Winter and Dry Skin Pick-Me-Ups

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I woke up like thissss! And by “this”, I mean “in Montana.” We were welcomed to a dreamy winter wonderland including the quaint town, plenty of hot chocolate, and fresh powder to boot! We are taking a ski trip with some of besties and I can’t wait for them to arrive! I can’t wait to share our Kalispell and Whitefish adventures with y’all, but before I do, I wanted to cover some winter skincare.

I’ve mentioned couple times starting winter 2016 I experienced dyshidrotic eczema on my feet for the first time and it cam back again winter 2017 – not fun. Without being super graphic, I basically get these little bumps on the inside of my heels and instep. You can barely see them with the naked eye, but you can for sure feel them. They itch really bad, then end up popping and peeling. THEN the whole thing happens all over again. Not only did I deal with that again this winter, but I also experienced the driest skin of my life. It’s been such a crazy winter, for Texas at least. I’m so ready for it to be over in many ways, but right now I can’t touch a doorknob or even pet my cats without the possibility of shocking them, because of the dry air and static cling. 

Anywayyyy, here are some of the products I have researched in the past couple months that help with hydrating skin – 99% of them are cruelty free and nontoxic! The only thing that isn’t, is the Eucerin lotion I mentioned. *wompwomp* Some of them are new finds and some are products that were already in my regimen that prevent and treat dry skin. You can normally click on the products above, but there's a bug right now with rewardStyle, so I can't link it like normal. Once it is fixed, I'll edit the post and make it clickable! I linked everything below for you though, so you can click through there in the mean time.

Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil. Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil was recommended to me by my esthetician Amanda, of 11 Wellness in Dallas. The originally mentioned it to me because I get milia. Milia is usually seen on a baby’s face, but adults can get them too. They are tiny cysts that are created due to trapped keratin beneath the surface of the skin.  Rosehip not only helps prevent these from forming but aid in other things like improving skin tone, texture and pigmentation. I use this every other night before bed. Make sure you let it soak in before moving onto your moistrurizer.

E.L.F. Prep and Hydrate Balm. I’m so glad E.L.F carries this, because it is the perfect on the go solution for dry skin. Just apply like a chapstick to your face, or even elbows and knees. For an extra oomph, keep it in your fridge for an even cooler application.

Herbivore Brighten Instant Glow Mask. I mentioned this mask in my blog post with 4 cruelty free and nontoxic face masks, but had to share it again, because it makes my skin feel happy! Brighter, yes, but hydrated too! Plus, it smells AMAZING, but not too overpowering. Don’t forget to only use at night!

Farmacy Lip Bloom. I’ve been using this for a little over a year now. It is so refreshing and keeps my lips moisturized for hours!

Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides. I have friends who have been using this for a while, but I started taking it last winter to help my skin’s moisture levels! They also help with a myriad of other things like preventing deep wrinkles, bone and joint health, and gut health, to name a few! I know a lot of people take it in their coffee, but I usually mix up mine in my Apple Cider Vinegar drink (more on that in the last paragraph of the post!) I get the “unflavored”, but I can kind of tell it’s there😉 Another thing I’ve seen people do is mix it up in a smoothie – it is a good protein source!

Vital Proteins Marine Collagen. This is the same as above, but made out of wild caught snapper instead of  grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine hides.

Burts Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream. I’ve always liked this Burts Bees product! It smells good and is easy to apply. I also like using it on my elbows and ankles. It’s portable and perfect for you purse or carry-on.

BioRepublic Skincare Lost Baggage Eye Mask. I like bringing these with my on flights, because you can put them on 15 minutes before your flight lands and be instantly de-puffed and hydrated!

Juice Beauty Green Apple Age Defy Moisturizer. I have been using this for almost a year now! Y’all know I love Juice Beauty and this is part of my nightly routine. The moisturizer is so creamy and hydrating, plus has lots of anti-aging properties. Just what I need!

Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask. I also shared this mask on my my blog post with 4 cruelty free and nontoxic face masks, but wanted to share it again, because you can use it day or night. Most types of masks like these are only supposed to be used at night. This is part of my get up and glow routine on the weekend. I love to start my Saturday with it!

Milk Makeup Sunshine Oil. I recently found Milk Makeup and I am so glad! It is such a great brand. This sunshine oil nourishes and hydrates instantly! What’s even cooler is that it comes in a clickable pen and is super easy to transport and travel with.

Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum. I started using this about a month ago, as per the recommendation of my esthetician Amanda. It tightens, brightens, and smooths your skin. Vitamin C is great to consume, but even better for your face to soak in. I use this every other day, alternating with my Juice Beauty Antioxidant Serum.

