Don’t let this picture scare you, we have something much scarier to discuss. The chilly weather is soon to be here, and that means the dreaded sucker of life will soon be all around us: FORCED HOT AIR HEAT!  Arrgghh! Nooooo!

And if that doesn’t suck the life out of your skin, the future wind chills will for sure! So, what’s a girl to do to keep her skin from looking like a dried river bed? Well, while there’s still a dash of humidity left in our homes, we’re going to share some of our favorite products to protect your skin from old man winter’s dull and dry touch.

10: Old School Hydration

Before we get into the products, we thought we’d start with the basic rule of hydrating your skin from within. Be sure to keep your water bottle close and drink up! Throw in lemon and mint if you want a summer throw-back. And, if you’re completely bored with plain old water, we have a few new favorites to keep your fingers from puckering.

With 7 Grams of protein and only 28 calories, Trimino is a no-brainer for hydration. 🙂 We get excited anytime we can add protein to our diet!

Last year, we were cuckoo for coconut water, and we still are. But, this year, we’ve graduated to a more sophisticated coconut beverage; protein-infused coconut water! CocoLibre is organic and get this, has 20 grams of protein, 120 calories, and zero fat. With those ratios, it’s the perfect drink to prevent in-between-meal snacking. The vanilla and almond flavors are to-die-for!

Our last choice for an alternative to water is ALO aloe vera water. Some swear it will make your skin glow. We’re not sure if it is a gimmick just yet. But, what we do know is that it is refreshing, different, and has helped with heartburn. This is definitely one to add to your beverage pantry.

Okay, so, we’ve covered the basic- keep the fluids coming regularly and make sure they are de-caff and non-alcoholic. Well, except for the morning and after 6 pm of course. 😉

Here are our top picks for products that will help keep your skin looking fresh this fall and winter.

 9. Pore-Cleaning Mask

We love all of the GlamGLow products. But, this set gives you a chance to try out a few. Our favorite is the white SUPERMUD (clarifying) and the Thirsty Mud for hydrating. Don’t worry that the clearing mask will dry out your skin. Honestly, it will clear your pores like a little mini Dyson, revealing fresh and clean skin. (It is what Jess has on in the picture. It goes on a dark grey, and dries a lovely grey-blue.)

Purchase the Glamtastic kit at here Sephora.

Another great one to try is the Peter Thomas Roth, Mask Frenzy, also a great option to try a few different masks.

8. Ahava – Facial Renewal Peel

A major symptom of winter skin is dullness. We have a couple of ways for you to bring back the radiance! Ahava Facial Renewal Peel is gentle enough to use frequently. We’ve found with regular use, the dull dry layer is sloughed off to reveal a radiant glow!

Purchase Ahava Facial Peel for $38 here at UltaBeauty.

7. Buxom – Show Some Skin Weightless Foundation

Hey, sometimes you’ve just got to fake it. Buxom Weightless Foundation definitely helps you cheat when your winter skin is at it’s worst. The light foundation imparts a dewy and soft coverage that lasts through the day. We tested about ten different foundations at Sephora and this one faked the best “inner glow.”

You can buy Buxom Show Some Skin Weightless Foundation here.

6. Natura Bisse – The Cure Sheer Eye

This eye cream and concealer all mixed into one magical bottle have become a staple in our makeup bag. Hydrating, reducing puffiness, covering dark circles and treating wrinkles?  This might be a borderline miracle product. It’s a little pricey, but worth all 128,000 pennies. Or, if you think in terms of Starbucks, 22 to 26 trips for a salted mocha latte. Don’t forget, Christmas is around the corner- maybe you can justify Santa bringing you an early present. 😉

Purchase The Cure Sheer Eye at here at Neiman Marcus.

5. Beauty Counter- Lustro Face Oil

First of all, big-time thumbs up to Beauty Counter for creating products that are free of ingredients known to disrupt hormones and potentially be carcinogenic. We love all of their products but in particular the Lustro Facial Oil. With ylang-ylang and wild chamomile, not only does this oil keep our skin supple, but it also erases any redness, leaving us with a healthy nourished skin tone. There are two other face oils- be sure to check them out to find the one that is right for you. They are all reasonably priced.

Buy  any of the three Lustro Face Oils here at Beauty Counter

4. Dr. Dennis Gross- Alpha Beta Glow Pad for Face

Besides dull skin, the shorter days in winter and fall also bring less sunlight and more pasty complexions. If you’re looking to put a little bit of color back into your cheeks and aren’t feeling burpees or jumping jacks, these Alpha Beta Glow Pads are spectacular! They have a two-fold purpose: 1. Alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids do their thing to prime the skin for some faux sun-kissed color. The product exfoliates, clears clogged pores, and creates a nice smooth canvas for the self-tanner. 2. Vitamin D, Microencapsulated DHA, and soy proteins paint a natural hint of color to your face. No one will ever believe you’ve been hibernating, hoarding, and binge-watching your favorite TV shows with the curtains closed so no-one can see. 😉

Purchase Dr. Dennis Gross Glow Pads here at Sephora.

 3. Le Metier De Beaute – Ultra Hydration Eye Mask Duo

Okay, admittedly, this is another “Santa Baby” product. But, let us tell you, it is AH-MAY-ZING! THEY ARE ALSO ON SALE RIGHT NOW!

It’s great for hydration, but even better if you’ve had a little too much fun on a Saturday night, say, dancing on a party bus, while drinking tequila, and maybe sipping out of a group scorpion bowl. Not to say we’ve ever done that. But, if we did, this is what we’d use as part of our post-party recovery. Seaweed cools and revives the puffy eye area, delivering targeted hydration to fatigued eyes. A definite must for the dryer months. 

Purchase the Eye Mask Duo here at Neiman’s

2. Skin Medica – Lytera Skin Brightening System With Retinol

These products mean business. The two biggies here are the Lytera, which helps to remove hyperpigmentation and the Retinol Complex, which will improve overall skin tone. The Skin Medica System delivers! After regular use, you can expect luminous skin as moisture levels are maintained, and a uniform skin tone. We LOVE it. and it is nowhere as near as harsh as some of the older brightening systems. No need to walk around looking like a lizard for 6 weeks while your face peels. These products are far more discreet. Not only will this erase any sunspots from the summer, but it will help to smooth out any wrinkles and keep your skin supple all fall and winter long.

We recommend purchasing from a licensed dealer- such as a medspa. Jess gets hers at Dr. Joseph Russo’s Cosmetic Center. You can purchase the products here. If you buy them elsewhere online, be sure to verify the seller and check out reviews.

TIP: Be faithful to your sunblock (included in the kit) when using retinol or a brightening product!

1. Aquaphor

Yup. Big drum roll, number one is a product that you’ve probably seen all of your life. No surprise here, Aquaphor is a beauty product staple for sure! It’s great to put on your face before an early morning run to prevent chapping or windburn. The same goes for skiing or any other winter sport. We slather it on our lips, hands, elbows, and knees before bedtime. Come to think of it, let’s just buy a big vat and jump in before we jammy up. Yes, it is really that good. The ultimate cure-all for dry winter skin. Oh, and the best part? It’s under ten bucks!

Well hauties, we hope you picked up a new product or two to help save your skin. With these secret weapons in your beauty arsenal, you can enjoy your glass of red wine in front of that moisture-sucking, roaring fire any night of the week!

😉