Although I’m sure most of us thought we might avoid it all together, it’s pretty clear now that winter is upon us at Loyola. And with the onslaught of icy wind and snow come the less than desirable effects of winter – dry skin, cracked lips, brittle hair. Here are six products you need make it through the next few months in Chiberia.
1. A good face wash. Spring through fall, I always rely on a light, gel-based daily cleanser to keep my skin fresh and clean. However, when winter rolls around, I try to avoid washing my face when I can to keep from drying out. The best winter skin cleanser is one that doesn’t strip moisture, but restores in. I love Lush’s Ultrabland cleanser ($17.95-$29.95) or Origin’s Pure Cream Rinseable Cleanser ($22).
2. A heavy cream moisturizer. During the winter months, I swap out my lighter lotion for a thicker cream moisturizer. I love CeraVe’s Moisturizing Cream ($13.25)– it’s affordable and gentle, not to mention super moisturizing. I also use Origin’s High-Potentcy Night-a-Mins ($43).
3. A good lip balm. We all know that no matter which direction you’re walking in in Chicago, the wind is blowing in your face. This harsh wind causes cracked red skin and lips. I love Dr. Lipp’s Miracle Balm ($16.50) because I can use it on any patch of dry skin, not just my lips!
4. Hydrating Primer. When I try to apply makeup to my skin in the winter, it appears flaky and dry. When I started using a hydrating primer, it helped to soothe and smooth my skin, making it easier to apply foundation. I’m obsessed with Makeup Forever’s Step One Hydrating Primer ($37) – it has a creamy consistency and moisturizes my skin as it primes.
5. A hair mask. Sometimes, in the cold winter months, conditioner doesn’t cut it. I like to use a hydrating hair mask once or twice a week, when my hair is super dry and brittle. Fekkai’s Reparative Intensive Fortifying Mask ($25) smells and works great; I also like L’Oreal’s Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm (around $6).
6. COCONUT OIL. I saved the best, most versatile product for last. If you have dry skin and hair like myself, then coconut oil can serve as all five of the products above. I use this stuff to remove my makeup, moisturize my skin and lips, and smooth my hair. When my skin needs to be exfoliated, I love to mix coconut oil with coconut sugar and use it as an exfoliating scrub. It’s all natural, smells great, and is super gentle! You can buy it at any grocery store for around $10. Of course, you could just hibernate until spring and avoid all of the above – but as wonderful as that sounds, it’s unrealistic. These six products are all essential for my winter survival, and I hope they can help you, too. Good luck and stay warm, Ramblers!