Changing seasons means change in routine

That's right, it's that time of year.  The time when leaves are falling off the trees and the temperatures start to drop.  Okay, so in Michigan, most of the leaves are already off the trees, but maybe not so much in the states a little further south.  I meant to post this sooner, but it still applies, it just won't be proactive like I wanted it to be.  For those of you in California and the South, this may not apply to you (and most likely not any countries near the Equator either).  But if you're in a temperate zone and you have four definitive seasons, read on!

So if you've lived with this type of weather for a couple years, you know that the change to colder temperatures can wreak havoc on your body.  The major problem that few people are spared from is dry skin.  Even my mom--who has oily skin--is no stranger to chapped, cracked skin.  Let's break our body into categories and see what we can do to prevent/heal the pain.


Body

A lot of people don't think about it, but the battle against dry skin can start in the shower.  If you use a moisturizing body wash or soap, you can send nutrients to the skin when it's in its most absorbent state.  I like Dove soap because it's made up of 25% moisturizing cream.  The "Nourishing Care" beauty bar with shea butter packs an added punch because shea butter is uber moisturizing on its own.  It smells good too.

It's important to exfoliate during this dry time, too.  And just because you're not using a body wash, doesn't mean you can't use a loofah or pouf.  Just lather up using your beauty bar and then scrub down using your pouf.  This is the method I prefer because I usually overdo it with the body wash and that's just wasted money.  Plus, the beauty bar is a great multi-tasker--I use it to shave, too.  In these hard economical times, who isn't looking for a way to save a little money here and there?

Another more obvious step is lotion.  One of my favorites is the Secret Wonderland Triple Moisture Body Cream from Bath & Body Works.  I love the smell and the moisture it delivers is great.  They have a shea version, a body butter, and a hand cream, too.  I love all these options because they're all very rich.  I think we've all come across those lotions that are real lightweights.  Those are good in the summer, maybe, but when it comes to winter's evil, you need something that packs a real wallop.

A body lotion that's rich enough to deal with hand issues (I get the worst dryness on the back of my hands--it's terrible!  They crack and bleed like no other) is from a brand called Onsen.  They have a lot of good smells and a nice one to use before bed is Lavender & Chamomile.  The Savannah Bee Company has a decent hand lotion.  I may be biased though, because I have a sick obsession with Magnolia blossoms.  Bath & Body Works used to have a scent called Magnolia Blossom and it smelled deliiiiiiiiiiiicious.  I'm so upset that they stopped carrying it.  I use Jergens Original Scent Dry Skin Moisturizer when my skin isn't in too bad a pickle, but it's not the most hydrating lotion out there.  If your skin is in serious distress, Olay has a great body lotion--their Quench Therapy body lotion.

Just like in the shower, it's important to moisturize while the skin is soft and absorbent.  So, apply lotion soon after getting out of the shower for the best results.

Face

When it comes down to it, the best moisturizer I have ever used is Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion.  When it comes to wintertime, I use it every night.  I've learned my lesson; if I let my face start to get dried out and flaky, there's no recovering until springtime.  So while my skin is still in pretty good condition, I'm starting to work this baby into my routine.  Another good moisturizer is Bioré's Nourish Moisture Lotion with SPF 15.  It's oil-free and it adds a beautiful radiance to the skin.  If you can't get to some Clinique DDML, then try the Bioré.

Just as exfoliating the body is important, so is exfoliating the face.  I have an apricot scrub from St. Ives that I use when I'm lazy (or if I'm particularly broken out, since it is targeted towards blackheads).  When I don't use that scrub, I use a cotton ball soaked in lemon juice and sprinkled with sugar.  It smells like lemonade and it leaves your skin feeling so soft and smooth.  I got the idea from Kandee Johnson--she's amazing!

I haven't tried this out yet, but it sounds very promising.  I have an Herbal Hydrating Mist from BeautiControl.  It talks about spraying it on top of your makeup and I feel like this might be really good in the wintertime to help prevent dryness.  I know there are a lot of sprays out there that claim to do different things.  I'll try it out and let you know what I figure out.  I also feel like spritzing your makeup with a spray bottle filled with water might work.  I'll try this, too.

Another thing to consider is the type of makeup you use in the winter.  If you suffer from dry skin, you should move away from powder foundations and towards things like tinted moisturizers and liquid/cream foundations.  Even some liquid foundations can be slightly drying, so if this is the case, try mixing your foundation with moisturizer or applying it with a wet sponge.

Hair

Since your scalp is skin and your hair is made up of dead skin cells, it's no surprise that your hair and scalp take a beating this time of year, too. I use a Tea Tree Oil shampoo and conditioner system from Swanson Health Products (Tea Tree Oil is known for having a moisturizing/soothing quality) and a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner from Bain de Terre.  Another good thing to have on hand is Dove Daily Therapy Nourishing Oil Care Daily Treatment.  It leaves your hair feeling so great that you'll have a hard time not playing with it constantly!  Which increases the damage.  Argh!!!  It's such an unforgiving cycle.

Two after-shower products that come in handy are Infusium 23's Moisturology Leave-in Treatment and Avlon's KeraCare Glossifier.  The leave-in treatment sinks into the scalp and hair to add much-needed moisture and the glossifier seals off the scalp and hair to keep in the moisture.  Just be careful to not go overboard on the glossifier.  A little goes a looooooooooooong way.  I have a review on it.

I might have some more to add later on, but this is a pretty decent springboard.  Now is the time to start treating the symptoms before they arrive or before they get way out of hand!!!!

~Stacie