Cold Weather Beauty & Wellness Essentials — As Seen On News 4 San Antonio’s “SA Living”
We’ve already experienced 30-something-degree days here in Central Texas — and, for us, that’s colder than a polar bear’s toenails! While we may get a reprieve from the frosty weather from time to time, we know we’ll be enduring some chilly morning and evenings (at the very least) for months to come. The harsh winter weather can take a toll on our health — and that of our hair, skin, and nails — so I stopped by News 4 San Antonio’s “SA Living” recently to chat about some cold weather beauty and wellness musts. Check out the segment above and keep reading for more details on the products seen on TV!
FOLIGAIN TRIPLE ACTION HAIR CARE SYSTEM
We all know that aging can result in hair thinning and hair loss for both men and women, but did you know millenials are also losing significant amounts of hair? Stress, protein- and zinc-deficient diets, excess bleaching, and overly tight or heavy hair extensions can all lead to weakened hair follicles, brittle strands, and excess shedding. Hair loss, then, can affect anyone, and the factors leading to this phenomenon can go way beyond genetic predispositions and/or age.
Environmental factors are among the factors that can exacerbate hair loss. In the winter, the dry air outside sucks all the moisture out of the scalp, leaving it parched and itchy. This, of course, creates an environment that’s not ideal for promoting hair growth. Similarly, the dry air all around us can weaken strands and render them more susceptible to breakage.
To counteract the effects of winter weather, check out Foligain’s Tripe Action Hair Care System ($44.95 at HEB), a 3-step regimen comprised of a shampoo, conditioner, and topical scalp solution. The key to Foligain’s formulas is Trioxidil, a proprietary blend blend of natural ingredients that has been clinically proven to prevent hair loss and promote existing hair growth. There’s a kit for men and one for women, each one designed to address the specific needs and challenges associated with that gender.
JUICE BEAUTY STEM CELLULAR VITIS VINIFERA REPLENISHING OIL
Yes, your face may be covered by a scarf as you brave the harsh winter elements, but that doesn’t mean you should neglect your skin during these bristly cold months. After all, you don’t want to feel dejected every time your reflection in the mirror reveals a dry, dull, lifeless-looking complexion — and, without a proper skincare regimen, that’s precisely what will happen.
Hydration, is of course, the number one priority when it comes to winter skin care, but that doesn’t mean you need to apply a mega-dense cream that’s thicker than a batch of buttercream frosting and which will leave your complexion feeling greasy and shiny. The fact is there are plenty of products that deliver top-notch hydration but are easily absorbed by the skin. That’s one of the many reasons why I love the new Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Vinifera Replenishing Oil ($72 at ULTA and Dillard’s stores, as well as at JuiceBeauty.com), the latest addition to the brand’s best-selling Stem Cellular collection. The skin just drinks up this dual-phase facial oil, which is named after the resveratrol-rich grape varietal Vitis Vinifera that flourishes on the slopes of Juice Beauty’s Sonoma County Farm and is known for having spectacular anti-aging benefits.
The multi-tasking oil effectively helps to rejuvenate skin, minimize fine lines, and boost radiance thanks to a blend of fruit stem cells and vitamin C infused into that powerful, antioxidant-rich Vitis Vinifera seed oil. Moreover, the oil contains moisturizing and skin-softening organic sunflower seed oil and jojoba seed oil; vitamin E and organic pomegranate seed oil to provide antioxidant protection; and a lipid complex derived from macadamia, jojoba, and olive squalane to improve the skin’s barrier function and enable it to better lock in moisture, resulting in bouncier and more supple skin. And here’s the kicker: the oil contains jojoba esters that smooth the skin and create the perfect canvas for makeup, so it also doubles as a primer.
With this oil, then, you can always put your best face forward!
Right now, you can use the code SANANTONIO20 at JuiceBeauty.com for 20% off your purchase!
STRIVECTIN SD ADVANCED PLUS INTENSIVE MOISTURIZING CONCENTRATE
Think of a grape: round, juicy, plump raisin. Now think of a raisin: rough, uneven, and wrinkly. And yet, a raisin is, at its core, a dried grape.
Now think of your skin as being that grape. What happens when it loses moisture? Any lines and wrinkles become more pronounced — just as they do with a raisin. To avoid bringing unwanted attention to those little crevices on your face, your skin must remain hydrated. Luckily, the new StriVectin SD Advanced Plus Intensive Moisturizing Concentrate ($79 at StriVectin.com) offers continuous hydration for up to 72 hours – all while waging a mighty war against wrinkles.
Beauty aficionados might recall that StriVectin revolutionized the skincare industry when it launched its StriVectin SD cream over 15 years ago, with many customers calling it better than Botox. Well, the SD Advanced Plus Intensive Moisturizing Concentrate is a supercharged, next-generation version of the brand’s iconic anti-aging product that delivers faster and more dramatic wrinkle-fighting results.
It features a new and improved Collagen-CE complex packed with Copper Tripeptides, which target 10 unique types of collagen to boost elasticity and visibly reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and stretch marks, as well as a Proprietary Sea Salt Ferment that increases moisturization to visibly smooth out fine lines. White water lily extract, meanwhile, helps the skin replenish its own moisture reservoirs, providing longer-lasting hydration.
This better-than-ever cream also contains hydrating and skin-plumping hyaluronic acid and skin-softening Tucuma, Cupuaçu, and Murumuru butters.
Your skin can now easily achieve grape-ness!
