Cold Weather Essentials for Hair, Skin & Nails
By Isabelle Hahn
Those gorgeous first days of winter are always wrapped in the excitement of getting to wear your favorite knit sweater and blanket scarf for the first time since last year. You head outside in your killer outfit and everything is perfect—until chilly temperatures and freezing winds leave your skin a scaly, dry mess.
Here are a few essentials to keep that dewy summer glow alive during the harshest winter months.
Think daily
Our skin gets less moisture in the winter because there’s less water in the atmosphere. Plus, those long, hot showers tend to dry out our skin even more. Moisturizing daily with an unscented moisturizer can help combat that dry winter skin. Any fun fragrances or scents can further dry out or irritate your skin, especially when it’s already sensitive from the elements.
Remember to moisturize EVERYTHING
That’s right—your nails and cuticles need that daily moisture too. If you’re looking for moisturizers to help your nails, look for phospholipids or lactic acids in the ingredients. These help breakage and irritation.
Coconut oil isn’t the best choice for your face (as it can clog your pores) but it’s great for your nails and cuticles. Coconut oil contains essential vitamins, which moisturizes and strengthens nails, while making them look healthier and shinier. Just make sure the product you choose hasn’t been refined or processed!
Moisturizing masks
Source: Sephora.com
Even when I remember to moisturize my face twice a day, that Boston winter wind always kills my skin. To keep that dewy glow alive, I rely on low-maintenance moisture masks. Origin’s Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask ($27) is the perfect overnight moisturizer. Its thick—but not too thick as to create breakouts—formula has great ingredients like avocado, natural oils and seaweed to prevent future dehydration. This product also works perfectly on other places that get really dry like my hands and elbows.
Source: aveneusa.com
The Avène Soothing Moisture Mask ($26) is a cult favorite, and is perfect for those days when you need a bit of moisture and you want to pamper yourself, but you’re low on time. Slather this all over your face then wipe off the excess when you’re ready to run out the door—it leaves a gentle residue on your face that is light enough to double as a daily moisturizer.
Source: Sephora.com
Sheet masks are also a great way to quickly give your complexion some much-needed moisture. I always reach for the Sephora Collection Sheet Masks ($6), specifically the avocado mask that locks in water, and the lotus mask that leaves your skin feeling nourished and revitalized.
Masking isn’t only for your face
Source: Sephora.com
Deep conditioning with a weekly (or bi-weekly!) hair mask can help restore your hair’s moisture balance. Briogeo’s Don’t Despair, Repair! Conditioning Hair Mask ($36) is great for super deep hydration because of its rosehip and almond oil. These fatty acids are great for moisture and shine.
If you don’t want to drop the cash on an intense hair mask, olive oil is a great alternative—it makes your hair look healthier and feel stronger. The E and A vitamins in the oil protect the keratin in your hair, and if applied to your scalp, can aid with hair growth.
