fighting dry winter skin

the weather lately has been the source of much misery for my skin. i don't often post about makeup or skin care. the cropped head does hinder that kind of thing! however, i did want to share some amazing discoveries. as i get older, i am noticing that time is catching up with me. there i said it. my mother has long told my sisters and i that skin care is critical but we didn't pay much attention (til now). i am noticing hyper-pigmentation on my cheeks that people call "age spots". i was charitably told that the spots are from sun damage. yay. still trying to deal with that, but while i try to turn back the clock, i can address: i have really dry skin in the winter and a solid routine to fight winter harshness is important. once i found a product or two (or 75 million. seriously overwhelmed), i found online product reviews incredibly helpful so these are my 2 cents on what has worked for me after some trial and error. (n.b. these are my own purchases. this is not a sponsored post)

let me know in the comments below: what's your favourite skin care product?

normally, i have combination skin: an oily t-zone and dry cheeks. in the winter, it goes completely crazy and gets excessively dry. then it gets oily. i can't keep up. i could not for the life of me, do anything to keep it hydrated. wearing make-up in the winter is an exercise in futility. i hate how dry and flaky it is. my last trip to new york to visit my dear friend J resulted in lots of girl talk, but also make up and skin care talk. J and K, as well as my girl I have steered me right and i wanted to share these with you.
bobbi brown soothing cleansing oil: I uses this religiously and her skin is amazing. ah-mazing. i thought the notion of using oil to clean your face was ... weird. thankfully, i heeded her advice and tried this. around christmas time, bobbi brown releases a limited edition deluxe size (canadians can order here). it is double the size of the standard bottle but priced better. i use 1 to 2 pumps at night. i rub the product in my hands and massage onto my damp face for a good minute. i spend more time in the drier areas: eyebrow, nose and cheeks. after about 2 months of using this, it has totally changed my skin. my face does not feel dry and tight after washing. i did not break out. also, i don't like perfumed products. this one had a scent that was not offensive but actually, quite nice! afterwards, i apply a night cream. twice a week, i will use this with my mia clarisonic brush system (i use the delicate brush head).

shiseido benefiance wrinkle resist 24 balancing softener enriched: right after washing, i use a facial cotton and rub this softener gently onto my face. sometimes, i'll dab some into the palm of my hand and pat it onto my face. the combination of this softener after the bobbi brown cleansing oil has been enough on some days that i don't need a heavier night cream. that's how much my skin has changed!

fresh crème ancienne tradition anti-aging skincare set: for the heavier night creams, J uses the fresh line and told me how this combination of skin creme with the serum is wonderful for dry skin. i am not exaggerating that a little goes a long way. you truly do not need to use a lot of product. i have been using this every night for almost 2 months now and i haven't even gotten to half of the jar of the cream yet; about 1/8 of the eye cream has been used; and i believe i've barely made a dent with the serum. the product is rich, but i have not had any problems - no breaking out.

take a spatula and scoop just a little bit (about the size of the tip of the spatula). put it in the palm of your hand. take 1-2 drops of the serum and work the products into your hands rubbing them together to warm it up. pat on your face. the texture is very rich, and may feel goopy/greasy (sounds attractive, no?). however, my skin soaks it up. the eye cream that comes with it is quite good too. again, use a very little amount and put it on the back of your hand. warm the product up with your fingers and using your ring finger, pat very gently on the eye and under the eyes. i've used this on my husband too and he has noticed that under his eyes, it is less dark. the next morning, my skin feels much nicer. this set is a better buy because the trio is a one time yearly purchase and will be used only in the winter months. breaking it down that way, the set is actually a good value versus buying individual pieces.

shiseido benefiance wrinkle resist 24 day emulsion SPF 15 PA : sunscreen is important especially in the winter. the sun is brutal reflecting from the mounds and mounds of snow. while SPF 15 is considered in the minimal to normal range, the fact that it is found in my moisturiser works for this lazy girl. PA means moderate UVA protection. the emulsion is a nice texture and i use it daily and before putting on any makeup.