Winter is nearly here and I am already feeling the effects: dry skin, static-y hair, and chapped lips. Between the cold dry air outside, the hot dry air inside, and the wind blowing (it dries out your skin, hair, and lips, and you can get a wicked windburn in the winter), winter can wreak havoc on your beauty routine. I tend to get super dry skin around my eyes and mouth, which is so frustrating and uncomfortable! I’ve also experienced chapped hands! It’s the worst!

Here are some tips to help ease your skin and hair into winter:

1. Stay hydrated. Just because you’re not sweating as much doesn’t mean you can’t get dehydrated. Drinking enough water will help keep your skin and your lips hydrated.

2. Moisturize. This might be Beauty 101, but you’d be shocked to know how many people do not moisturize their face OR their hands and bodies. In the winter I like to even go for a creamier body moisturizer.   Some of my favorites are Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion by Clinique and Deep Moisture Body Cream from Neutrogena.

3. Go for a gentler cleanser. I like Dove body wash because it contains moisturizers. For cleansers, I really love Neutrogena’s Extra Gentle Cleanser.

4. Take care of your hands!  Chapped hands can be so painful.  Remember to wear gloves to protect your skin.  My favorite hand cream is Aveda Hand Relief, but there are so many available that are great for your skin.  A little goes a long way.

5. Avoid licking your lips.  The dry air (especially inside) can make your lips BEG for moisture.  It’s so hard to avoid doing, but so important.  Use a lip balm and keep yourself hydrating by drinking water.  Your lips will thank you, and you can avoid the nastiness of having badly chapped lips!  There are also some great lip exfoliants out there (try Sephora) which can help if you have flaky dry skin on your lips.

6. Invest in a humidifier.  This brings me back to when my mom used to run it when I was sick as a kid, but it really works.  My skin gets so dry in the house (especially if you have forced hot air… ouch!) and having a humidifier really helps.  I put it on at night.  It helps me breathe easier and my poor nose and the sensitive skin around my eyes and lips don’t get dried out.

7.  Try to exfoliate, but don’t go overboard.  Remember to moisturize after using a face or body scrub.

8.  Don’t forget your feet!  Just because you’re not showing them off as much doesn’t mean you should neglect them.  I get regular pedicures throughout the year, and you can exfoliate and moisturize your feet very easily at home. Bath & Body Works has a great foot care line.

9. Keep using sunscreen.  This is another practice we usually abandon when summer is over but it’s still so important.  You can protect your skin from drying and aging by using sunscreen EVERYDAY, regardless of the season.  The sun may not be as strong, but each day you are still exposing yourself to harmful effects, even if you’re not feeling the burn.

10. Skip the blow dryer in the winter.  Remember how the hot air from the furnace is bad for your skin?  Well imagine what the hot air aimed at your tresses is doing!  If you must, be sure to invest in heat styling products to protect your hair from the damage of getting dried out.  No one wants static-y hair or split ends!  There are also some GREAT remedies for damaged hair you can find in any drug store, or ask your stylist for a deep conditioning treatment if you’re suffering from dry winter hair.

Have a beautiful winter!

A.G.E. Eye Complex by Skinceuticals is a rich formula designed to dramatically improve severe signs of aging around the eyes. Although it’s for more mature skin, I thought I’d give it a test drive anyway.

The Skinceuticals website says that “immediately, optical diffusers improve radiance and minimize the appearance of dark circles and capillaries,” and within 4-12 weeks, “a complex of flavonoids and synergistic peptides strengthens blood vessel walls, improves lymphatic drainage, and eliminates hemoglobin’s colored end-products to dramatically improve dark circles and puffiness. By twelve weeks and beyond, blueberry extract interrupts the formation of advanced glycation end-products (A.G.E.) and Proxylane restores water and nutrient content to the dermal epidermal junction (D.E.J.) to increase skin elasticity and thickness for dramatic improvement of wrinkles and crow’s feet.”

