Photo via Sheknows.com

 It’s cold outside –a sign that there will be a windy winter weather yet again. Aside from worrying about what clothes to wear, many worry about their skin, hair and nails. Weather changes can make our skin dry and for those who haven’t decided which moisturizer is good for them, experimenting with moisturizer during wintertime can be quite a hassle.

Here are a few favorites for winter that you might find useful:

Bert’s Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk and Honey Body Lotion

This can be found online or in your local department store. This is deemed as a 24 hour moisturizer that will of course last for a day. This is a good product if your skin losses moisture pretty easily.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil preferably virgin coconut oil applied on your skin is also a good idea. It is relatively cheap and apart from applying it on your skin, you should take at least 2 tablespoons of it a day so that you will have a glow from the inside. It also strengthens the immune system so basically, buying virgin coconut oil is a win-win.

Weleda Rosemary Hair Oil

Alright, this isn’t for your skin but your scalp and your hair need some attention during wintertime too.

Josie Maran Argan Oil

This is another favorite not only because it is light and does not make your skin, nails or hair look oily like virgin coconut oil. This can be used on all parts of the body and can function as a daily moisturizer too.

Nivea Cream

Everyone loves Nivea. If you are a fan of their thick cream and already have this at home, you can use it as a moisturizer during the winter. For those who have very dry skin, it would be best to apply three times or more daily to make sure that your skin does not flake. 

 Cleopatra, according to history, is a beautiful woman and this claim was never challenged by anyone because she was able to snag a Roman emperor and another official after him. She also invented makeup –which makes her an expert when it comes to making oneself look beautiful.

Cleopatra may have had beautiful skin –young-looking skin at that because she took milk baths on a daily basis –at least according to legend. Modern labs have found that milk works wonders on the skin since lactic acid gets rid of dead skin cells by dissolving the glue that holds them together.

It is not the science behind it that concerns many though because the question of whether Cleopatra actually took milk baths still remains. Legend has it however that the Egyptian Queen took milk and honey baths. History notes though that it was Nero’s wife who loved milk baths and she was scrutinized by her contemporaries because of this.

Milk baths and its history among the aristocracy is quite interesting. In fact in pre-Revolutionary France, a marquis by the name of Rochechouart –the governor of Avignon was ordered to bathe in milk to save his life. It was not revealed however whether bathing in milk saved his life. Those who are into homeopathic remedies also believe that goat milk baths are a good way to treat arthritis.

Now going back to the aristocracy, we know you are interested in this. King Henry II’s most notable mistress Diane de Poitiers took milk baths to avoid aging. In England, from 1660 to 1685, nobles took milk baths.

Today, one no longer needs to buy lots of milk to have a milk bath because there are different skincare products that sell milk baths. This includes Crabtree & Evelyn and the rather popular The Body Shop. If you would like a milk soap on the other hand, Dove is a wonderful choice.

Photo Via Camposszto.org

When buying cosmetics, it is advisable for one to know what each product contains. This is the reason why it is important to read the label but what if you do not understand what the label says?

Most of the additives in grooming products are harmless unless you have certain allergies or if you have very sensitive skin.

Here are common additives used for cosmetics. The list also includes additives for hair care products. 

Allantoin – this is an agent that soothes the skin and also aids in healing abrasions or wounds. It is usually added to lotions and shaving creams or gels.

Cetyl alcohol –softens skin and makes it feel smoother. It usually added in foundations, deodorants, lotions and creams.

Isopropyl alcohol –this is included in most lotions because it dissolves colorants among other ingredients.

Petrolatum –this ingredient is also known as petroleum jelly. It has the ability to seal in moisture in the skin and also acts as a protective film. This ingredient is used in eye shadows, creams and depilatories.

Polysorbates –polysorbates make it possible to keep water and oil intact in lotions and other skin care products. They are also used in deodorants and baby products.

Propylene glycol – this is a humectants, it helps keep the skin moisturized. It is usually found in shaving lotions and creams, spray deodorants, and mascaras.

Sorbitol – this ingredient smoothens skin and keeps the skin moisturized. It can be found in hair sprays and beauty masks.

You may notice that most of the additives in skin care and hair care products act as moisturizers. These additives are harmless most of the time. It is important however that you only buy skin care products from places you can trust because there are people who sell counterfeit cosmetics and these may contain ingredients that will cause discomfort or certain irritations.

Photos Via packaging-int.com and centurylabel.com 

We’ve discussed vitamins and minerals good for the skinbefore but it wasn’t so detailed so here we go. JWhen it comes to your skin, you have to be very picky with what you useespecially with creams and lotions that claim to have all the nutrients yourskin needs. A great way to take care of your skin is from within, and thatmeans you have to take in enough vitamins and minerals that are essential tomake your skin look young and beautiful.

Do Not Forget Zinc

Zinc is important for people who have oily skin andaccording to experts, it helps in clearing up acne. Apart from that, if you getwounds, zinc helps in the healing process as well.

Vitamin B Gets an A+++

With enough vitamin B, you can make your skin look youngerand more beautiful. B1 for example is a good antioxidant and it helps ingetting rid of toxins and free radicals. B1 also helps your blood circulate.Vitamin B2 on the other hand, prevents acne and taking B2 with Zinc is apowerful combination so be sure to take your multivitamins.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is something that is produced by the body whenexposed to the sun, so brighten up your day and get some sunlight –during theearly hours of course and do not go beyond 9 am. Get some sunlight at around 8in the morning or 4 in the afternoon when the sun’s rays are not at theirstrongest.

Vitamin C

Apart from helping your skin in the healing process, vitaminC is also a good supplement to rejuvenate the skin. Getting your dose of thisvitamin is not only important for your skin though, it is essential for your immunesystem as well.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A repairs skin tissues making it a good addition toyour batch of vitamins. Although there are topical creams with Vitamin A, it isbetter to take multivitamins to nourish your skin from within.

Vitamin E

This vitamin is vital for those who are always out in thesun because it protects skin cells from the sun’s harmful rays. Vitamin E is anantioxidant. Drinking it with your Vitamin A is a good combo for healthy skinbecause vitamin E is a good Vitamin A regulator.