Juice Beauty Hydrating Mist. I actually have a travel sized version of this product and bring it on every trip! It’s a quick little refresher for your face and hair. It tones and hydrates, with a little aromatherapy thrown in as well!

Milk Makeup Hydrating Oil. Think of this as a giant chapstick for your face. You can also use it on hair or brows for shine and control. It’s also great to travel with, as it is a balm and not a liquid. It is similar to the sunshine oil, but gives more of a sheen than the sunshine oil does.

Osea Atmosphere Protection Cream. I first introduced y'all to this brand on my blog post with 4 cruelty free and nontoxic face masks. It's super cool company who takes their inspiration from the sea. This is a hydrating, lightweight moisturizer that is perfect for plane rides, outdoor exposure, and life in general. One of the main ingredients is OSEA's famous algae, so you know its gotta be good!

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs, and Rose Water. This is very similar to the Juice Beauty Hydrating mist I mentioned, but it is more budget friendly😉 It basically has the same ingredients and the outcome is the same. CHAching. I prefer the Juice Beauty travel size over this travel size though, because it is smaller and thinner.

Mario Badescu  Fruit and Vitamin A Hand Cream. I started using this on my hands at night, before I go to sleep. It has hydrating and anti-aging properties, which are key as hands are the first thing to really show age. Make sure you are showing your hands some love. Did you see my post on why gel manicures really aren’t that great? If you are addicted to them, you may want to start using sunscreen. Read more about dipping powder vs gel manicures here.

Smith’s Rosebud Salve. I asked y’all what your favorite products were for dry cuticles and a ton of y’all said rosebud salve. What’s cool about this is that it is great for chapped skin, lips and moisturizing in general. Sooo not just cuticles! The only thing about this is that it’s kind of confusing on their animal testing policy. They say they don’t, but they do sell in China. They claim that where they sell in china doesn’t require animal testing, but not sure how that works. Either way, I do like the product.

Mario Badescu Cuticle Cream. My cuticles were SO dry this winter and still are. I was on the hunt for something that actually helped them, because I didn’t really like cuticle oils, as they never really seemed to work. I swear, my cuticles seemed to feel even more dry when I use anything oily. Anyway, I found this and I love it! I will say that it is very sticky and pretty messy. I used it right before I go to bed, so I don’t have to worry about it getting everywhere. It was a total lifesaver for me!

E.L.F. Lip Exfoliator. Your lips get more chapped in the winter…duh. Exfoliation is great to do every so often, to get rid of the old skin and bring in the new. It’s also great to do right before using a matte lipstick, which tends to try out your lips in general. What I like about this exfoliator is that it isn’t in a pot, it’s made like actual lipstick, which leads to easy application and little to no mess!

Eucerin Baby Eczema Relief Body Crème. I mentioned this earlier in the post, but this is the only thing I’m recommending that is not nontoxic or cruelty free. If you have something that works as well as it, PLEASE send it my way. I would love to explore other options that work as well, if they are out there. I know it says for babies, but it has helped soothe my feet so much. It’s one of the only things that aides my frequent discomfort! I have used Eucerin for years – I love their hydrating lotion as well…just wish they were a little bit better for the environment.

E.L.F. Hydrating Water Sheet Mask. These are great for travel, because they are easy to stow and  a lot lighter than a tub of face mask serum too! Flying in general dries out your skin, so if you’re headed somewhere chilly, these are great to use, so your skin doesn’t experience a double whammy in the dehydration department.

Don’t forget that just drinking water helps hydrate your skin as well! You should be drinking your weight divided by 2 in oz. So if you weight 140 lbs, you should be drinking 70 oz a day at MINIMUM. This doesn’t take into account any caffeine or alcohol you have though, so keep that in mind. Both substances actually dehydrate you so you should be drinking the same amount of water as you are caffeine or alcohol. If you have 8oz of coffee or wine, drink at least 8 oz of water too. Another way to increase your hydration is to put lemon in your water! I drink apple cider vinegar and cayenne pepper every morning, with hot water and a couple lemon wedges. Lemons contain antioxidants that fight damage that free radicals cause. They also aid in the creation of collagen for your body, which is important for smoothing out lines in your face. Lemons actually do a lot more than just this, so check it out and see if they have other characteristics that would benefit your health as well!

Do you have any super hydrating products that you love?! I’d love to test them out or at least be ready for next winter w/them 😉 I currently have my eye on the Patchology Restoring Night Cloudmasque! Hope your day is full of moisturized skin and lots of love! Thanks for reading. XOXO

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