10 FREE CHEMISTRY NAIL LACQUERS
Like Lizzo, you wanna do your hair toss, check your nails, and feel good as hell, right? Well, here’s the challenge: the plummeting temperatures outdoors, combined with the moisture-challenged air indoors, can adversely affect our nails’ health. Dryness, flakiness, splitting, breakage, and brittleness are all common nail-related complaints in the winter months. And while you probably know about some of the measures you can take to protect your nails (among them doubling down on the cuticle oil and not wetting hands too often), you’re probably overlooking one key step to take: opting for a clean nail polish. Enter 10 Free, a new line of non-toxic, vegan, and cruelty-free nail polishes that are 85% naturally derived and free of 16 harmful and irritating chemicals — among them formaldehyde, toluene, camphor, dibutyl phtalate, carmine, and triphenyl phosphate.
Not only are 10 Free polishes free of hazardous chemicals, but they actually work to improve your nails’ health via the brand’s proprietary Nail-NRGY Bio Peptide Complex, which includes ingredients like soy amino acids, hyaluronic acid spheres, celery seed extract, peptides, vitamin B, and more. These ingredients work together to boost cellular energy, stimulate collagen production, provide hydration, and much more, ultimately resulting in stronger, thicker, more hydrated, ridge-free nails.
10 Free polishes come in a vast array of colors, finishes and textures. For a modern winter manicure, you can start with the Prep with Peptides Strengthening Base Coat, and then swipe two coats of Moody Blue (pictured above, at top). Or to play with the goth-flavored looks coming back in style this season, try the Total Eclipse polish, a blacker-than-black shade with an ultra-glossy finish.
Each polish retails for $18 at 10FreeChemistry.com. You can use the code “SA20” for 20% off your purchase!
BAREORGANICS RAW POWDERS
Our immune systems sometimes seem to revolt against us during the winter season. First, there’s the ever-looming risk of catching a vicious cold or, even worse, the flu. Second, our homes tend to accumulate a number of allergens such as dust mites and pet dander— and, given that there’s less ventilation occurring on a daily basis, that can mean symptoms flare up, leading to non-stop sneezing and coughing, watery eyes, runny noses, and more. And no one wants to feel sick and miserable during the most holly jolly time of the year! Third, we tend to be less active when it’s cold outside and less exercise means a weakened immune system.
So, to bolster your immune system STAT, you need to make wiser eating choices and that starts with prioritizing vitamin- and mineral-rich foods that truly deliver the nutrients our bodies need. Enter BareOrganics, a brand that specializes in 100% USDA certified organic superfoods that you can easily work into different smoothie, soup, and salad recipes.
Their raw powders are minimally processed and beyond convenient since you can easily incorporate them into a variety of dishes. Plus, true to the brand’s commitment to sustainability, they powders are packaged in recyclable, reusable, BPA-free containers.
One of my absolute favorites is the Turmeric Root Powder ($14.99 at HEB and BareOrganics.com), which I like to incorporate into a carrot and ginger soup for an added kick. Turmeric, of course, has been used for ages in Ayurvedic medicine and is known to help the body maintain a healthy inflammatory response.
I also regularly use the Spirulina Powder ($19.95 at HEB and BareOrganics.com), which is rich in minerals like iron and magnesium, which our bodies do not manufacture and which we need to obtain through our diets.
Another great choice is the Mushroom Immune Blend ($24.95 at HEB and BareOrganics.com), meanwhile, combines an assortment of Maitake, Red Reishi, and Turkey Tail mushrooms that are grown naturally and organically, so that they absorb all the nutrients from the soil in which they’re planted, making them all the more potent. Packed with polysaccharides and myconutrients, this powder will help to strengthen the immune system.
For ideas on how to work these powders into a variety of dishes, visit BareOrganics.com
HEAT HOLDERS SOCKS, GLOVES, AND HATS
I’m one of those people who can’t walk down the freezer aisle at the supermarket without shivering and being covered in goose bumps. Similarly, I won’t step foot in a movie theater without a heavy sweater. Needless to say, if it’s below 70 degrees outside, I consider the weather outside frightful. So on truly cold days, I need major reinforcements. Luckily, I get all the armor I need to face the winter elements with Heat Holders’ thermal hats, gloves, and socks, all designed to provide maximum insulation by keeping warm air close to the body.
The Original Heat Holders Socks, available in both men’s and women’s sizes, are 7 times warmer than basic cotton socks. Made of a thick, chunky yarn with a tog rating of 2.34, the thermal socks also feature long pile cushioning for superior comfort. They come in a ton of lengths, colors, and prints, among them the Heat Holders Women’s Original Multi Twist Stripe Socks ($15.99 at HeatHolders.com) shown above in a pink, navy, and cream color combination.
To give feet the right amount of warmth for each possible climate and circumstance, Heat Holders also developed two other sock warmth varieties: the Lite Socks, which a feature a 1.60 Tog rated medium profile and are 4 times warmer than basic cotton socks; and the Ultra Lite Socks, which feature a 1.04 Tog rated lightweight profile and are 3 times warmer than basic cotton socks. I love the Women’s Nordic Lite Socks ($12.99 at HeatHolders.com), shown above in gray.
To keep your hands toasty, meanwhile, check out the Women’s Gloves ($19.99 at HeatHolders.com), pictured above in gray, made of an insulating cable knit yarn and featuring a HeatWaver plush lining and a long protective cuff that ensures no cold air sneaks in. The Oslo Gloves ($19.99 at HeatHolders.com), which feature a fun striped pattern, are another great option to keep those palms protected.
Not only are their socks and gloves a must, but their hats are the perfect combination of functional and fashionable. I’m totally smitten with the Heat Holders Women’s Solna Hat ($24.99 at HeatHolders.com), which features a HeatWaver thermal lining and a really soft, plush insulating fabric that’s the epitome of cozy.
