My skincare heroes: winter edition.

I have a love/hate relationship with the month of January. On one hand, I’m all about new beginnings and cozy winter days spent ‘round the fireplace. But what I’m definitely not a fan of is the perpetually cold hands and feet, or the dry, patchy skin that typically plagues me this time of year.

While I don’t have a simple solution for the Raynaud’s disease (other than more warm baths and fuzzy socks), I have been able to combat the latter quite successfully using several of my tried-and-true Beautycounter products. See above for Exhibit A: a recent photo of my skin in direct sunlight (aka nature’s filter), with a few swipes of concealer and cream blush for color. In the olden days, anytime I’d attempt to wear makeup from December to March, the result would be a cakey and weathered-looking face. But now? My skin is plump and dewy all year round. Not a coincidence, y’all.

I know I’m not the only person to struggle with chapped or cracked skin in the colder months, which is why I figured I’d share my top picks here on the blog. But before I jump into the list of things I personally use and recommend, let me first re-introduce you to my MVP of skincare brands. (Short on time? Skip to the end for a major discount.)

A BEAUTY BRAND WITH A CAUSE

As most of my close friends and family know, I haven’t always been friends with my skin. Over the years, too much of my time, money, and sanity has gone into trying to figure out what works for my blemish-prone complexion, without much success. So, a few years ago, when a friend introduced me to Beautycounter—a company that only uses safe, non-irritating ingredients—I thought, 'Well, what do I have to lose?'

I'll admit, I was first attracted to the brand solely because of its mission. Beautycounter is committed to a health and safety standard that goes well beyond what’s required by U.S. law. Check out this promising description, straight from their website:

We’ve banned the use of more than 1,500 questionable or harmful chemicals through our "Never List”—all while ensuring our products perform and that they’re as indulgent as any other luxe shampoo, lipstick, or oil in the market.

Your bod needs some love, too! These are some of my most recent buys.

Um, count me in. I don't know about you, but health is a big priority for me when it comes to what I put in my body (holistic nutritionist here!), so imagine my surprise when I discovered that what I was putting on my body was potentially compromising my health! Cheap drugstore beauty products weren't much help in the way of my sensitive skin, I’ll admit, but they were affordable and easy to grab off the CVS store shelves in a pinch. That is, until I learned how those sneaky buggers were doing more harm than good—not only to my body, but to the planet as well. Dangerous chemicals? Parabens and phthalates? Consider me a natural skincare convert. Now I'll only buy products formulated with ingredients that I can feel good about. Give me purity or give me death!

Beautycounter is not only known for its commitment to safer skincare, but also for the effectiveness of their products. Within a week of using the Countertime line, for example, my rough alligator skin felt hydrated and balanced for the first time in months—and those pesky spots that were bothering me beforehand seemed to shrink overnight. Which is why I was proud to become a consultant with the #betterbeauty brand in the summer of 2019, so that I could spread the word about this amazing company with my nutrition clients!

If you've never experienced the luxury of quality skincare, the winter season is a great time to indulge in a bit of self-pampering. I promise, you'll never go back. Since joining the Beautycounter team, I’ve experimented with a number of their award-winning products—but if I had to choose, I'd say these eight are my ultimate go-tos for silky-smooth skin (yes, even in January):

Counter+ Overnight Resurfacing Peel — Beautycounter’s most popular skincare product by far, this gentle peel has a cult following of people who swear by it (myself included). Clinically proven to help improve skin texture, it’s worth every penny for those of us who want to give our skin a radiance boost. Unlike harsh retinols or chemical peels, the leave-on AHA/BHA peel won’t irritate delicate skin, and you can use it up to several nights a week for best results. (Get it FREE as part of the Think Clean Welcome Set—along with the Charcoal Face Mask—when you sign up as a member!)

Counter+ Lotus Glow Cleansing Balm — I am obsessed with this stuff. I use it to take off heavy makeup, and it doesn't strip my skin of its natural oils or irritate my eyes like my old cleansers used to. The lotus extract is designed to soothe and repair skin, and it leaves my face feeling supple until morning. Can also be used as a mask!

Countertime Tripeptide Radiance Serum — This one (pictured below) is definitely worth mentioning for its plant-derived Retinatural Complex, a combination of ingredients that promotes youthful skin at any age. Talk about a game changer if, like me, you want all the anti-aging effects of a retinol without the irritation and redness.

Sugarbuff Body Polish in Lemongrass — I hadn’t used a body scrub in forever before my last pregnancy, and I had forgotten how amazing they feel. Especially this lemongrass one with silky almond oil—it made my skin so baby soft, I didn't even need to apply lotion afterwards. The scent is also delightful (and not overpowering).

Counter+ No. 3 Balancing Face Oil — Perfect for combination skin. A few drops of this during the day or in the evening gives me an extra boost of moisture and promotes calming and balance with ingredients like wild chamomile.

Countertime Tetrapeptide Supreme Cream — This facial moisturizer is thick and creamy, and one of my must-haves for the dry season. It’s typically a nighttime cream, but I slather it on in the morning, too. A little goes a loooong way.

Citrus Mimosa Body Butter — A body lotion that actually smells like a citrus mimosa (cue the tropical vibes), but without the toxic fragrance. Plus, the non-greasy formula dries super quickly so you don’t have to spend ten minutes rubbing it in. For more seasonal scents, try the Body Butter Trio in Fresh Petal, Mandarin Violet, and Soft Neroli.

Countertime Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil — I am in love with oil cleansers, and this one is no exception. It removes makeup, rinses off easily with warm water (no washcloth needed), and feels decadent to boot. Since using this cleanser, I’ve noticed a huge difference in the overall oiliness of my face—I don’t even have to use oil blotting sheets anymore!

I know I’ve listed a lot, but I have a hard time narrowing down my favorites, they’re just that great! And don’t even get me started on their cosmetics (another post for another time).

While Beautycounter can run a little on the expensive side, I find the company's dedication to health and their superior products well worth the investment. Some women can never have too many Burberry coats or cashmere scarfs. Me? I'll take the luxury skincare any day.

Pssst… Want to join Band of Beauty for big perks?

Are you in our Band of Beauty loyalty program yet? For those of you not familiar, it's Beautycounter's perks program with no strings attached. For one year, you’ll have free shipping for orders over $100 plus 10% back in product credit with EVERY order, and if you join this month, you'll also receive a FREE Think Clean Welcome Set (a $43 value), complete with the Overnight Resurfacing Peel and the Charcoal Face Mask. Don’t worry, you don’t have to subscribe to auto-shipments of any kind or meet any monthly quotas. Just order what you want when you want it! (Brill.) The cost of membership is $29 per year, but you can cancel at any time. Add it to your cart here.

Okay, okay, I know I said there’d be a discount. This is for people who are completely new to Beautycounter and have never shopped the site before: Use the code CLEANFORALL20 to get 20% off your purchase, and prepare to watch your skin GLOW.

Anything from this list catch your eye? Comment with your most-wanted items below, or feel free to leave any questions you may have! As always, thank you so much for supporting my small business by just being here. It means the world!