hear my hair crunch, see my skin bunch…. part one!
Okay, okay… those aren’t the actual lyrics from “Silver Bells”, but they might as well be because HELLO! Winter?
She be rough on your looks.
Most women (and men!) end up struggling around this time of year with dry hair, wind-burned skin and a host of other cold weather-related ailments. If you live somewhere cold, that is.
(If you live in California, go back to the beach and button your lip.)
(Ahem.)
Some people think the weather needs to be cold and dry to wreak havoc on your body, but we get the once-over in the Land of Humidity and Rain (where I currently live), too. Because humidity isn’t really the issue at all.
The problem lies with things like forced-air heating indoors, the inevitability of rapid temperature changes and fluctuations, rough-textured clothing (wool, especially), and wind and moisture (be it snow or rain) assaulting you the moment you step outside.
That’s why I’m confident that no matter where you are… I can help!
I’ve dealt with every crazy kind of winter you can think of, through six different provinces and two states — from - 60 C with wind chill and blowing snow, to 4 C with freezing, pelting rain.
And that’s why my friend Kath requested that I do a post on winter beauty and skincare.
I’m going to go from head to toe in a series of posts, and share my thoughts and secrets on how to keep everything in good shape until spring rolls around again.
Broken locks…
Depending on your hair type, you can face everything from mad static to brittle, damaged hair when November rolls around. Some people even find their hair gets more oily when their scalp tries to compensate for dry, harsh weather. Your goal is to restore the balance.
No matter what your hair type, try and use cooler water when you wash your hair (even if you’re dying for a hot shower) and don’t rub your hair with a towel — wrap it and let the moisture absorb without traumatizing your hair!
Curly Girlies
Curly-haired girls sometimes love the dryness of winter, because they can easily avoid the frizzies caused by humidity. But if hair gets TOO dry, it still won’t hold a nice curl. A rich conditioner and a good curl cream can prevent any damage and keep waves and ringlets looking lustrous.
Also consider weaving your hair into a loose braid before you put any knitted hats on — it prevents frizz-via-fibers without disturbing your curl (straight-haired girls can do this, too, but you’ll get waves — no hat head, though!)
If you are going outside for a day of activity (skiing, snowboarding, etc.) you can even add a little bit of conditioner to your curl cream and smooth it in before you braid and put on your hat — you’ll get extra protection, AND super-soft hair when you rinse it out later.
(Conditioners:Neutrogena Triple Moisture, Terax Crema, Frederic Fekkai Luscious Curls Conditioner or Shea Butter Hair Masque, Wella Kolesterol. Curl creams: Frederic Fekkai Luscious Curls Cream, John Frieda Dream Curls Curl Perfector.)
Straight Up, Now Tell Me…
Girls with straight hair often end up with crazy static from hats and hoods, or dry, brittle hair from wind and the cooling/heating of going in and out of doors. If you have thicker hair, you can handle a richer conditioner and a smoothing/protecting cream. With finer hair, you need a conditioner that seals your hair shaft without weighing it down, and a light serum that does the same.
(For Thicker, straight hair, conditioners: Pantene Moisture Renewal or Ice Shine Conditioner, John Frieda Weather Works Weather Proofing Conditioner, Bumble and Bumble Creme de Coco. Thicker, straight hair, cremes: Bumble and Bumble Styling Creme, Ojon Hydrating Styling Creme.)
(For Finer, straight hair, conditioners: L’Oreal Vive Pro Nutri-Gloss, Pantene Full and Thick, Bumble and Bumble Seaweed Conditioner, Frederic Fekkai Glossing Conditioner. For Finer, straight hair, creams and serums: Frederic Fekkai Smooth Hair, Oscar Blandi Jasmine Oil Serum, John Frieda Secret Weapon Flawless Finishing Cream.)
Face it… you need help.
I wouldn’t begin to think I could diagnose all the different issues people have with their faces in the winter. Dry skin, scaly skin, eczema, rosacea and MORE… all of it can flare up like mad when the temperature drops.
Without even mentioning products, here are some basic tips to keep you looking fresh and supple.
