Dilemma: Beat the Winter Blues

Call it early, but I’m preparing myself for cooler weather woes such as flaky skin, lackluster hair, and seasonal depression. We could all benefit I’m sure from some prevention methods as well as a few techniques to stay looking – and feeling – fabulous throughout the cold weather season.

Supplements

We often make the mistake of primping only our outside, when beauty really comes from the inside out. That’s where a sensible diet and beauty supplements come into play.

Fish oil capsules, taken daily, will keep your skin, hair, and nails moisturized and glowing radiantly as well as improve your mood. The essential fatty acids in these pills also aid in accelerating weight loss. Perfect, I’d say, when our bodies are taking a weather beating and we’re prone to holiday binging.

B-complex vitamins are universally known to alleviate depression, provide energy, and enhance energy metabolism (and weight loss).

Water intake is often neglected when all we’re craving is hot cocoa or those Starbucks Pumpkin Spice cappuccinos. However, h2o remains crucial to flushing our bodies of dulling impurities and keeping us well-hydrated.

Moisturizers and Conditioners

When we’re set on supplement intake, the next step is to coat our outside with lavish moisturizers and conditioners for hair and skin.

Everyone has their staple facial and body creams (and there are so many to choose from), so I’ll share mine:

Simply put, Origins A Perfect World Body Cream, $30 with white tea is my favorite body cream. It is immensely moisturizing and smells wonderful.

Dry skin will benefit from a richer, creamy facial moisturizer. These are normally found in jars (Cetaphil, $13) but I like the convenience of a pump (Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion with pump, $23). Clinique’s version works with your skin’s chemisty to deliver the perfect amount of moisture, and Cetaphil is a long time cult favorite.

Oily skin benefits most from a serum or gel moisturizer which will not feel too heavy on the skin. Chanel makes an amazing serum (Chanel Precision Hydramax+ Serum, $72) that smells like a cocktail and moisturizes luxuriously, then there is Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel with pump, $23, which is suitable as well.

All hair types should reap the benefits of an olive-oil based shampoo and conditioner. This will leave your hair beautifully shiny and supple without weighing it down. Plus, if you planned on using your same hair care products year round, now would be a good time to give your hair a refreshment.

My favorite olive oil shampoo and conditioner are of a Dominican line: Nacidit Olive Oil Shampoo and Nacidit Olive Oil Conditioner. Upon using this, I fell in love. Fair-skinned gals will love the absence of dry hair and flyaways, and ethnic ladies like myself will adore their new bouncy, well-moisturized tresses.

Spa Services

For me, summer is the time of year to sport DIY manicures and pedis. Body fuzz also grows faster, making impromptu shaving sessions a must. However, it’s easier to lose yourself during the winter when the last thing you want to do is paint your nails or lose warm down comforter time shaving your legs late at night and early in the morning.

Spa treatments are not only relaxing, but when you want to stay looking your best during this lazy time of year, they’re a must. Lower leg waxing, mani/pedi’s, and full-body massages will be on my agenda on a monthly basis.