Winter is one of the harshest seasons on our hair and skin. Luckily, there are products and things you can do to combat the itchiness and dryness. Listed below are some of my favorite products and things to do to stay soft and comfortable.
1. Moisturize your body morning and night.
Moisturizing all over can help maintain soft skin, but sometimes further attention is needed to areas such as our feet, elbows, and knees. To keep feet from cracking and drying out, moisturize your feet before bed and wear socks during the night. If you can’t wear socks to bed, wear them for at least 30 minutes before taking them off. My favorite moisturizer to use for my body is Nivea Skin Firming Hydration lotion. I typically moisturize my hands, elbows, and knees (if I can) multiple times during the day. I use Shea Cashmere and Silk Hand Cream from Bath and Body Works; the bottle is small, so it fits in my purse and I can take it with me everywhere I go!
2. Care for your hair by performing weekly or bi-weekly (depending on your hair type) conditioning treatements.
Giving your hair special attention during the cold weather months is crucial! My (new) favorite moisturizing treatment for hair is Phyto Hair Care’s Phytojoba Intense Hydrating Brilliance Mask. Trust me – this stuff works wonders and will leave your hair feeling smooth in no time. Make sure to comb through your hair with your fingers when applying any conditioning mask. You can also use a hair serum or oil to treat split ends. Remember, though, what works for me may not work for you; but Phyto Hair care has effective products specialized for every type of hair!
3. Keep your lips moisturized.
This one is pretty obvious, but sometimes we get so busy we forget! Some of my favorite lip moisturizers include EOS and Nivea Lip Care A Kiss of Care & Color. I use EOS for every day wear and Nivea’s A Kiss of Care and Color if I am dressing up.
4. Use less heat on your hair by letting your hair dry on it’s own and using a heat protectant spray.
You should not use much heat on your hair no matter what the season is, but limiting the amount of heat you use on your hair during the winter will help it keep it healthy. Let your hair dry on it’s own until it is slighly damp, then blow dry the rest on a low or medium heat setting. Use a heat protector before applying any heat to your hair; I use Chi’s 44 Iron Guard. Also, find new ways to style your hair that does not involve heat; Braiding, pony tails, sock buns, and wearing head warmers are all great ways to have cute hair without damaging it.
5. Do not skip out on face moisturizer and treat dry spots.
Nothing is worse than having dry flaky skin on your face! My face gets extremely dry when the weather gets cold, so it’s really important for me to remember to moisturize every morning and night. My go-to product for extreme dryness and dry spots is Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. This product is a definite life saver!
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