I receive a slew of samples, and when I find something I like, I can’t wait to tell you all about it!
Proper hydration is essential in maintaining the health of your skin and hair no matter the season. But the winter’s high-speed winds, chilly temperatures, and the subsequent use of dry heat to keep warm can make dry skin anywhere on the body feel extra parched. It’s something my skin has dealt for years, sometimes drying out to the point of splitting (yeah, ouch!). Since I started writing about beauty, I’ve slathered on a slew of serums, lotions, creams, butters, and beyond to keep my skin and strands supple season after season on a mission to find formulas that not only deeply nourish but also pass the doorknob test (you know, when you’re trying to turn a doorknob after moisturizing).
Sure, Spring (and my birthday) are only a few weeks away, but we’ve faced a pretty weird winter filled with fluctuating temperatures, plenty of blustery, grey days, and dry indoor heat. With a slew of moisturizers on the market at the moment, I decided to roll up my sleeves to slather on a slew of samples to see which beauty buys could sustain the suppleness of my skin throughout the harsh season.
Let’s take it from the top (to toe), shall we?
Hair:
Deep Conditioner: Klorane Ultra-Nourishing with Abyssinia Oil, $26.00
A hair mask is a must for me no matter the time of year. But with the season’s environmental stressors plus heat styling my strands throughout the season, my tresses can end up feeling pretty parched, especially when I need to touch up any frizzy bits with a flatiron. But Klorane’s hair mask has a thick formula that sticks to my strands to deliver a much-needed dose of moisture and nourishment, care of the Abyssinia oil, to keep my locks from feeling brittle or burnt after a blowout.
Leave-In Conditioner: Carol’s Daughter Pracaxi Nectar Wash N’ Go Leave-In Conditioner, $11.50
I used to stay away from leave-in conditioners since most of the formula I’d tried in the past were too heavy and left my curls looking more like finger waves. But this Carol’s Daughter formula completely changed my mind. While it’s infused with pracaxi and olive oil, the texture is light and liquidy so it sinks into my strands immediately, making it easy to detangle my curls as soon as I step out of the shower. while it works well for the wash-and-go set, I love to layer it under a curl gel or mousse to kill any crunch and keep my hair bouncy.
Face:
Facial Spray: H2O+ Beauty Aquadefense Shielding Matcha Facial Essence, $42
I used to think that facial mists were only meant for dry skin types. But when my own skin started feeling tight as temperatures started dropping, I quickly changed my tune. But finding a formula that did more than just evaporate (as some that don’t contain humectants can dry the skin further) was a bit tricky until I first sprayed on this one from H2O+ Beauty. It’s not only infused with matcha green tea extract to keep free radicals at bay, but it also has rice bran extract that contains vitamin e and fatty acids to keep that moisture in place. A quick spritz before moving onto the rest of my skincare regimen can often mean the difference between soft skin and a flaking visage.
Moisture Mask: Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask, $4.00-$27.00
The heat in my home is no joke! As soon as temperatures plummet the landlord likes to crank it up to 11 overnight, which can dry out my skin even if I went to bed well moisturized. So it’s a good idea to layer something over your skincare to ensure it retains that hydration while you sleep. Though Tyra Bankespousedsposed the many beauty virtues of Vaseline, it can be really occlusive to the skin and clogs the pores, but this Origins moisture mask is a much better option. I’ve slathered this on plane rides so my skin looked healthy and hydrated as soon as I landed, and it does a great job of maintaining moisture levels. Plus it smells fresh and fruity, so the scent can offer the mind a sweet escape to a place filled with surf, sand, and frozen fruity cocktails.
Lip Balm: Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask in Natural, $26.00
Chapstick is essential, but they tend to either disappear before I can finish the tube or coat my pout instead of nourishing it, leaving me licking my lips instead and making matters much worse. But this Bite Beauty holds in the hydration thanks to the agave in the formula that acts as a humectant. It doesn’t have a thick texture but it really knows how to hang on to your lips, allowing me to wake up with a plush pout and sometimes skipping a lip color since my lips still retain a sheen. No wonder the brand added a few colorful options to its collection!