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1. Keep your water temperature down: Use tepid water to wash your face, no matter what your skin type is. Hot water can strip oils and cause dryness, or artificial oil buildup when your skin rushes to replace moisture.
2. Adjust your cleanser: Winter skin is easy to strip. If your skin feels tight after you cleanse, try using a lotion or oil to wash your skin instead of a gel-based, lathering cleanser — though oilier skins will probably be fine.
Normal and dry skins can get away with just a rinse and a moisturizer/SPF if they cleansed well the night before.
Note: contrary to conventional logic, cleansing oils don’t make your skin greasy — rather, they help restore balance to problem skins of ALL kinds. I used the Origins oil cleanser below on my oily-with-random-dry patches (thank you, autoimmune issues) and it restored the balance nicely.
3. Exfoliate without shredding: A simple, alchohol-free toner used daily, or gentle scrub with uniform beads used a few times a week may be enough for fine skin. Thicker, oilier skins can take a beta-hydroxy acid moisturizer or a microdermabrasion scrub a couple times a week.
4. Moisturizer and sunscreen are MUSTS. Period. Apply moisturizer when skin is damp to maximize effectiveness.
5. Wear sunglasses when you go outside: Sure, it’s cloudy. Sure, it’s snowing. You can’t even SEE the sun. But you CAN see glare… and as soon as you squint? Hello, eye lines. Get a nice rich eye cream to combat any lines starting up, and then cover those peepers!
6. Maintenance is key: If you feel parched during the day, try a moisturizing spray over makeup — it should sink right in, unless you’re Dame Edna.
7. Give lip service: A thick, occlusive balm is best for lip protection. If you want to wear lipstick or gloss, go for moisturizing formulas. Try to avoid licking your lips, too — you rob them of moisture without adding any for longer than a moment.
And now for the products!
Cleansers, for all skins: Cetaphil, Origins Clean Energy.
Cleansers, oily: Origins Checks and Balances, St. Ives Olive Cleanser, Biore Warming Cleanser.
Cleansers, dry or sensitive: Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser with Feverfew, Origins Pure Cream Cleanser, Clinique Foaming Mousse cleanser, Kiehls Oil-Based Cleanser.
Scrubs/toners/exfoliators: Clinique 7-Day Scrub Cream (all), Aveeno Positively Radiant Toner (all), St. Ives Microdermabrasion Scrub (Normal/Oily), Origins Modern Friction Scrub (Oily), Weleda Iris Toner (Oily), Dr. Hauschka Intensive Treatment 03 (Dry and Sensitive), Kiehl’s Calendula Toner (Sensitive), Benefit Woman Seeking Toner.
Moisturizers, all: Clinique Dramatically Different Lotion, Cetaphil Moisture Lotion, Weleda Wild Rose Moisturizer, Benefit Do It Daily! SPF 15. Origins Have a Nice Day SPF 15.
Moisturizers, oily: Aveeno Positively Radiant Moisturizer, Clinique Super Rescue Anti-Oxidant Lotion, Kiehl’s Yerba Mate Tea Lotion.
Moisturizers, dry or sensitive: Weleda Skin Food (for VERY parched skins), Aveeno Ultra-Calming with SPF-15, Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief, Origins Never Say Dry.
Serums: Estee Lauder Idealist, Boots Restore and Renew No7.
Eye creams: MAC Moisturelush, Clinique All About Eyes Rich, Benefit EyeCon, Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins, Juice Beauty Green Apple Nutrient Eye Cream.
Lip balms: Carmex (metholated for serious chapping), Philosophy Kiss Me (emollient, great smell), Elizabeth Arden 8-Hour Cream (use everywhere!), Smiths Rosebud Salve (great for cuticles, too!), Aquaphor Ointment, Kiehls #1, Benetint Lip Balm SPF 15.
Moisturizing Sprays: Caudalie Eau de Beaute Beauty Elixir, Clinique Moisture Surge Spray, Juice Beauty Hydrating Mist.
Coming soon: Body and Feet… and specific problems. And then — Winter Makeup!
