Hair: If dry, winter air can zap moisture from our skin; what is going on with the sad, brittle very ends of our hair follicles? A lack of moisture in the air combined with the artificial heat blasting all the time can do a number on our luster and shine. I recommend Clairol Herbal Instincts Shine Happy ($9.49 at Walgreens.com) to add a little added ‘oomph’ to lifeless hair. The amazing conditioner that comes with your do-it-at-home kits is included for springtime softness. Winter can also bring on the flakes of (gasp!) dandruff but washing with good old Selsun Blue (less than $10) once a week keeps your shoulders clear of tell tale ‘snow’.

 

Face: Nothing hurts more than a chapped face and if you love winter sports or spend any time even waiting for the train, you feel me! I’ve spent high and low and still Cetaphil Fragrance Free Moisturizing Cream comes away the winner at just about $15. Slathering it on at night and using my normal moisturizer during the day keeps my skin from flaking under my foundation. Foundation brings me to my next point. If you don’t wear Uggs in the summer or flip flops in the winter, why would you use the same formula of make-up in these vastly different seasons? A moisturizing formula to protect you from the elements is just as important as an SPF year round. On the high end Laura Mercier Moisturizing Foundation ($42 at Sephora) fits the bill, but if times are tight after the holidays, L’Oreal Age Perfect Foundation is hydrating and brightening for all ages. (About $16 at drugstores)

 

Hands: If a weekly paraffin manicure is out of your time or cash budget, like 99.9% of us, a solid hand lotion is indispensable during the season. For mildly dry hands try Avon Moisture Therapy Intensive Mini Hand Cream, the product works great, the scent is mild and you can buy one for your car, office, purse and the bathroom at only .99 cents! If your hands are severely dry, cracked or in pain try Aquaphor Healing Ointment (about $8 at drugstores) under a layer of Eucerin Plus Intensive Repair Hand Crème ($5) before you see a dermatologist. Also don’t forget your cuticles, I like Sephora’s cuticle care pen; at $12 it’s a bit pricier than some creams and oils, but it applies only where you need it and saves any greasy messes!

 

Body: It may sound gross, but on the days you can get by with out it, skip your shower and just wash your face or and/or other acne prone areas. Hot water is the third culprit in the wintertime theft of our skin and hair’s natural oils and softness. Of course, we have to shower sometime and to keep our skin from the winter itches; exfoliation is just as important as hydration. Using a scrub twice a week, even year round, allows you to focus on moisturizing the fresh skin underneath the layers of dead dry stuff! A few products to try? The Body Shop’s Ginger Body Scrub ($20) or Clinique’s Sparkle Skin ($18.50). If you need some scrub in a pinch you can even make your own by combining Kosher Salt, cane sugar of coffee with olive oil, safflower oil or jojoba. As for an after bathing lotion, there are many options out there! The lotion shelves of Walgreens alone can be mind boggling, but keep in mind if you suffer from dry skin it may be better to go with something fragrance free and let your perfume do the ‘talking’ for you. Aveeno and Cetaphil make good fragrance less products.

 

Feel free to leave comments with your favorite winter proof beauty products!