Winter can wreak havoc on our skin and hair. From cold, chapped cheeks and lips to dry, staticky hair and cracked cuticles, we need a little extra TLC to look and feel our best and enjoy the wonderful things that winter has to offer. Here are twelve affordable tools to keep you glowing all winter long.
I admit that I am a recent convert to the viral sensation Laneige Lip Mask. I got them for myself and my daughter for Christmas, and whoa, now I see what the hype is all about. I am the kind of person who always has lip balm in my pocket, my purse, and the drawer of the side table by the couch where I sit to watch TV. I hate the feeling of dry, chapped lips, and I don’t like cakey lipstick. This is some kind of wonderful concoction of ingredients that work all night while you are sleeping so that you really, truly wake up with soft, smooth, full lips in the morning. I use the peppermint mask because I love peppermint, but that one is hard to get your hands on. I have one of their lip balms in the berry flavor, and I like that as well. It’s not a Bonnie Bell berry from the 80s but more of a subtle 2020s flavor. http://
Once you wake up, you need something to keep your lips in peak condition throughout the day. You don’t want to lose all the work that the sleep mask did! This is my absolute favorite lip balm for winter. It’s thick but not gloppy or sticky. It works well paired with lipstick or on its own. It also comes in a mint flavor, which I love in the winter (as noted above).
You will see several Mario Badescu products on my list. This is one of my go-to brands for all things skincare. I use a variety of their face washes, body washes, hand and body lotions, and moisturizers. When I first tried the product line, I ordered everything from Amazon because I was impatient and wanted my new stuff lickity-split, an Amazon speciality. Amazon also makes returns extremely simple and convenient. I always recommend that you check the return policy when you purchase beauty products because they can differ based on the manufacturer. I have been using Mario Badescu for over a decade, so I have my standard orders based on the season and order directly from their website. I don’t mind waiting a few days, and I always have enough in my shopping cart to earn free shipping. They offer regular discounts and rewards, and the best part is that you can choose three free samples with each order. This is a great way to try something new without commitment, or if you have your favorites, to stock up on those and stash them in your toiletry kit for travel. The Glycolic Foaming Cleanser is my daily morning face wash for every season. It’s light and gentle and gives you a luxurious, foamy start to your day.
As I mentioned above, I use a variety of Mario Basescu night creams, depending on the season. The Seaweed Night Cream is my favorite for winter. We have forced air heat in my house, which is super drying, and that, combined with my “mature” skin (eye-roll), means that I need something with a little more oomph, but that won’t leave me feeling greasy or cause a breakout.
Moving on to our hair, blow drying my fine hair creates a science-fair vibe as soon as I pull anything over my head. One way to minimize that is to towel dry as much as possible so it’s just a quick blow-out. This super-absorbant hair towel has a little band on the back so that you don’t lose your turban as soon as you bend over. It also means you don’t need a huge bath towel just for your head.
In my battle against staticky hair, Loreal’s Wonder Water is what I consider to be my big gun. Both my daughter and I use it and love it. I have straight, fine, color-treated hair, and she has wavy, beautiful, long hair, and it leaves us both with a smooth finish that isn’t heavy or greasy. I can’t recommend this one enough.
While I do use Kitsch shampoo bars (love), I don’t actually use this heatless curler because my hair isn’t long enough yet. That said, it is a top seller across platforms and has over 8,000 glowing reviews. When my hair is a few inches longer (if I get there because I tend to get frustrated and cut it), I will give this a try. Let me know what you think if you try it!
Winter hands are another problem area for me. I wash my hands all the time, and as noted, I spend a lot of time in dry, heated air. My cuticles crack and bleed, and not only is it awful looking, but it hurts. I have tried every single hand cream and balm that I can find, and here is the combo that is working for me now. I use the Cuccio oil on my cuticles and hands at night, then go over that with Mario Badescu Hydrating Hand Cream. The oil has a light scent, which I find pleasant, and since the hand cream is also lightly scented, they don’t compete and become overwhelming.
Using these in combination regularly has really helped.
My favorite winter body lotion is the Mario Badescu Super Rich Olive Lotion. It’s thick enough but not greasy, and it absorbs into your skin nicely. I also love the light scent. Over the past few years, I have become sensitive to heavy scents, both natural and man-made, and this lotion is one that I can use as often as I want without any issues.
We will inevitably suffer from colds, sinus infections, and probably COVID in the winter at my house. Growing up, we went to sleep with Vicks Vap-O-Rub on our chests and a humidifier in the bedroom. I am still a humidifier kind of girl, and I wanted to see if there was a more natural, non-petroleum-based alternative to the Vicks rub. Maty’s All Natural Vapor Rub is what I am trying this winter.
Coming in at number twelve is my Chill Pill Roll-On aromatherapy oil. I can’t really wear perfume because of my sensitivity to heavy scents. I started experimenting with different natural options and stumbled across this one day. I love it. Chill Pill gives me a warm and spicy vibe without being too strong. It comes in a convenient little roller bottle, so I can keep one in my purse, one by the bed, and one on my desk.
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Wow so many products I knew nothing about!!!