Just so you guys know… I don’t have crow’s feet yet.  But I do want to stay young-looking and the skin around my eyes tends to get really dry.  A.G.E. Eye Complex is intensely moisturizing and definitely helped with puffiness and dark circles.  I have sensitive skin and this did not irritate the delicate skin around my eyes.

Halloween is here and you might be going to some costume parties.  Even if you’re going as something as simple as the um, ahem, “sexy” vampire, elaborate makeup will likely play a role in your costume.

Some of us have sensitive skin, and some of us don’t, but with costume makeup, it’s best to be super careful in any case – especially with your kids.  Before you put your makeup and your costume on, take heed, you could be asking for a rash or infection!
Here are some simple things to avoid having this put a damper on your Halloween:

• Always do a test patch, even if you think you do not have any allergies.  Some makeup and adhesives contain chemicals you may not have come into contact before.  This can cause a reaction as simple as redness or far worse: a scabby patch of contact dermatitis or even a chemical burn.
• Latex is a common allergy!  Be careful when using masks as part of your Halloween costume.  Let your skin breathe a bit by removing the mask if you can.  Remember that even the simplest masks that slip on over your head will require you to wash your face after.  Latex in slip on masks, glue on masks, or certain Halloween makeup should also always be tested first!
• Be careful when applying makeup if you have a scab, open cut, or a blemish.  You can cause an infection with certain makeup if it gets into any open area.
• You may need to glue on those fake eyebrows, but be sure it will come off easily without removing hair or skin!
• Remember to be careful around your eyes!  Even if a Halloween makeup claims it is safe for your whole face, it may be very dangerous if you get it in your eyes.  You might want to try using your regular makeup if you can (say if you’re going as a cat or a sexy vampire?  That black eyeliner you already have will be useful!
• Avoid SHARING your makeup.  Most of us know this is a no-no anyway – but on Halloween you may figure you’re just using it once so it will be okay.  Not true!  You can get an eye or fungal skin infection even from someone who doesn’t appear to have either.
• Now, the hardest part of taking care of your skin might to be remember not to overdo it with alcohol and junk food!  Remember to stay hydrated!  Salty foods and alcohol and dry out your skin, so celebrate, but drink some water throughout.
• REMOVE your makeup.  You may be ready to pass out, but removing your makeup and letting your skin breathe is essential to preventing post-Halloween breakouts!  Use a gentle makeup remover that is intended for your whole face (or wherever you have makeup) and that is safe for use around your eyes.  In many cases face and eye makeup removers have different components, so keep that in mind.

Have a Happy Halloween!

As many of you know, it has been quite a hot and humid past summer. Even though it’s finally fall, we in NJ/NY still find ourselves in some unexpected humidity during the day. This kind of weather is just not great for my skin leaving me with some blemishes and oily skin! Well I was due for a new cleanser so I stopped in at Kiehl’s a few weeks ago and found out about their new clay based skincare as part of their Kiehl’s Rare Earth Collection.

The new ingredient in Kiehl’s new collection is Amazonian White Clay which comes from the Marajo Island in South America. I like to really try things out so I washed my face right in their store using the Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser. It’s formulated specifically for normal to oily skin types like mine! Not only does it contain the Amazonian White Clay but also finely crushed Diatomaceous Earth particles to gently remove surface debris, toxins, and oils which can enlarge the appearance of pores(which I have lots of from excess oil).  The results? My skin looked refreshed and matte! I loved it so much that I tried out the Rare Earth Pore Refining Tonic and the Rare Earth Pore Minimizing Lotion(which I have been using for the last 2 weeks now). Oh and there’s also the Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque too!

It’s interesting to smell clay as I wash and care for my face, however it reminds me of the benefits of Amazonian White Clay (remove dirt, toxins, excess oil and dead cells that can clog skin and result in enlarged pores) and how environmentally friendly this collection is. Kiehl’s is proud to responsibly source Amazonian White Clay through a fair-trade partnership that helps provide economic support to the local community on Marajo Island.

Now my face looks fresh and matte, my pores are minimized, AND my new skincare regimen provides economic support… what a rewarding 2 weeks!