As 2016 comes to a close, this country needs more love—so start by loving your family and yourself. With soothing fall and winter products you can show some love while protecting yourself from harsh cold air. Key ingredients to look for are calendula, chamomile, or oat—all of which have anti-inflammatory properties.
Here are my product picks to sooth your skin this season (and maybe even elevate your mood).
Face
Colder air means changing up your products and layering. Switch gel cleansers to oils, balms or cleansing milks and add a facial oil or hydrating serum to your AM or PM routine. Also, this is the time of year where you should be exfoliating less. May Lindstrom Blue Cocoon is a luscious melting moisturizer to serum. It contains blue tansy, which eases emotional anxiety (something I need lately) and releases heat from the skin.
In Fiore Calendula Solution Botanique is a spectacular facial oil that is rich in antioxidants. It’s soothing and smells incredible—perfect for skin in need of some TLC.
Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream provides barrier protection against wind and cold and can be used on kids and babies. Dr. Hauschka Hydrating Mask is a perfect weekly treatment mask for wintertime that helps skin retain moisture while protecting with rose wax.
Jurlique Calendula cream can be used as a moisturizer or as a treatment, it’s great for inflammation and breakouts, and it can be used on kids. Arcona Chamomile balm soothes compromised skin, and one of my facial clients came back from the desert of Burning Man and said it was the only thing that did not burn her face.
Hands
This time of year I need to have hand cream wherever I go. The Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm has been my go-to for a decade. It’s effective on dryness and has the most intoxicating scent, a cedarwood citrus mix, making it an instant aromatic pick me up. Weleda Skin Food is a must-have for winter hands or ultra dry faces because it goes on thick and protects from chapped and irritated skin.
Lips
Winter lips need something that stays put, and that is where the Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask comes to the rescue. It’s ultra hydrating, won’t budge off lips, and comes in a clear tint for nighttime or with a rosy tint for a daytime.
Noses
Cold weather brings colds, allergies, and distress to sinuses, and I always end up rinsing my nasal passages with my neti pot each morning to clear irritants. Always use purified or distilled water and boil the water to get rid of bacteria, and consider adding a humidifier to your bedroom to keep sinuses open and skin hydrated when your apartment heat kicks on. I also like to imbibe on Nettle tea to help with allergy symptoms, as well as Yogi Breathe Deep or peppermint tea to help with congestion.
Body
To help my dry and itchy skin I tried a new product, the Leahlani Mahana Coco Infusion. It smells like a tropical getaway and can be used on your body, hair, or as shaving cream. Unlike some other coconut oil products, this one stays perfectly soft like a lotion. Something I will never be without is Nature’s Gate Oatmeal Lotion. I’ve used it for over 20 years and it soothes dry, itchy skin when other products fail.
Kids and babies
The Weleda Calendula line features a product for every part of your little one, including a terrific diaper cream. They also make sets that are perfect for new mom presents. The Honest Company Healing Balm is something I use on my son’s cheeks when they get red or irritated. I like to use it for a little pre-bedtime hand and foot massage, as well. Babo Botanicals Baby Lotion with Oatmilk and Calendula is great for post bath rubdown and everything from Babo smells great and is effective for sensitive baby skin. Baby Carrot’s Soothing Oatmeal Bath is perfect to add to baby’s winter bath and can help with more serious afflictions like eczema, chicken pox, poison oak, sunburn, or diaper rash. Baby Carrot also makes a Calendula Chamomile Body Lotion that will soothe irritated skin.
Prevention
Fire Cider is a spicy, sweet, kicked-up version of apple cider vinegar. Taking a shot daily can aid with digestion or boost immunity and it’s delicious to cook with.
