Winter Staples - MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner

The MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner is probably my HG lip product. In my quest to find a more affordable dupe (or something to use just for bumming around the house), I have only found one that works in the same way. It keeps my lips feeling moist longer than 99% of other lip balms/conditioners I've tried and because of that, I feel I don't need to reapply as often. I've had my fair share of products that disappear so quickly, this is definitely not one of them.

MAC makes colourless lip conditioners in tube and pot form, too; but i especially love the tinted ones because they add just enough colour to make your lips look polished but still natural. They also come in 4 other colours:

Left to right: Petting Pink, Plum Perfect, Gentle Coral & Soothing Beige

I've already tried Petting Pink & Gentle Coral and have loved them both. It sounds like Plum Perfect would be lovely for a more intense look and Soothing Beige would be great for a nuder lip; either way, I'm excited to try these other two shades!

READ MORE - Winter Staples - MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner

Winter Staple - Estée Lauder Daywear Creme

At first I was on the fence about this moisturizer. However, at approximately $60.00 CAD per tub, I wasn't about to stop using it!

But when the weather turned colder, it become a Godsend! Especially during that week-long stretch of below 0 degrees celsius weather.

It's got a thick consistency that feels amazing on the skin and it sinks in just enough that your skin feels moisturized, yet leaves some moisture on the surface as well. Some people don't like any sort of tackiness on their skin after applying moisturizer, but I happen to like it. I'm of the "if I don't feel it, it's not there," persuasion :p. It has a light cucumber scent as well; it smells fresh and is not overpowering at all.

I also love that it's got SPF 15 and anti-oxidants to help defend against aging. Personally, at 24, aging really isn't an issue. But it's all about prevention, isn't it? And I find it's best to prevent something before it happens as opposed to preventing it from getting worse. 

This moisturizer has really saved my skin this winter and I've already run out of it (I took the photos above last month). I'm currently alternating between the Origins Mega Mushroom Cream and the Korres Wild Rose 24-Hour Moisturizer, both of which are not enough for me at the moment. So ladies, here's where I need your help:

What moisturizer do you use to combat

dry skin in the winter?

READ MORE - Winter Staple - Estée Lauder Daywear Creme

Winter Staples: Bath & Body Works - Cucumber Melon Body Cream

Bath & Body Works' body creams are incredibly moisturizing, yet they absorb quickly; perfect if you're on the go. Despite it's rich texture, it does not feel oily at all. It leaves my skin feeling incredibly soft and smooth.

If Cucumber Melon isn't your thing, that's ok! You only have, oh, 35 other scents to choose from :p. There's a fantastic deal going on right now on their website: buy 3 body creams, get 3 FREE! So if you're stumped for Christmas presents, definitely check these out!

Just a note: these body creams do contain parabens, so steer clear if you want to use paraben-free products. That said, this product leaves my skin feeling so incredible and I love using it on my hands especially. I've been trying to drink more water, which means I need to, uh... Unload more often than usual; which, in turn, means I need to wash my hands more. And on top of that, I always have my heater on, so my hands have been drier than usual. Like I mentioned above, this body cream sinks in so quickly and doesn't leave any oily residue, so it's perfect for using on my hands. I don't have to worry about not touching anything until my hands dry :p.

Now, I only wish they came in smaller tubes so they can fit in my purse much easier!

What's your favourite hand cream?

READ MORE - Winter Staples: Bath & Body Works - Cucumber Melon Body Cream

Winter Staple: Lush - King Of Skin Body Butter

(photo from Lush)

Another lovely product from Lush, this body butter not only smells delicious, but it's also luxuriously moisturizing. Lush says that it contains cocoa, shea & coconut butter, bananas, toning essential oils, jojoba & almond oils, fresh avocado and oatmeal.

I love using King of Skin after baths because it's so moisturizing. It's really best to use at night, in my opinion, because it takes a while to sink in. It's definitely not the product I reach for if I'm pressed for time :p.

My skin always feels incredibly soft after I apply King of Skin. The scent lingers, too, which definitely adds to the entire experience; using this product really feels like I'm pampering myself. And we all deserve a little pampering once in a while, no?

As you can see, it's a solid body butter so it would be wise to buy some sort of container if you decide to purchase King of Skin. It's crown shape is a bit difficult to fit into Lush's body butter tins, but after a few uses, it'll fit in perfectly. Lush recommends using it in the shower when skin is still wet, then rinsing off. I personally haven't tried it, but I've heard the bar melts quicker this way, so I don't do it. Though I presume this method will allow the product to sink in quicker so it's something to consider if you want to use it and need to dress right away.

It's truly a lovely product and I highly recommend it. The ingredients are natural and won't irritate skin if you happen to be sensitive.

Have you tried King of Skin body butter?

READ MORE - Winter Staple: Lush - King Of Skin Body Butter

Winter Staple: Lush - Sympathy for the Skin Body Lotion

The temperature has dropped to below 0 Celsius here in Vancouver, something that doesn't happen often. That means the heater's always on and I'm always using borderline hot water for my baths/showers. 

Now my skin isn't normally dry. In fact, I can go through a typical Vancouver winter without having to use body creams or lotions. But this winter is going to be anything but typical, and I find myself needing to moisturize much more than I usually do. 

Sympathy for the Skin is my absolute favourite Lush body product. It moisturizes perfectly; sinking into my skin enough that it doesn't feel tacky but still leaving a bit of moisture at the surface so I don't feel like I need to apply more. Not that I mind the tacky feeling, I quite like it. But if I'm in not in the mood to sit around waiting for my skin to dry, then I reach for this product.

On top of it's amazing moisturizing abilities, it also smells absolutely delicious! It contains real bananas and vanilla pods, but it smells mostly like vanilla. I can seriously just sniff myself all day, it smells so good... That sounds weird...

If you plan  on purchasing it, keep in mind that it does have an expiration date. However, it's good for about a year so it shouldn't be a problem since there's only 240g of product in the pot. Which reminds me; mine expires in January so I really should use mine up. Not much more to go, by the looks of it!

What's your favourite body cream / lotion?

READ MORE - Winter Staple: Lush - Sympathy for the Skin Body Lotion