Extra care for hair, skin required in winter


I am not the kind of fashion columnist who puts a lot of time and money into her skin and hair care.


As far as my skin goes, I struggled with acne as a teenager and young adult, so for much of my life there has been a short list of things allowed on my face, which includes a regular bar of Neutrogena soap, Clinique foundation, powder-based blush (never gel or cream) and sometimes accidental chocolate ice cream.


My hair is pretty thin and stick-straight, and I don't dye it, so I've spent years buying whatever volumizing shampoo, conditioner and mousse was on sale at the drugstore and just blow-drying my hair with a round brush. I've never felt it necessary to put any more thought into it, because my hair remains thin and straight no matter what I put on it.


When I entered my mid-20s, having lived in Chicago for a few years, this whole, cheap, no-fuss routine I had going fell apart. I was introduced to what, I'm told, is basically a lifelong problem for everyone except me: dryness. The cold and wind in Chicago wreak havoc on even my skin and hair, so I can't imagine what the rest of the population must go through during the winter, even those of you who don't live in the tundra I call home.


Your wardrobe changes seasonally, and so should your skin and hair routine. With some products, you'll be looking for different qualities, but it won't necessarily cost more money; with others, it may be worth spending a little more. Today, my routine is pretty compatible with what soap, moisturizer and shampoo labels would call 'normal,' and I've listed below the changes I make in the winter. Every skin type is different, but it's worth figuring out what works for you. Everyone deserves to glow, even in the middle of January.


Shampoo: I always use volumizing shampoo regardless of the season, but it can be drying. In fact, there was a period of time when I would get static just from brushing my hair. Moroccan argan oil has gained a ton of popularity in the last few years, and it has great moisturizing and nourishing components for any hair type. It used to be difficult to find shampoo that would moisturize my hair without weighing it down or making it oily, and I find that argan oil does just that.


The best part is that there are varying price points at which you can add argan oil to your hair routine. Once I treated myself to Moroccan oil shampoo, $25 a bottle, which smells so good you want to drink it. Organix carries a somewhat cheaper but still effective version, which you can find at drugstores such as Walgreens or Ulta Cosmetics. Recently, Suave has also introduced a line containing argan oil.


Eye cream: Anyone older than 25 should be using eye cream daily, but it's especially important in the winter. The skin around your eyes is always exposed, even if the rest of your face is covered, and it's extra sensitive. Look for a very thick eye cream with a brightening component as a bonus.


Body lotion: Here's one that I routinely spend more money on in the winter. It's so important to have a lotion that does the job, but isn't greasy. Plus, we tend to neglect our skin in the winter since it's covered up, but there's significantly less recovery time needed when you take care of it all winter.


Cocoa butter is my key ingredient for a good winter lotion. H2O Plus recently released a new line called the Sea Lotus Collection, and their body lotion contains cocoa and mango butters, as well as water lotus and bamboo extract.


Face soap and lotion: First, the face soap. Unless your face is incredibly oily, stash the salicylic acid products until May. Salicylic acid dries out skin, which can be good when you have acne, but is not ideal for regular winter skin. Go for a general cleanser, topping it off with a lightweight moisturizer, if you don't usually wear one, or a rich moisturizer if your skin is generally dry.


(E-mail Kristyn Schiavone at kristyn@simplestyleguide.com, or follow her on Twitter at @KKSchiavone.)


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