Winter Beauty Secrets

Now that I'm back in New York, I have to use different skincare products because of the harsh, dry, cold air. I tried using the L'Oreal RevitaLift cleanser that worked really well for me in L.A. but it dried out my skin too much here. =(  So, now, I'm using Olay Daily Facials Hydrating Cleansing Cloths to keep my skin soft and hydrated.

To get rid of the dead skin cells that make my skin look rough and splotchy, I give myself an exfoliating treatment with Olay Regenerist Microdermabrasion & Peel System. I apply the thick, gooey scrub with an electric toothbrush and run it over my face in small circles (a trick I learned from a Michelle Phan video a long time ago). I don't usually use the Activator afterwards, because my skin is sensitive to Lactic Acid... but if your skin does well on AHAs then I would definitely recommend trying it. The mini crystals in this kit are the BEST- nothing makes my skin smoother or more radiant!



Olay Regenerist Microdermabrasion & Peel Kit

After scrubbing my skin, always use a pampering face mask so that my skin won't get irritated. I use Kinerase Pro + Therapy Ultra Hydrating Repair Mask, which plumps my skin with moisture and makes it as soft as a baby's butt. It's a little pricey but it's the most luxuriously rich moisturizing mask and there's nothing else like it! The morning after I use it, my skin looks so healthy and glows. It's well worth the money and you only need a tiny bit each time. It also comes in a hygenic airless pump jar.

Kinerase Pro + Therapy Ultra Hydrating Repair Mask

My lips also need extra moisture because they're always extremely dry, especially in the winter, so I've been using a thick lanolin ointment (ok, it's a nipple balm for breastfeeding mothers) and it works WONDERS! I use Lansinoh Lanolin ointment, which I found on Amazon for $7. You can buy Lansinoh at Walmart, too, for under $10. It seems pricey for a lip balm but each tube contains 1.41 oz (which is a TON of product) and you won't find a better healing ointment for dry, cracked lips. The consistency is very thick at first but it melts right into your lips and stays put, even while eating or drinking. You can even dab it on minor cuts to help heal and protect them.

Lansinoh 100% Natural HPA Lanolin Ointment

Get Skin as Smooth as a Baby's Butt

Kinerase Ultra Hydrating Repair Mask is like a miracle in a jar...

There are tons of masks that claim to moisturize facial skin but, like men, it's hard to find one that comes through on all of its promises. Kinerase Pro + Therapy Ultra Hydrating Repair Mask ($65, amazon.com) is one of the good guys. After one use, my dry, irritated skin felt softer, super moisturized, and much more comfortable. It also helps plump skin, which is great for fine lines.

DIY Skin-Softening Oatmeal and Honey Milk Bath

This DIY milk bath is perfect for fall and winter because the pampering ingredients soften and hydrate your skin:

You'll need:
1 cup of whole milk
2 tbs. of honey
1 cup of liquid strained from cooked oatmeal (you can use whole oats but it can be a nightmare to clean them out of the drain)

Give yourself the royal treatment by adding flower petals or candles to get the full Cleopatra experience

Pour these ingredients into your bath water and let your skin soak for at least 15 minutes. The lactic acid in the milk helps slough off dry skin while the honey and oatmeal comfort and moisturize your skin.

When Demi Moore Gives You Anti-Aging Advice, You LISTEN!

If you're like me, cold weather tends to make you lazy. Who wants to do anything in the winter except snuggle under a warm blanket and watch TV? The laziness also extends to beauty regimens - most people don't want to spend any extra time moisturizing but this might change your mind:

When asked by Allure magazine what her beauty secret was, Demi Moore said, "I moisturize, moisturize, moisturize..."

Clearly, moisturizer is not the ONLY thing that has made Demi Moore look 37 for the last decade... but any piece of advice from age-defying Demi is worth taking.

During the winter, keeping your skin and body hydrated could prevent early wrinkles. Hydrating keeps skin supple and maintains elasticity. That said, here are five products you should never skimp on during the colder months:

1. Eye cream - Even if you're too young for wrinkles, the skin around your eyes needs some extra hydration to keep it smooth and soft when it's cold out.

Avon Solutions Plus+ Maximum Moisture Eye Cream, $12.50, avon.com

2. Body cream - Definitely apply lotion right after a shower, the best time for skin to absorb it. Use a creamier formula rather than a lighter one for maximum hydration.

Nude Moisturising Body Cream, $48, sephora.com

3. Hand and foot cream - You probably noticed that your hands and feet get drier during the winter, especially since most people wash their hands excessively to avoid catching colds or the flu. Apply hand cream every time you wash your hands and keep travel sized tubes in your purse for on-the-go application.

4. Face moisturizer - Gloves cover your hands, boots cover your feet, a hat covers your head and clothes cover your body but unless you wear a ski mask every day, your face is more exposed to the cold air than the rest of your body. Choose a richer face moisturizer for the winter than you would use in the summer or, if you can afford it, have one for daytime and a richer one for night.

Tea Naturals Extra-Rich Lavender Facial Moisturizer, $25, amazon.com

5. Leave-in conditioner - Cold weather wreaks havoc on hair. Make sure to use a leave-in conditioner to help hair stay soft instead of drying out and turning into straw.

Alterna Anti-Aging Leave-In Conditioner, $32, sephora.com