Cold Weather Care for Skin & Hair

I know it seemed like it was never going to come, but my dried out hands and cold toes have announced that winter is finally here and it’s time for cold weather skin and hair care. It is no hidden secret that I despise cold weather. Like, every year I look at Florida real-estate, despise. One main reason is because it can be uncomfortable even when you’re in your warm home. The cold air outside and forced heat inside can do a number on one’s skin. And this one tends to get dry and itchy fast. It occurred to me the other day that I may just have finally conquered the dry itchy skin (and now hair-you’ll see later) by collecting a few perfect products. I’ve written here before about winter must haves, but this year I may have just upped my game. Check it out. Then begin your countdown to spring.

CapriClear Natural Soothing Oil 

Everyone goes crazy over coconut oil amIright? I too love it for cooking and even using sparingly on skin when there are super-dry eczema moments (my youngest’s) or mysterious rashes to attend to (my middle one’s). But as for using coconut oil on my skin all the time, I just couldn’t get into it because I felt like I was ready for a 450 degree oven-all lubed up. Enter, Capri Clear’s Coconut Oil spray. It is the same wonderful coconut oil that solves all the world’s problem, but in a spray bottle so one doesn’t feel greasy after it’s applied. Between this and my next suggestion, my winter skin has almost been a thing of the past. I apply it right after I shower and it locks in the moisture but doesn’t make me slide all over the floor.

Acure Castile Liquid Soap – Peppermint 

Full disclosure, I got this in a gift bag from a MomTrends event last year sometime. I never thought I’d use it, because, I mean, c’mon, castile soap? My hippy cloth diaper days are over so I just didn’t see me as a Castile kinda gal.  And yet, I  couldn’t make myself throw it away because it was a full sized product that was likely expensive. One desperate day as I was about to step into the shower and realized we were out of our regular soap, I reached for this and I have never looked back. I am now devoted to this stuff, not just for it’s minty freshness that rejuvinates a tired soul in the shower, but also for the delicious way it makes my skin feel. As I’ve aged, clean and moisturized are often mutually exclusive as everything seems to dry my skin out these day. I am happy to say that even though it seems I shower all the darn time these days (thanks newfound spin class addiction) my skin always feels great after.

Pureology Precious Oil Shamp’ Oil Shampoo and Conditioner 

If you’re guessing that my stylist suckered, I mean, talked me into this outrageously priced shampoo, you’re half right. It was actually the stand-in stylist I had while my favorite was on maternity leave. And I left myself totally open for suckering because I arrived to the appointment distraught over my static-ridden hair. I’m new to coloring my hair (No one believes me, but it’s true.) and last winter was my first with it and my hair was unreasonably dry and static-y, so I of course blamed the new color (and not the sub-zero temps that plagued us). She was only able to talk me off the ledge by offering this wonderful combo of color-safe and super-rich shampoo and conditioner that somehow makes my hair feel soft but not stick to my face after wearing a hat. So far, it’s worth every over-priced penny. (I put it away come warmer weather and switch back to my Neutrogena so I save my pennies then.)

Bare Minerals Purely Nourishing Moisturizer 

I’m actually waiting for a new shipment of this stuff so no picture. Instead I’ll give you Else Patton from RHOMiami because her face looks like mine feels in winter.

For my face in the day, I need something emollient but light enough that my makeup doesn’t slide down my face. This beauty does the trick and smells fantastic too. I get mine at Sephora but I believe it’s anywhere Bare Minerals is sold.

Mary Kay TimeWise VoluFirm Night Treatment with Retinol

 
The name kind of says it all. I went back to my roots last winter when my skin was all wacky in the “I’m 40 so my skin is dry AND breaking out and that makes total sense right?” kinda way. I use this deliciously decadent moisturize and the Volufirm Lifting Serum at night and I swear to the skin care goddesses has taken years of my face. I shouldn’t be surprised. My skin has never looked so good as when I used MK regularly but, what can I say? Sometimes, a girl has to branch out to find her way back home. Call your consultant or try mine. She’s lovely (and my sister.).

Hopefully some or all of these can help you survive dry winter skin this year. Next year, let’s just all go live with Elsa in Miami, mmkay?