Winter Personal Care Must-Haves

Living in northern Alberta is not for the faint of heart when it comes to the roughly six months out of the year that constitute “winter” here. Even someone like me – a dedicated hibernator homebody – cannot entirely escape the toll of the climate. It’s very, very cold and very, very dry. This time of year, there are moments when I feel like my life is simply a constant battle to keep moisture from leaving my body. Being in my mid-40s probably doesn’t help (thanks, perimenopause!).

I’ve been slowly building up my arsenal of tools to combat some of the most common problems I encounter during the winter with my skin and hair, but I am always looking for more and better options. So, how about this: I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours?

La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5

This has been a game-changer for me. I actually use it year-round as my morning moisturizer, but I find it especially useful in the colder months. I’ve seen a bunch of dermatologists on social media say that it’s a fantastic barrier cream (take that for what it’s worth) and I can personally attest that it’s great for sensitive or irritated skin. My husband’s skin gets very flaky and red during the winter, and this cream got his issues under control immediately. It’s quite thick but absorbs quickly and without a greasy/heavy feel. A small amount goes a long way, which also makes it quite affordable. A 100ml tube is under $30CAD and lasts me 2-3 months.

One trick I learned from my daughter (who also uses this cream and loves it): once the tube is down to the last ¼ or so, cut the top half off and use it as a makeshift “lid”. This lets you access the last bits of cream that might otherwise be difficult to get out through the squeeze top, and reduce (a surprising amount of) wastage.

Lip Medex

Apart from chapped lips, which are a pretty common occurrence in cold climates, I also have the pleasure of getting cracked skin at the corners of my mouth during the winter. I can’t tell you how incredibly uncomfortable that is! I’ve tried so many different creams over the years to combat this, but nothing has worked as well as Lip Medex. My SIL gave me some to try one time when I was complaining to her about my lip problems, and it worked within less than 48 hours – where, normally, it would take days and days to heal the cracks. Now, any time I feel my lips or the corners of my mouth get even remotely dry, I immediately apply some of this stuff, and it stops the cracking before it’s even started.

O’Keefe’s Healthy Feet

My feet are prone to dry, cracking skin in general, but especially in the wintertime, and this cream is hands-down the best and quickest fix. If I was a less lazy person, I would use it consistently to keep my feet baby soft all the time, but alas … On the bright side, no matter how badly I let things slide, this cream gets things under control again within 2-3 days of daily application. And the Working Hands cream is also excellent.

Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil

My hair is quite porous and dry, and the problem is exacerbated during the winter. I use this leave-in oil year-round on my ends, to combat dryness and breakage/splitting, and it works like a charm. I only get trims once every 4-5 months, and my hairstylist always comments on how healthy my hair is. I don’t use a lot of products on my hair, but I’m quite religious about this one. My typical routine is to scrunch a small amount through freshly washed, wet hair from about chin-level down to the ends, concentrating more on the bottom half of my hair. Less is more – and considering that this is a pricier product, that’s a good thing. I also use the oil on dry hair (again, just the bottom half) if I find that it’s getting staticky or tangled between washes. I love that it doesn’t weigh down my hair or make it feel greasy (or, alternately, “crunchy” like some of the cream-based products I’ve tried for wavy/curly hair).

Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Miracle Balm

This was my old stand-by for cracked skin and lips – and, in particular, for the irritation caused by frequent nose-blowing whenever I had a cold. Do you know what I’m taking about? When you’ve been sniffling for days and your nose is red and angry with you? It’s perfect for that. It’s also good for dry elbows. I find it too heavy and greasy for general use (I wouldn’t cover my whole face with it) but it’s great for spot treatment.

To be honest, I’m not entirely sure that it’s significantly more effective than something like Vaseline … but I love the weirdly medicinal smell and since a small tube lasts me for years, it’s something I keep around.

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

My daughter has eczema-prone skin, especially in the colder months, and this is the best (non-medicated) cream we’ve found for her. She uses it as a body moisturizer. You can buy industrial-sized tubs of it at Costco for relatively cheaply. CeraVe products in general have a great rep with dermatologists. We also (both) use the CeraVe SA Cleanser and find it gentle but effective (and also inexpensive).

Ok, your turn: tell me all your winter survival essentials!