Winter Skin

If you're anything like me, your skin needs some serious help to survive the winter. The chill winds and dry heat of the radiators are enough to leave me feeling quite reptilian. While life as a lizard may have certain advantages -mmmm ... basking in the sun - I have no wish to be mistaken for one.

Luckily, I've discovered a few products to save me from that fate and I'd like to share them with you today. Much like my never ending quest to tame the brillo head, I've spent a lifetime - and several fortunes - searching for the right skin care regimen. I've tried all the brands, from high-end to low-rent, yet I always return to The Body Shop. I like their philosophy and my skin likes their products.

I popped into my local store a few month ago and, on the advice of one of the sales women, picked up a tube of their Vitamin C Cleansing Face Polish. Wow, this stuff rocks! It gentle enough to use every day, smells great and leaves my face feeling super clean and fresh. The tiny micro-breads exfoliate gently, and the Vitamin C helps to brighten your skin as well as protect it from pollutants. I have sensitive skin and was worried about using a daily scrub, but my skin is radiant. I can't remember when its looked this good. Really.

I use the scrub at night and follow it up with one of the Vitamin C Plus Time Release Capsules. Aren't they cute? You simply twist open the single-use capsule and apply the contents to clean skin - then hit the sack. The magical little capsule will do the rest for you and you'll awake with soft, bright, evenly toned skin. At $28 a jar, they're a bit pricey, but completely worth the investment, and far less than you'd pay for similar products in other lines.

The lizard skin is not limited to my face - my hands are a mess this time of year. Dry, dry, dry! Doing skillions of dishes doesn't help either. Fortunately, there is a remedy: Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve. I'm not going to lie, at $19.50 for a 5 ounce tube, this stuff ain't cheap ... but, again, well worth the money. This is the only hand cream that works for me, and the only one who's texture I can abide. It forms an invisible glove around your hand and provides all day protection. Its miraculous. Really.

Paired with the Kiehl's in the above photo is my other winter savior: Aveeno Overnight Itch Relief Cream. I practically bathe in the stuff before bed and I simply cannot live without it. Its fragrance free, works on contact and fast absorbing ... so you won't feel like a greased pig after using it. Bonus! It can be yours for a mere $5.31 at drugstore.com. In the words of Martha: its a good thing.

In case you're wondering, I'm not getting kick backs from any of these brands, nor will I make a dime if you click those links. Think of this as a public service, my post-holiday gift to you. Soft, radiant skin is decidedly Divalicious, may it be yours this winter!

So, have you got a favorite skin care product you'd like share? Or a tip for taming winter skin? Shout it out in the comments. Silky Diva wants to know.

Cheers!