Winter Essentials!

Unless you are lucky enough to live in a tropical part of the world, you're in the middle of some cold, wet, dreary months. Aside from the extra layers of clothing needed to brave the increasingly frigid weather, there are some beauty essentials that you'll need to get you through until spring! Here are the things I just can't live without when the weather turns!

1. Hand Moisturizer

In addition to the dryness that accompanies the return of cold, I'm plagued with super dry hands during the winter, probably due to having diabetes. This means that not only do my hands get flaky, but if I don't moisturize regularly, they'll crack painfully. Further complicating things, I wash my hands all the time to avoid getting sick and HATE the feeling of thick, heavy moisturizer on my skin, particularly because when I touch my face it comes off and makes everything feel oily. So I'm always on the hunt for moisturizer that absorbs quickly, smells good, and, above all, WORKS!! I just discovered Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula, which smells amazing and seems to absorb quickly as well. Even better? It's available at drug stores here in Canada and a 250 mL bottle cost less than $6.00! Another good one is by L'Occitane en Provence (their Shea Butter hand cream is good - my fave was the Desert Rose, but unfortunately it was limited edition!).

2. Lip Balm

I LOVE lip balm. Always have. I'm always trying new kinds, and there are always at least two or three in my purse. I rarely stick with just one kind for long, but my faves at the moment are Jack Black, MAC, and Smith's Minted Rose.

3. Face Moisturizer

Skin is dry all over - so making sure to keep my face moisturized is pretty important. I find that a good night cream makes all the difference, and this one has been on my bathroom counter for years. 

4. Nails

I like dark nails all year round, but in winter I like them even more. I really love OPI's I'm With Brad (available at Sephora) which is a dark, shimmery red. (It's actually darker than it looks in this picture.)

5.  Bright lipstick

As long as you keep chapped lips at bay with a good lip balm, there's no reason not to wear lipstick through the cold months. In fact, I find that on a wet, dark day, wearing a pop of colour can make all the difference to my mood. I'd like to think it cheers up the people around me, too! MAC Rebel is one of my all-time faves, but a good fuchsia pink or nice classic red work too!

What can't you live without in the cold months? Share in the comments!

Chanel - Taupe Grisé

I've been lusting after this forever, but it's SO EXPENSIVE! Fortunately I managed to find a tester online (so before you ask, no, that's not what the packaging actually looks like) for much less so I could give it a try.

This is a lovely mauved grey/brown with a hint of shimmer that blends really well into the lashline for a smokey eye or over the lid for a more night-out look. It's pretty pigmented and blends about as well as your average MAC shadow.

Here's what it looks like without eyeshadow base:

I don't know if I'd every buy it retail price - probably not. It's a nice shade and somewhat unique, but there are enough similar shades that are much more affordable that I don't think it's a must-have for the price.

Some similar dupes are: MAC Moth Brown, MAC Unflappable, MAC pigment in Deceit, Bobbi Brown shadow in After Hours. Unfortunately a lot of those are limited edition, but at least Unflappable and Deceit are still available on All Cosmetics Wholesale, so head over and check them out if this shade looks enticing.

Last word - I like this, and I'll definitely get a lot of use out of it, but I won't be replacing it once it's gone.

Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balms

I was waiting in the line up at Sephora, and as usual, it was LONG. Though I usually resist their blatant attempts to up-sell with all the products by the checkout line on principle, I ended up sniffing the Lemon Lip Balm... and that was it. Hooked. Seriously, I wish I could virtualize the scent for you, because it is delicious. Just like lemon meringue pie!

Since then I've purchased: Mint, Grapefruit & Ginger, Lavender & Bergamot and Lavender & Vanilla. The lavender ones had a bit of a weird aftertaste, so they're not my faves, but still pretty good.

They all work well, aren't too thick and have SPF 25. My top pick is the Lemon (available at Sephora in Canada - you can get a duo of Lemon and Mint for $11.50 or individually for $7.50), but the Mint and Grapefruit & Ginger are also delicious!