5 fabulous winter skin soothers...

this time of year is my favorite when it comes to weather. in my neck of the southern california woods, the days are sunny, mild {low to mid 60s}, and sometimes warm {low 80s}, but complimented with a cool breeze {or high winds}. nights and early mornings are chilly {20s-30s} and i love it. it makes me so happy to layer up with scarves; i relish the opportunity to wear my coats and gloves, and i never complain over having a numb face after being out for an interval run or brisk walk with my dog in the early morning hours.

unfortunately, my favorite season of year is responsible for my dry skin, something i could complain about. thankfully, this beauty girl keeps an arsenal for parched skin, so i don't have to!

i love and often use olive and coconut oils , two of the best natural ways to bring soft, suppleness to any dry area of the body, but also turn to these fabulous goodies for dry skin relief...


for hands:

Atopalm Moisturizing Hand Treatment ~ suitable for sensitive skin, i was introduced to this product a couple of months ago; it's a fragrance-free formula and not only makes my rough hands feel instantly hydrated, but contains antioxidants to help keep hands looking young.

Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Hand Therapy ~ shea butter and restorative sea salts are key ingredients in this lovely gem of a moisturizer. i love the light fragrance, inspired by the sea air.

Ahava Mineral Hand Cream ~ this silky, lightweight skin savior gives my hands the moisture they need thanks to its richly soothing dead sea minerals.


for body:

Julep Body Creme ~ i've become quite smitten with this brand's line of nail polish and was thrilled when i discovered how fabulous their body cream is. scented in pomegranate, this formula {rich with shea butter, avocado and jojoba oils} is decadent and highly moisturizing, but not greasy in the slightest.


Upper Canada Soap Sweet Vanilla Fig Body Butter ~ talk about fabulous, this rich, hydrating blend of shea butter, cocoa, fig and vanilla fruit extracts leaves my skin feeling amazing and really locks in moisture. the natural ingredients make my eco/green girl side quite happy as well. :)


tell me: what products do you use to soothe your winter skin dryness??

Curel Itch Defense Skin Balancing Moisture Lotion

Curel recently introduced Itch Defense Skin Balancing Moisture Lotion, a lotion specifically for those with dry, itchy skin, including the most common type of eczema (intense skin itch).

i cannot tell you how excited i was when i learned about this!

you see, my daughter has eczema. while it was more serious when she was younger, she still experiences painful itching if she doesn't keep her skin properly moisturized. some lotions she has tried (blame me) have irritated her skin, causing her skin to itch even if it wasn't before.


she keeps the Curel in her room :)

she likes St. Ives 24 Hour Moisture Lotion, but when this Curel showed up on our doorstep, and i told her what it was specifically for, she was thrilled to be the "expert" to test it out. here are her thoughts (with a few of bits of info from me):

"i like this lotion a lot. it makes my skin feel soft and i like that (the non-greasy formula contains olive oil and shea butter). i don't really like the smell, but i don't mind because it's not strong (it's actually fragrance-free). my skin doesn't itch when i use it, but if i do feel it getting itchy, i use this and it helps right away (the formula works to restore skin's barrier function and help it retain more moisture)!"



thought i'd also point out: the National Eczema Association has given Curel's Itch Defense Lotion their seal of approval and it's safe for everyone from adults to babies to use.

even if you don't have eczema, you may still experience skin dryness as the weather cools down (i know i practically bathe in body lotions during the winter!), so i think this is a must-have product for everyone during the fall/winter season!

be sure to visit curel.com to learn more about Itch Defense Skin Balancing Moisture Lotion, purchase it at your local drug and mass retail stores or online at drugstore.com

xo
pics taken by me :)

green beauty: Jurlique Love Balm

if your skin needs some extra loving care, you need to try Jurlique's Love Balm. as with all of the brand's products, this is a natural product, sure to win over the "green" beauty in you.

scented with tangerine oil (love that!), Love Balm is a salve that works on everything from your lips to your toes. vitamin E, olive and safflower oils give skin the replenishment it needs to be healthy and protected.

although this is a versitile balm that works great anytime of year, the winter is coming (not soon enough, LOL!), and that sometimes means brutal cold that can lead to chapped skin. applying this before battling the harsh, chilly elements will definitely help save your skin from damage that can be caused by it.

here are some ways you can use this Love Balm:

**on your lips to moisturize, condition, protect and soften

**on elbows-- massage into rough areas

**on your cuticles–- keep nails looking great by rubbing on daily to hydrate dry cuticles

**on hands for an all over "invisible" protective glove

**on your legs to instantly hydrate skin and give a lovely sheen when wearing your favorite dress

**on your nose to soothe chapped areas during the flu, a cold, or exposure to the elements

**on your feet-– apply to heels to help soften dry, toughened skin

**breathe in to uplift-- whenever you need a pick up, inhale the tangerine scent for an instant boost!

visit jurlique.com for more info and to order

xo

review: Decleor Nutri Delice Ultra-Nourishing Cream

if you have dry skin and you're looking for a highly moisturizing facial cream that will give your skin the moisture it needs, as well as leaving it feeling and looking healthy, check out Decleor Nutri Delice Ultra-Nourishing Cream.

i have oily skin, so obviously i didn't apply this to my face. i did however rub some into my hand and instantly knew that anyone with dry skin just might benefit from it. so, i enlisted the help of my friend, Kat, who has ultra sensitive, dry skin, and she fell in love with it.

"i started using this a few weeks ago, and even the first time after using it, i could see and feel a difference in my skin. it made my skin look so healthy without leaving it feeling greasy. some creams i've used in the past have either irritated my skin or made my skin feel good for only a couple of hours. with this, i use a little amount in the morning-- a little goes a long way!-- and my skin looks and feels so good all day. i apply a bit more at night and my skin looks fresh and hydrated in the morning! it is finally getting good moisture. i haven't had any reactions to it and highly recommend this to anyone who has dry skin."

thanks Kat!

find Decleor Nutri Delice Ultra-Nourishing Cream near you by clicking here. it's also sold in Sephora stores and online at sephora.com

xo