When will this winter end? While we’re still in the thick of winter, spring seems months away. How to manage to get through winter? Here are some of my favourite things to help get you through winter.
My Favourite Things to Help Get You Through Winter
Alumier MD Alumience AGE Serum
I’ve always been a fan of AlumierMD products, and the Alumience A.G.E facial serum is a personal favourite. This serum is designed to help your skin fight against environmental factors such as free radicals, pollution and advanced glycation end products (A.G.E.s). These factors can cause ageing, fine lines and wrinkles. Alumience A.G.E. uses a unique blend of ingredients to create a shield between pollution and your skin; It’s like an “instant barrier” for your skin. It’s also fragrance-free, sulfate-free, paraben-free, mineral oil-free and dye-free. $145 available in select doctor’s offices, spas and online at www.alumiermd.com.
Inner Fire Yoga Wear
I couldn’t get through these long winter days without keeping my body moving and stretching with yoga.
My friend Francesca at Karma Lifestyle Yoga introduced me to this Canadian brand, Inner Fire, whose leggings are made from BPA-Free recycled water bottles. Pretty cool, right? The leggings also have SPF 50 protection and are made of durable, moisture-wicking fabric that is anti-fade and anti-pill. Their shirts are hand printed in-house with eco-friendly water-based inks, and the designs and quotes are inspiring and cute.
Savasana is the best part of yoga! When you’ve finished practice, savasana is when you get to reap all the benefits of your yoga practice; be in tune with your body, your breathing, and hopefully your inner spirit.
The “I’m Just Here For The Savasana®” tank comes in nine tri-blend colours. $35 – now on sale for $24
Go from studio to street in style with the Pocket Leggings that have 3 convenient pockets for your keys, phone and anything else. Love the cute mesh calf detail for some built-in ventilation. $108 – On Sale $88 at Inner Fire.
Comvita Manuka Honey
Don’t fall into another cold and flu season without the cosiest of cures, Comvita Manuka Honey. This Liquid Gold can be used to sweeten up your daily coffee or tea, but it’s also the perfect at-home remedy for that seasonal cough. Coat that sore throat with Manuka Honey; its unique antibacterial properties have made it a coveted superfood over the past few years.
For 40 years, Comvita has been producing UMF verified Manuka Honey, or Unique Manuka Factor, a rating developed by the New Zealand-based UMF Honey Association that ensures the honey has the three special compounds that make sure customers are getting the highest quality Manuka Honey. $23.99 (250g) and up
OGEE Sculpted Lip Oil
This yummy lip oil glides on effortlessly and melts into lips to moisturize and protect with a blend of organic oils including cold-pressed Jojoba Seed Oil. The cutting-edge formulation allows the rich organic oils, butters, and waxes to be applied in solid form, melting instantly on touch allowing for a silky application that doesn’t pull over dry patches. OGEE Lip Oil is gaining recognition from beauty editors at top magazines including Allure, Nylon and Byrdie. Kourtney Kardashian mentions this on her blog as a top pick to moisturize dry lips! $22 at TheChoosyChick.com
Lily Lolo Sculpt and Glow
Add a little glow to your face – which I definitely need during the winter months. The award-winning Lily Lolo brand from the UK created this bronzer highlighter duo to contour, give the illusion of sky-high cheekbones and add a beautiful glow. Works for all skin tones. Non-comedogenic, allows the skin to breathe easily. The sleek compact is ideal for travel and handbags. Does not contain chemicals, bismuth, talc, or dyes (FD&C, Lake). Vegan and Gluten-free. $26 at TheChoosyChick.com.
La Roche Posay Lipikar Line
Suffering from dryer-than-normal skin or irritated skin like eczema? You’ll love the line of products from La Roche Posay for extremely dry skin. When my skin is super dry, the Lipikar Ap+ is my go-to cream to help soothe my itchy skin.
The Lipikar Ap+ is a think cream that fights itching and extreme dryness as well as sensitive skin. It’s soothing, lipid-replenishing, and is fragrance and paraben free. Great for adults and babies/children too. $25 available at Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall.
If you suffer from dry skin during the winter, it’s recommended to use lukewarm water and to keep showers short. Lipikar Oil protects the skin against the drying effects of hard water and provides the skin with the lipids required for restoring the skin barrier. In the shower, place a few drops in the palm of the hand and apply to moist skin. For baths, pour 2 to 3 capfuls into the bath water. Remember to pat dry with a towel – don’t rub! The niacinamide and shea butter formula moisturizes and restores the hydrolipidic film intensely to help restore the skin barrier and to provide comfort to the skin while soothing the tightness feeling due to dry skin. Babies, children and adults can use. $19.
My son’s lips get so dry during the winter months that they crack and bleed. Our go-to is Cicaplast. This repairing barrier balm soothes, protects and rebuilds the epidermis on chapped, cracked and irritated lips and zones. Its formula is concentrated up to 5% of soothing and repairing Panthénol, and enriched with MP-Lipids, pro-hydration active ingredient that protects lips from further cracking. $10
Klorane Peony collection
Klorane draws upon the power of the peony in this shampoo and conditioner to help soothe sensitive skin and scalp with the Peony collection. Peonies are scientifically shown to soothe sensitive skin and irritation. The calming pH balanced shampoo provides immediate & 24-hour scalp comfort while the lightweight and moisturizing conditioner provider soothes and conditions.
Klorane’s peonies are harvested in the Chinese provinces of Shaanxi and Gansu, following traditional methods respecting people and their surrounding environments. $20 each.
truMedic InstaShiatsu+ IS-2000 Shoulder and Neck Massager
Because of my back and muscle issues, I use the truMedic InstaShiatsu massager year-round, but I especially need it to help soothe my aches and pains exacerbated by the cold during the winter. It has eight deep-kneading massage nodes that dig deeply into sore muscles. What I love about this massager is that you can literally wear it; you can charge it up and walk around with it. You can easily manoeuvre it from your neck and shoulders down to your lower back. You can also use on other areas of your body. The best part of the massager is the optional heat for soothing relief. $129.99 at Costco.
Live Clean Foaming Body Washes
Live Clean has created a rich, creamy utterly luxurious foaming body washes with ingredients like shea, murumuru, mango, aloe moringa and matcha. Live Clean products are 98% plant derived and free of earth-harming chemical ingredients. Live Clean Foaming Body Washes are available at Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, Well.ca in 450 mL for $7.99
