Wyndham Wisdom

Moisturize Me

By Hannah Wallace

These top-notch products will keep your skin and hair in shape this winter

Winter climates pose challenges for skin and hair. Add dry airplane air and travel stress and you have a recipe for lackluster skin, static-prone hair and chapped hands. We came up with some cures for common winter woes.*

1. An exfoliator is essential in winter. Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser* ($22.50 for 5 oz.; kiehls.com), made of white clay from Brazil's Marajó Island, sloughs away dead cells, toxins and oils, leaving your face soft and renewed.

2. A little of Dr. Hauschka's luxurious Rose Day Cream ($43 for 1 oz.; drhauschka.com) goes a long way. Made with rose-petal wax (30 flowers go into each tube), it seals in moisture and soothes irritated skin. It also smells of fresh roses.

3. Kiehl's new Imperial Body Balm ($42 for 8 oz.; kiehls.com) gets its buttery hue from the sea-buckthorn berry, a beta carotene-rich fruit. This ultra-rich balm absorbs quickly, leaving skin moisturized and smelling pleasantly of shea butter.

4. At night, your face craves something thick and rich. Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Plantidote Mega-Mushroom Face Cream ($61 for 1.7 oz.; origins.com) is a splurge, but it replenishes dry skin with a potent, if unorthodox, mix.

5. For centuries, the Miskito Indians of Central America have kept their hair shiny and hydrated with ojon oil. Ojon's Restorative Hair Treatment ($55 for 4.6 oz.; ojon.com), with a high percentage of the oil, is just the thing for brittle hair.

DRUGSTORE FINDS
Traditionally used to treat achy muscles, Epsom salts ($6 for 64 oz.) also soften skin. (Our "snow" at left is Epsom salts.) Dissolve two cups in a bath and soak. The crystals are also said to help flush toxins from the body. For a cheap exfoliator, rub a handful over wet skin immediately after bathing, then rinse.

Though it's mostly known as  diaper-rash cream, joggers and skiers swear by A+D ointment ($4 for 1.5 oz.). Apply a thin layer to your face to prevent chapping in cold, dry air. Beauty insiders like to use it instead of eye cream, applying a few under-eye dabs before bed.

Solar rays are just as damaging in winter, so it's vital to use a broad-spectrum daily lotion like Olay's Regenerist UV Defense, SPF 50 ($30 for 1.7 fluid oz.). Avobenzone and oxybenzone protect against UVA rays, while vitamin B3 complex and amino-peptides replenish the skin's moisture barrier.

When it comes to lip balm, both Kiss My Face SPF 15 ($3.50) and Burt's Bees Sun Protecting Lip Balm SPF 8 ($4) are winners. They go on smoothly, come in fruity scents and shield your kissers from the sun.

Unadulterated jojoba oil (Desert Essence, $12 for 4 oz.) quickly soaks into the skin with no oily residue. Splash it on after a shower or apply to sunburned skin or dry elbows and heels. It's also excellent as an aftershave and a leave-in conditioner for damaged hair.

Nivea Creme ($2 for 1 oz.) is a thick salve that soothes hands chafed by lugging suitcases and exposure to dry airplane-cabin air. The thin retro tin slips easily into your carry-on--in a zip-lock bag, of course.

*Consult your physician if you have any medical concerns regarding the use of these products. Use all products as directed.