My Winter Staples

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Yes, it does get cold in Hawaii. I mean at low 60s, it's winter-cold to us by all means. Okay, I see you guys in the mainland are laughing but c'mon, show some mercy to this woman who's buried under the sheets right now.

But seriously, it's common knowledge that winter takes a toll on the largest organ of our body. While I love the cold breeze, I despise how it makes my skin parched and flaky.  That's why skincare-wise, I take it up a notch. Oh well, I'm a beauty junkie so that's quite a predictable utterance.

All about oil. A fan of L'Occitane body oils, I am happy to add Arlessiene to my stash. It has a modern and sublime take on rose fragrance. Meaning, you won't be walking around with people sneezing on "grandma smell". It feels light on the skin, moisturizes my body, and adds shine to my hair (applied sparingly from roots to end). Another captivating find, YSL Volupte Tint-in-Oil (4 I Rose You reviewed here) has been on heavy rotation amongst my "lip saver" collection. It can be worn alone or layered over your lipstick or lip liner. Call me uber vain but it's what I use for overnight lip hydration lately.

Bye bye flakes. Another winter must-have, A Girl's Gotta Spa Energizing Citrus Salt Scrub is a great all-natural body exfoliant. If you're into scrubby kind and fragranced citrus oil, you'll enjoy bath time like it's summer! My hands are doubly dry and rough this time of the year so I rely on The Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector. Made for people with extremely dry skin, this helps vanquish my woes. The only downside is the strong woodsy scent which takes a while to dissipate (hub isn't a fan).

Winter-smooth face. I don't blame the weather per se because aging, hormones, lack of sleep, diet, etc. are culprits to a lackluster face. It's the law of diminishing returns, unfortunately. Whether you belong to my age bracket or not, skincare should be part of your daily regimen. I had the opportunity to try Murad Intensive Age-Diffusing Serum which helps combat age-related dehydration and lack of firmness. While I have only been using this nightly for two weeks, I can attest that it does make my skin feel taut especially right after application. My pores are noticeably smaller and face a bit glowy. In the morning and when I'm out and about, sunscreen is a must-have so I add Murad Age Balancing Moisture SPF 30 to my regimen. I use it after serum or before makeup application. I like that it goes on lightweight and does not make my face look greasy.

This is a collaborative post so hop around and see your favorite beauty blogger's winter beauty reco's!