmare. It started working immediately and didn't stop—for hours. CeraVe isn't kidding when they use the word "healing." This isn't a bandage, it's a full-on fix.

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I've been using it for a few weeks now and it has quickly become my MVP of winter. It's the only product that sits on my perfectly arranged night table. Give it a try and you'll see why the obsession is real.