Cold weather comforts

Supposedly "April is the cruelest month" but I disagree: February is most definitely the cruelest month. Thank goodness there are only a couple days left!

Major snowstorm a few weeks ago:
the kids are helping their father shovel mountains of snow off the front steps...

(And yes, we are expecting another snow storm tomorrow.)

If you leave inland and anywhere near or north of the 49th parallel, chances are the air has turned bone dry and bitterly cold. Right now, Toronto is like a frozen desert and every day I wake up thinking, "why on earth do I continue living here?". Circumstances keep me bound here, but there are a few things that can be done to make it easier.

Winter skin defence

I picked up the March issue of U.S. Vogue last week and was extremely pleased to see that the main beauty article was about protecting sensitive skin against cold weather with hypoallergenic, fragrance-free moisturizers. 

"The Cold War" by Molly Creeden;
U.S. Vogue, March 2013, page 486-488.

The Vogue article is in the current issue so it is not yet available online but it covers similar ground that I have covered before. If you would like to get up to speed, here are the links to my posts about caring for dry skin in winter weather, which also include product recommendations suitable for both children and adults:

• Protecting skin against winter weather v. 1
• Protecting skin against winter weather v. 2
• More skin care product recommendations for babies (and adults too)

The Vogue author quotes a dermatologist as saying that the number one reason for allergic reactions is fragrance, particularly synthetic fragrance. The author also notes that just because something is natural does not automatically mean it will be gentle, a statement which immediately had me applauding. Regular readers know that I have been banging on about simple lotions since the inception of this blog. And "green washing" is another pet peeve of mine: the origin of a chemical compound - natural or man-made - has little bearing on whether it will be beneficial or harmful (see earlier discussion here).

(Rant over...)

Even if your body is a mess of dry flaky skin, now is not the time to be using exfoliants and scrubs: both can disrupt the skin's barrier function and cause it to dry out much faster than it normally would, and in those with vulnerable skin types, set off a flare-up of eczema (atopic dermatitis). Instead, layer up with balms, moisturizing lotions and humectants that will help hold in precious moisture.

Along with the products that I have recommended before, here are few new ones.

Cellex-C Hydra 5 B-Complex ($75; in Toronto, at The Anti-Ageing Store which carries all Cellex-C products, available by phone and mail order)

Despite the fancy name, this contains only 4 ingredients: water, sodium hyaluronate, pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) and phenoxyethanol (preservative). Sodium hyaluronate is a naturally-occuring molecule that is found in the extracellular matrix of body tissues. It acts as a structural component of body tissue and a humectant (i.e. a compound that holds water). Layered underneath your regular moisturizer, this gel will really help to enhance the performance of the moisturizer and keep dryness at bay; it is also excellent for plumping up fine lines. Hypo-allergenic and non-comedogenic; may be used around the eye area.

Diane Lai "Soothe" moisturizing cream ($38; in Toronto, available at Jacob & Sebastian)

Diane Lai is a Toronto-area parent who developed a line of skin care products for her son, who had severe eczema as an infant. This is a simple moisturizing cream based on plant-derived oils and butters, that contains only lavender essential extract as the fragrance. This is a very thick cream with a light lavender scent that dissipates soon after massaging it in. It contains food-grade preservatives potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate, and comes in an sealed pump container that excludes air. Safe for all ages, including infants, and may be used anywhere on the body. Normally I wouldn't dare put a thick oil-based cream like this on my face, but so far this has caused no breakouts - a miracle for my problem-prone skin. If you are looking for something heavier than the Treehouse Unscented Lotion that I reviewed here, this is definitely one to try.

Vichy Capital Soleil SPF 60 Ultra Protection Stick for Sensitive Zones ($20; available at Shopper's Drug Mart)

Fine lines can form when it is cold and dry outside, especially in the delicate area around the eyes. I highly recommend this combination sunblock/balm stick for keeping the eye area protected and moisturized. Vichy sun protection products are among the best - paraben and fragrance free, and hypoallergenic. This one is SPF 60, and will really help to protect the eye area from the ageing effects of sun exposure (which happens year-round, not just in the summer). It is extremely easy to incorporate into the skin care routine: all you need to do is swipe it on and that's it. I layer this over the Tata Harper eye cream I reviewed earlier here (in Toronto, available at Jacob & Sebastian), and finish with some sheer eyeshadow. It is non-greasy and despite the beige tint, it goes on sheer. It does not interfere with eye makeup application.

Cocooning
I admit that I have not been practicing my own skin care philosophy. When the cold weather set in, I was focusing on other things and did not spend much time taking care of myself. As a result, after months of harsh winter weather, I have all these scars from where the care labels and seams of my clothing have caused patches of eczema to form. Nearly everything seems to be irritating and even cotton jersey feels like sandpaper. I know it sounds like the Princess & the Pea, but right now, the only thing I can handle wearing for long periods is silk. My current uniform consists of long-sleeved silk tops with a sweater layered over top. Luckily for me, the last of the winter clearance sales are still going on, so I have managed to snag some silk shirts for a great price, like this one.

Club Monaco "Mavis" silk shirt in Vicuna
(sold out online but may still be available in stores)

I have abandoned cotton pyjamas for silk ones, although these really seem too pretty for everyday wear - I love the Art Nouveau-inspired pattern.

Club Monaco "Nadja" silk camisole and matching tap pant.

Let's hope the groundhog's prediction of early spring comes true!