Hey Stony Brook, are you enjoying all the snow? Because as much as I love curling up with hot coffee and a sweater, my skin hates the cold weather. There is nothing worse than dry and itchy winter skin, dry hands, and a flaky face. These are the three products I’ll be using all winter to keep my hands, lips, body, and face moisturized and glowing.
Flamingo is a skincare brand at Target and I’m obsessed. The brand Flamingo is cruelty-free and contains no parabens or mineral oils. Their daily lotion is the most buttery and smooth lotion formula I have ever used. Put it on after showering on damp skin for the most stunning glow and dewy look all day long. For extra dry winter skin, their deep nourishing cream is a go-to. The consistency is super thick, it reminds me of marshmallow fluff, but doesn’t leave skin sticky. Plus, it’s super affordable at only ten dollars for each product. Part of its amazing formula is shea butter, white willow bark, papaya extract, and squalene. I love that it has a few ingredients and it made it easy to understand the purpose of each one. And they last super long as well, I bought the daily lotion and moisturizing cream in December and have used one of them every day since. Now it’s March and both are still three-quarters of the way full. The smell is fantastic, light, and isn’t overpowering. Both products offer luxury hydration and nourishment at a college student price point. They also have a light hydration spray that I will be trying as the weather warms.
Find the daily lotion here and the deep moisture cream here.
Clinique has been my go-to skincare brand my entire life. My mom swears by their products for our sensitive Scandanivan skin and I grew up with their green and silver packaging in her car, purse, and bathroom. My first product ever was Moisture Surge, and I still use it every day. But this winter I found my skin needed something stronger to stay hydrated, so I started using the Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask every night. The formula is thick and creamy, hypoallergenic, and vegan. This product is definitely one you use sparingly, a dime sized amount covers my whole face and neck. Waking up glowing is the best feeling. This is definitely a splurge purchase, but one tube will last multiple winter seasons, I have had mine for almost 3 winters now.
Find the overnight mask here.
Anyone who knows me, knows I am obsessed with Aquaphor. I keep a big jar of it in my dresser and a smaller tube in my backpack so I always have some with me. I use it for everything possible, especially since I care about skincare and minimizing the number of products I use. Aquaphor’s versatility is unmatched and since a little goes a long way, one jar can last years. I bought the jar I use every day in the fall of my freshman year of high school, and I’m barely halfway through it.
It makes your lips so soft and hydrated. I put it on basically all day, and the formula doesn’t contain alcohol so it doesn’t trick you into reapplying to use more product. Lots of lip balms contain alcohol; this dries your lips so you use more and therefore will buy more. Plus those tiny tubes are so easy to lose and an Aquaphor jar is much easier to locate. If you’re worried about the size of a jar and fitting it in your pocket though don’t worry, they make a standard Chapstick-sized tube, which also has SPF 30 to prevent sunburn on your lips. For extra softening, I mix brown sugar and Aquaphor together to make a simple and affordable lip scrub.
Actually, because of Aquaphor’s hydrating abilities, it can be used on any dry skin on your body.
One of my favorite uses is pedicure prep. After soaking and exfoliating your feet, cover any rough skin, calluses, and cuticles with Aquaphor for soft feet. I recommend doing this before bed and then putting on thick socks, since Aquaphor’s formula is so thick it can be kind of messy if you put it on and walk around. The next day your toes will be soft and pedicure ready.
Unrelated to moisturizing but also awesome, I have started curling my eyelashes and putting Aquaphor on them every night, combing it through with a spoolie. They have gotten so much longer and when I put mascara on they look like I’m wearing lash extensions.