Back in the saddle!

It’s been a whirlwind month, but I’m back in the saddle – ready for spring, now that February is almost through. Spring’s the time when everyone’s inner gorgeousness oozes out, but in the meantime, winter beauty has begun to feel like a bit of an oxymoron. Dry, pasty skin, staticky hair and rough, chapped lips and cuticles means that winter can get really ugly really fast. So what’s a gal gotta do to keep her gorgeousness going till the warm weather hits?

Let’s start up top and work our way down, shall we? Hat hair, static, brittle, breaking strands… all of these afflictions affect your lovely locks in the winter time. The key to keeping your hair looking lustrous is to keep those strands moisturized through the winter months, and covered from the elements if it’s super-harsh outside. Pantene Pro-V Restoratives Time Renewal Replenishing Mask’s rich, hydrating formula quenches dry, parched hair and helps prevent future damage. It’s only $6.29 and leaves hair looking soft and shiny. Hair still feeling dry after blow-drying? Rub a pea-sized dollop of Fekkai Glossing Cream into the ends for added moisture and shine.

Now that your hair is back to its bouncy, beautiful self, it’s time to tackle your skin situation!

Sure, you want to keep it moisturized, but use a cream that’s too heavy and it’ll make you break out. Use a cream that’s too light and it’ll leave your skin scaly! Your best bet? Depending on your skin type, use a lighter moisturizer with sunscreen during the day (I love Aveeno Positively Radiant SPF 30 for everyday and DDF Advanced Moisture Defense Cream SPF 15 when I need a bit of extra hydration). At night, give your skin some serious attention with a more moisturizing formula that contains glycerin or dimethicone to lock in moisture and niacinamide to strengthen your skin’s moisture barrier. (Give Olay Professional Pro-X Hydra-Firming Cream a try – it provides unmatched moisture without ever clogging my pores! ) While topical retinoids are potent anti-agers, they’re often too harsh for skin during the winter months when the skin’s natural barrier is at its weakest. Switch to peptides or OTC retinols until the weather is a bit warmer. Make sure to gently exfoliate once or twice a week with a cool skin brush like the costly and fabulous Clarisonic, or the wallet-friendly Neutrogena Wave. You can also try a gentle alpha-hydroxy acid such as lactic or glycolic, but go for a lower percentage until spring. (Kate Somerville, facialist to the stars, created an at-home line with a product called ExfoliKate - an amazing scrub that contains microbeads and lactic acid to exfoliate and polish skin, leaving skin soft and smooth. At $85, it's pricey but a little bit goes a long way and you'll feel a noticeable difference after one use!)

Finally, remember to drink lots of water! I’m obsessed with my new Bobble. That wasn’t a misspelling –it’s a water bottle that filters automatically, so you can drink water straight from the tap but still get that filtered water taste! Of course, its made from recycled plastic, BPA-, PVC- and pthalate-free and perfect for when you’re on the go (you can even fill it up straight from the tap at the airport after you go through security- no more $5 bottles of water!) It’s totally cute and convenient and comes in a variety of colors. I’m bringing mine with me to the middle east next week so I can stay hydrated in the scorching sun of Dubai! Check it out at www.waterbobble.com

Don’t worry,beauties! Spring is on its way. In the meantime, stay gorgeous!

XOXO