The secret “ingredient” in my Rolled Sugar Cookies

My daughter, Simone, and I wouldn’t win blue ribbons (or any color ribbon) for baking at a State Fair, but I convinced her to help me whip up some cookies for the FabOverFifty Christmas party at my apartment. The experience would also give us a chance to put Vaseline’s reformulated Intensive Rescue Repairing Moisture body lotion to the test. When I agreed to try the product I was asked to choose a winter challenge, such as ice skating or cooking, which would expose my hands to one or more drying agents, including water, heat, and cold. I’m a worse ice skater than baker, so cooking it would be.

Simone and I chose a recipe we found for Rolled Sugar Cookies, which seemed simple enough. After the dough was made and chilled for a couple of hours, we rolled it out on a floured board, then cut it into shapes with cookie cutters. We washed our hands at least four times throughout the process, had them in and out of the refrigerator and oven and hand washed the bowls and utensils in pretty hot water—without wearing rubber gloves. By the time the cookies were baking, our hands were anything but baby soft and moist. Even Simone’s 30 year-old-hands were dry and ready for relief. Out came the lotion, which promises to “relieve very dry skin in a single use and help heal dry skin in 3 days.” Words like “powerful” and “therapeutic” also are used to describe the product.

I’d been using Vaseline Intensive Rescue Repairing Moisture body lotion for a couple of weeks before our baking soiree, and loved how easily and quickly it was absorbed into my skin, without giving it a greasy, sticky feeling. A small amount instantly made my dry, chapped hands feel velvety soft. This time was no exception. Simone was impressed, too, and happy to hear a bottle costs under $4.

I told her that I grew up with a jar of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly at the ready, whether my mother rubbed it on our chapped cheeks after we played in the snow for hours or on the rectal thermometer. So I felt some allegiance to the brand.

I’ve also been using the lotion on my feet, which are dryer than my hands and I no longer have skin cracks and leathery soles. The reformulated lotion includes Stratys-3, a moisturizing complex that hydrates the skin at the “top, core and in the deep-down layers,” the company says.

The cookies were crispy and buttery.  And when we rubbed our hands together in delight at our accomplishment, we were pretty pleased with them, too.

Tell us about your favorite winter activity for the chance to be one of five lucky FOFs who will win a gift package from Vaseline, consisting of a 10ounce bottle of Vaseline Intensive Rescue Repairing Moisture body lotion and a 7.5 jar of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly. They’ll be kind to your skin throughout the cruel winter season.