Cold winter air has a way of stealing your Summer glow. Before you know it, you’ve got dry patches all over and are counting the seconds until your next tropical vacation.
Between holiday plans, shorter days, and just trying to stay warm, it’s easy to let your once-carefully curated 12-step beauty routine fall all the way off—and honestly, that’s okay. Living the softer life means choosing what’s easier for you today over trying to meet some impossible level of perfection.
At BrownStyle Magazine, beauty and wellness are about taking care of yourself in any way you can. However, because no one wants ashy hands or dry skin, we do want you to consider this your gentle reminder: hydration is your secret life force.
Instead of doing the most in the Winter, we’re big fans of doing just enough by drinking plenty of water and turning to the healing benefits of natural ingredients. (Save your multistep process for the Spring and pick one or two nourishing options each day that can carry you through these extra-frosty weeks.)
Need some shopping inspo? Here are some product suggestions from our team that will help you amp up your hydration game —no stress required.
Palmer’s | Brazilian Coco Firming Bum, Bust & Body Oil
“Palmer’s Brazilian Coco Firming Bum, Bust & Body Oil leaves my post-shower skin looking and feeling sun-kissed. The bonus is that it also tightens all the right areas, so everything is ‘Summer-ready’ when the time comes.
The combination of creamy coconut oil, nourishing Brazil nut, antioxidant-rich açaí, and energizing guaraná adds moisture to my skin after a long day of turtlenecks and long johns. I can only describe the scent as a beautiful day at the beach, sipping on a piña colada. When I want to add even more moisture, I follow the oil application with Palmer’s Brazilian Coco Whipped Bum, Bust & Body Cream, also infused with organic extra virgin coconut oil.”
— Wendy L. Wilson, Contributing Writer
LILFOX | Gelsomino Jasmine Luxury Lip Butter
“My favorite product [during the Winter] is the Gelsomino Jasmine Luxury Lip Butter. I used it while in Alaska to keep my lips from drying out in the harsh cold weather, and it truly worked! I’ll apply the balm to any rough patches on my skin too, for an extra layer of moisture. The essential oil blend smells earthy and floral, which reminds me of Spring.”
— Sonjirose Chin, Lifestyle Contributor
RAW Essentials | Body Elixirs
“RAW Essentials Body Elixirs are my favorite Winter go-to to take care of my skin. I’m typically an oil girl, but the cold Winter winds require something that will last, and this body butter has rich hydration and a thick texture that leaves my skin nourished and glowing. It’s an upscale body butter, but better. These body elixirs go on smoothly, are non-greasy, and last for hours! Not to mention the scents are absolutely divine.”
— Maleeka Hollaway, Lifestyle Contributor
Donna’s Recipe | Sweet Potato Pie Collection
“When it was time for me to take a gentle pause in between protective styles this Winter, I knew I needed trustworthy products with familiar ingredients that would repair and soften my 4C natural hair. I wasn’t trying to do the most, just bring back my soft, pillowy curls. Enter Donna’s Recipe, the vegan haircare line from Tabitha Brown and Gina Woods, arriving just in time.
The new Sweet Potato Pie Collection features deeply hydrating products like extra creamy moisturizing shampoo, extra creamy moisturizing conditioner, extra creamy leave-in conditioner and extra creamy hair cream, to name a few. Each works to keep the moisture in my hair locked in. Plus, I love that the formula is sulfate-free, paraben-free, and even gluten-free to support my healthy hair journey.”
— Wendy L. Wilson, Contributing Writer
Olay | Super Cream with Sunscreen
“We all know how important it is to stay moisturized during the Winter, but did you know it’s crucial to keep SPF in your skin routine beyond Summer? Olay Super Cream with Sunscreen works well to protect my skin from the harsh Winter cold without leaving a thick, white cast that other SPF products do. It’s my way of protecting my skin from the sun all year round.”
— Nerissa Arianna, Beauty & Lifestyle Contributor
SACHEU Beauty | CHEEK STAY-N All-Day Liquid Blush
“After a late night or early morning start, I need to lean on my makeup for a little extra help. A pop of color to my cheeks can make a world of difference as long as it still looks natural and brings my face back to life. The CHEEK STAY-N All-Day Liquid Blush always delivers. A few dots on my cheeks of number 6 (the I’m Bold—Pink Berry), one of their six color options, builds a soft, healthy rosiness that feels fresh, not fussy.
It’s a lightweight, liquid blush infused with peptides that boost hydration and condition the skin, so I can comfortably go along my day looking healthy, happy, and hydrated. #SoftLifeApproved”
— Wendy L. Wilson, Contributing Writer
Augustinus Bader | The Rich Cream
“When the air is cold and dry, it’s imperative to keep your skin hydrated and protected. This Winter, I’ve fallen head over heels for The Rich Cream. Just like the name suggests, it’s thick, luxe, and really coats the skin—perfect for shielding it from that cold, dry air. The price tag for this moisturizer might be hefty; however, I find this formula thick enough to protect yet light enough to not clog pores. I like pairing the moisturizer with The INKEY List’s Hydro-Surge Dewy Face Mist as a base layer to lock the hydration even more.”
— Emerald Elitou, Chief Creative Director
NIVEA | Skin Firming Melanin Beauty & Hydration
“As someone who enjoys washing dishes the old-fashioned way, I am constantly in search of lotions that keep my hands soft and moisturized, especially in the cold and dry Winter months. My recent go-to is NIVEA’s Skin Firming Melanin Beauty & Hydration. It’s formulated with natural argan oil that’s specially formulated for melanin-rich skin. It also has Q10, a vital antioxidant and nutrient that helps cells produce energy, which leaves my hands (and skin) moisturized and glowing.”
— Tweety Elitou, Editor-In-Chief
Good Molecules | Rich Cream
“As a dry-skin girlie, Winter is a hydration thief, so keeping my skin moisturized is non-negotiable. Good Molecules Rich Cream is made specifically for dry skin and formulated with ceramides and nourishing plant oils that help support and strengthen the skin barrier.
It layers beautifully over the rest of my skincare, sealing everything in and helping my skin hold onto moisture throughout the day. I love that it replenishes lost lipids while protecting against environmental stressors, leaving my skin feeling soft, comfortable, and far less prone to dryness. A major W — especially in the Winter months!”
— Porchea-Londone Spencer, Lifestyle Contributor
Bask & Lather | Edge Control Hair Gel
“I discovered Bask & Lather Edge Control Hair Gel on TikTok last year, and now it’s available everywhere and for good reason. Not only does it leave my edges in line without feeling stiff, sticky, or dry, but it also helps keep them moisturized. There’s no white residue, which notoriously comes as a byproduct with other brands. The product is alcohol-free and doesn’t include any other harmful ingredients. Instead, argon oil and castor oil simply nourish and hydrate, delivering that sleek, polished look I love.”
— Wendy L. Wilson, Contributing Writer
What’s your go-to hydrating product that delivers top-tier moisture for you every day? Let us know in the comments.