Sunscreen: Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15, $40
Sunscreen isn’t just for the summer — it’s a year-round thing if you don’t want to make hyperpigmentation worse, cause your skin to age prematurely, and of course, avoid skin cancer. But while I like a lighter formula for warmer weather, this thicker formula from Dr. Murad not only helps to protect my skin but also hold in the moisture from my facial spritz. And the Oil-Control Complex helps keeps shine at bay all day and works well as the primer for my foundation.
Body:
Body Scrub: Dove Crushed Macadamia & Rice Milk Exfoliating Body Polish, $5.89
Don’t let the photo fool you — I was head over heels as soon as I first tried this during Unilever’s #WhatsNewWithU event. And I’m already starting to burn through the tub! While I’ve tried using loofahs and sugars scrubs in the past, they often let my skin feeling more raw than refreshed. Plus some formulas tended to be more oil than sugar. But I don’t have those issues when using this new one from Dove because of the hydrated silica that’s used to gently slough off dry dead skin cells without scratching or scraping while the quarter moisturizer in the formula deeply nourishes so I feel silky even before slathering on any lotion.
Soap: Lush Ro’s Argan Soap, $15.95
As much as I love a luxurious body wash, I’ve become pretty fond of soap bars, thanks to this one from Lush. One whiff of this argan-infused formula and I feel like I’m in a spa — the rose petals sprinkled through the bar helps, too! — and it leave my bathroom smelling incredible. And the oil does a great job of feeding my skin the moisture it needs without feeling greasy, which allows me to layer on my lotions and body creams without feeling weighed down.
Body Butter: The Body Shop Spa Of The World Hawaiian Kukui Cream, $10.00-$36.00
Lotions are great for ensuring my stems looks silky in the summer, but in the winter, I need way more hydration. I first tried this Body Shop butter during one of the most blustery winters, and it kept my skin from splitting even when the wind would blow through the 15 million layers I’d wear to try and keep warm. It’s all thanks to the kukui oil that been used for centuries in Hawaii because it gives skin the fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants to stay healthy and hydrated — heck, even Lupita Nyong’o is a fan!
Hand Cream: Skinfix Hand Repair Cream, $11.99
With some of the worst cold and flu strains floating around, washing your hands (and sneezing in your sleeve as opposed to her hands) is key to prevent getting sick throughout the season. But the constant contact with soap and water, my hands can quickly become dried out and scaly, so keeping this Skinfix hand cream on my desk or in my bag is a must. It quickly takes the dry edge off thanks to the blend of shea butter, sweet almond, and sunflower oils that moisturize any rough skin quickly, and the colloidal oatmeal helps to hold in the hydration and prevent further damage to the skin.
Foot Mask: PediSpa by Look Beauty Intensive Moisturizing Foot Mask, $9.99
Sure, nobody going to see your feet this season, but they can seriously take a beating with chic party shoes during the holidays and snow boots when the blizzards blow in. And let’s be serious, who wants to snuggle up with someone who has rough boot feet?! Aside from using some of the Dove body scrub to slough off the callouses, slipping on these little foot masks (and a pair of socks to keep your tootsies toasty in the process) make my skin feel super soft once they come off.
Nails:
Nail Oil: CND RESCUERXx Daily Keratin Treatment, $13.93
Ever since I started covering backstage beauty, every manicurist I’ve interviewed have insisted that everyone should be using cuticle oil as much as they use a facial moisturizer since the nails can get just as dried out as the rest of you. I already have brittle nails that break with a simple snag, but they get worse during the winter to point where they’re peeling. Not to mention my cuticles start curling up and flaking away. After nabbing a bottle of this keratin treatment between shows a few seasons ago, it’s become a staple on my nightstand. All I need to do is dot a drop on each nail near the cuticle and rub it in while I’m watching The Daily Show to ensure my claws keep their stregnth.
Got any mega moisturizers that you love? Let me know in the comments below!