My Winter Skincare & Haircare Essentials

With spring right around the corner, I wanted to share some of the products that I found myself reaching for the most this winter.  So here’s my collection of skincare, haircare, and other little essentials that got me through the chilly, dry winter days that are hopefully on their way out :).

H2O Spa Hydrating Body Gloss (dry oil spray) – First of all, this stuff smells amazing.  It’s a beachy, earthy scent that lingers on the skin long after you put it on.  The fact that it’s a spray makes it so quick and easy to apply.  It works best if you use it right out of the shower (and while your skin is still damp) to moisturize your legs, arms, and even harder to reach places like your back.

Amika Oil Treatment–   For that little extra moisture and volume for the hair, I’ll take a few drops of Amika’s oil treatment and rub it into my ends, then over the rest of my hair after I get out of the shower.  This oil smells amazing, and absorbs very quickly.  You don’t have to worry about it weighing down your hair either – I’ve used more than a quarter-sized amount once and my hair still felt weightless and full of volume.

Philip B. pH Restorative Detangling Toning Mist– This mist contains apple cider vinegar, which is great for balancing you hair’s pH levels and adding shine, though I find it’s especially helpful in treating the occasional dry scalp.  The directions say to apply after getting out of the shower, but to avoid the vinegar smell, I’ll spray this on my scalp to balance everything out after washing with shampoo, then I’ll do a quick rinse with water.

Softlips Lip Balm – Softlips lip balm is probably the most moisturizing lip balm I’ve tried so far (and I’ve tried lots – from Sugar to Burt’s Bees to Eos).  It goes on super smooth and creates a little tingle of the lips. 🙂

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ – As the air gets colder and drier, your skin starts to require a heavier moisturizer.  Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion has been my go-to moisturizer for both day and night, and really locks the moisture in without feeling heavy or greasy.

Night Shift Sleeping Mask – Julep’s (fairly) new night mask is loaded with natural, skin-loving ingredients.  I’ll put this on every other day before going to bed and the next morning, my skin is soft, brightened, and moisturized.  I’m actually liking this a little better than the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask which felt a little too heavy for me, and left me waking up to an overly oily face.

Balanced Guru Balm Me Up Body Balm – I received this in one of my Ipsy subscription bags and fell in love with it right away.  It has a really strong citrus-y scent that I can’t stop smelling, even as I’m writing this :).  Plus it’s incredibly moisturizing and has an interesting semi-solid texture.  Personally though, I find the price is a little steep if using this as an all-over-the-body moisturizer (the travel size, which is what I have in the photo, is $12 and will probably only last me 5-10 uses, and the full size is $45), but for occasional use on the knees, elbows, hands, and legs, I think it’s plenty worth it!

Burt’s Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Crème – I got this hand cream in a little Burt’s Bees sample pack and have been using it non-stop all winter.  It’s my very favorite out of their hand creams – smells aaamazing, absorbs quickly, and doesn’t leave a greasy feel like I’ve experienced when using some of their other products.

MAC Fix+ Skin Refresher/Finishing Mist – Don’t you hate when you look closely at your face after you’ve applied foundation, and you see all those dry patches that are now even more noticeable?  It happens to me quite often (I guess I just don’t exfoliate enough…), so when I’m rushing off to work and don’t have time to re-wash my face, exfoliate, then re-do my makeup, I’ll spritz MAC Fix+ over my face and let it sort of melt into my makeup and skin, to add that much needed moisture.

Josie Maran Argan Oil – If I had to choose one product for the winter, this would be it.  There are so many uses for Argan oil – you can mix it in your moisturizers and conditioners, or apply it directly on you face, lips, hair, nails, and body to moisturize and soften you skin.

Cafe Escapes Chai Latte and Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa K-Cups – For those chilly mornings (and evenings), sometimes you just need a hot cup of cocoa or a spicy cup of chai latte.

And of course a warm scarf, and a big fat faux-wood candle that smells like vanilla!

 

What are your winter essentials?