To kick off the month of February, and before I dive into a busy weekend ahead, I wanted to share some of the skin and hair care products I’ve been using regularly and absolutely loving during these snowy, frigid and relentlessly drying past few weeks/months. Having been born and raised in New England, I’ve gotten to know what my face and my curls need to survive and thrive throughout the seasons – but I also know that we change quite a bit as we get older – and that it’s always good to be prepared for things like aging, the occasional grays, the results of stress or sun damage, etc.
Preventative care is always a good thing!
So this Winter, I’ve incorporated more ingredients like retinol and caffeine to keep my complexion looking bright, clear and fresh against even the harshest Nor’easter winds and snow squalls, and more nourishing creams and hydrating shampoos to sooth my scalp and prevent breakage in my hair since I’ve usually got it tucked up into a hood or hat this time of year while I’m out and about.
These are the new products I’ve been using alongside some of my usual favorites/must-haves- and I’ve included links and prices, as well.
And of course, if you’d like to see some of my past collections:
2023: [ WINTER ] [ SPRING ] [ SUMMER ] [ FALL ]
2022: [ WINTER ] [ SPRING ] [ SUMMER ] [ FALL ]
2021: [ WINTER ] [ SPRING ] [ SUMMER ] [ FALL ]
2020: [ WINTER ] [ SPRING ] [ SUMMER ] [ FALL ]
Let’s take a look!
A friend recently sent me a meme that said “if you played with any of these toys as a child, it’s time for a retinol cream,” and – horrifyingly enough – I did indeed own every toy pictured when I was a kid. Now, I’ve used small amounts of retinol in various moisturizers and eye creams over the years since it’s renowned for it’s anti-aging/repairing benefits, but only recently did I commit to adding a little more into my day/night regimens and my skin has been glowing ever since! I’m kicking myself for not increasing my applications more until now!
And I’ve also been using a new kind of lightweight SPF that has protected my skin without clogging my pores (and it has Niacinamide in it – another great ingredient for a healthy complexion!) and caffeine-infused eye patches on days at the office or when I’m working at home and desperately need a pick-me-up when I’m feeling tired and/or staring at my computer screen too much. The Winter might make me feel more tired and sluggish than usual- but you’d never guess!
- AM / PM Moisturizer: dew of the gods “The Theory” Retinol Creme Blend [ $42 – MORE INFO ]
- Daily SPF: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow SPF50 [ $35 – MORE INFO ]
- Eye Masks: Sephora Caffeine Clean Eye Mask [ $4 – MORE INFO ]
It should come as no surprise that for my hair care this Winter, I’d be raving about the most delicious-smelling shampoo that made my recent January Favorites list– but it’s the styling cream that was a gem of a find for me during these past few weeks! My older brother, who has wavy hair that isn’t nearly as curly as mine- recommended this conditioning cream to battle frizz, fly-away curls and split ends during the harshest weather and climate of the year here in the Northeast- especially when you’ve got very, very thick curls to work with!
The result has been healthy, defined, soft and shiny curls- even when I’m outdoors for any significant amount of time and even when I’m wearing a Winter hat all day long. A little of this cream goes a long way and it has been single-handedly saving my hair this season!
- Shampoo: Native Thin Mint Volumizing Shampoo [ $10 – MORE INFO ]
- Styling Cream: Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie [ $13.99 – MORE INFO ]
And there we have it, another season and a another collection of great finds, purchases and gifts that have transformed my skin and hair as I continue to keep on keeping on towards warmer and sunnier Springtime days! And I’ll have another assortment of products to share when we get there, too!
Next week, I’m going to have another ‘Local Loves’ to share (and it’ll be perfect for this upcoming Valentine’s Day!) a look at what I’ve been up to these past few days, and a peek at some of my “Date Night” attire!
’til then – have a great weekend!
xo
Coffee & Chiffon 