Maybe it’s my Wisconsin blood or maybe I’m just crazy, but I think winter can actually be pretty great. That being said, even I can’t deny that this season definitely doesn’t come without its downfalls. My biggest complaint? Everything is so dry! My hair tends to feel like straw, my skin gets flaky, and I kinda feel like a sad old turtle that wants to hide from the world. Who’s with me?!

My lovely intern Zoe and I decided to put our heads together and come up with a few of the best winter remedies for your sad, tired, turtle-like skin {okay, bad reference – but kinda true, right?} Here’s what we found from late night of googling and trying these remedies out for ourselves.  We promise, they actually work wonders! 

Zoe’s Advice:

1) Protect your hair from the wind! We tend to forget that just like our skin gets chapped in the cold winter air, so does our hair. This is easy to prevent, put your hood up, wear a hat and wrap that scarf around the ends of your hair. It seems simple, but I’ve already noticed it has been helping me a bunch!

2)   Don’t forget to wear gloves! I feel like this one is kind of a no brainer, but I say this because I personally always forget/am too lazy to put them on. So, just in case you were ever in doubt, this will help your hands from getting chapped and sad.

3)  The most tempting but biggest perpetrator of dry skin is a hot shower. I know, I know, they are SO amazing in the winter, but they absolutely ruin your skin and your hair. They dry everything out, and we never realize the damage. I challenge you to go a week with taking less hot showers. You’ll be able to tell the difference.

Maya’s Advice:

4) Moisturize the heck out of your hair! The winter is so much more brutal on your hair than you may think, which is why it’s so important to show your hair a little TLC when it needs it most. My favorite {and super affordable option} is taking virgin coconut oil and altering it on your hair right before bed. I’d suggest starting with a tablespoon amount that you equally distribute from your roots to your tips to start out. Sure, your hair becomes a greasy mess for a few hours, but after you take a shower the next morning – you’ll be amazed at how incredible it feels {and the greasiness all goes away – promise!}

5) Tea bags are pretty much a natural wonder, which is why you should use them for a variety of skin issues during the winter! For tired eyes {I’ve definitely got them!} Heat up your caffeinated tea bags  in a mug as you normally would, and then let them sit out for 20 minutes {or 5-8 minutes in the fridge if you’re in a hurry}. Remove the excess water and place them on your eyes for 15-20 minutes, which will give you enough time to see the effects of the caffeine which help to open up blood vessels that make the circles under your eyes dark. The tannins in the tea are also essential for creating healthy blood circulation while tightening loose under eye skin, which is also pretty magical.

6) Chapstick is your new BFF: I have a long, loving history with chopstick as I’m pretty sure it’s my favorite beauty product on the planet. In the 5th grade our teacher asked us to write a short story on what we would take on a desert island if we could only bring one other thing, and you guessed it – I choose chapstick. {and I obviously thought I was a genius…} But chapstick is seriously everyone’s best friend during the winter, and I’ve been loving Vaseline’s new tins to cure all my chapped lip struggles.

They were originally a huge hit in England {like many good things} and recently Vaseline launched their lip tins in the U.S. in 4 extra relish flavors {Vaseline® Lip Therapy® Original, Aloe, Rosy Lips and Aloe tins}. The tins provide long lasting moisturization by locking in moisture and healing chapped, dry lips. I’ve gotten to the point where I essentially can’t leave home without one, so I’ve been buying them like crazy to have one in every purse! Best of all, the jelly in Vaseline is known for removing impurities without being irritating, meaning that it’s perfect for anyone with sensitive skin! I typically get my favorite flavors at Target in their beauty section, but you can find it at a few other stores too!

Have any beauty hacks you swear by? We want to try them!

This post has been sponsored by Vaseline, however all my opinions are my own {And really, I do love chapstick and Vaseline Lips Tins just this much!} Thanks for supporting the brands that continue to make Charmingly Styled possible! xx