Spark

It's the middle of winter and we're looking for ways to save face (and hair...and nails...and skin)! From the frigid winds to the harsh cold to the excessive dryness of indoor heating, our looks can really take a seasonal beating and leave our beauty routine feeling stranded. But help is on the way! We asked our friends over at LUSH (purveyors of organic vegetarian ingredients, limited packaging, and animal-free product testing) for their top five beauty product picks to help us survive the wicked Manitoba winter weather.

Here’s what they recommended we add to our beauty arsenal:

The Olive Branch shower gel, $9.95 - $28.95
As the nasty wind blows outside, make that morning shower your personal oasis. The harsh winter season can really affect your mood, so take a little ‘you time’ each day (even five minutes helps!) to relax, unwind, and nourish the skin with this fresh shower gel. It’s packed with vital antioxidants, rich olive oil, and sea salt that will do lovely things to your skin. As a bonus, the juicy mandarin scent will transport you somewhere bikini-worthy every time you lather up. Is it summer yet??

Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner skin conditioner, $32.95
Why should hair get all the fun when it comes to rich conditioning? This decadent, rose-scented shower ‘lotion' gives your skin that same super soft feeling thanks to a concoction of cocoa butter, cupuacu butter, almond oil, and Argan oils. The experts at LUSH advised us to slather on this employee and customer favourite after washing, then rinse and pat dry to reveal baby-soft, rose-scented skin.

H’Suan Wen Hua hair treatment, $20.95
Raise your hand if you’re a little fed up with your hair these days! To counter dried out, uncooperative, limp tresses, we’ll definitely be reaching for this intense moisturizing treatment on the weekends. Just massage it in for 20-30 minutes and let the softening and moisturizing mashed bananas, avocados and olive oil, and shine-enhancing balsamic vinegar and fresh eggs do their thing to bring that hair back to life.

Let the Good Times Roll face and body cleanser, $31.95
Layers of dull, dry skin can quickly settle in thanks to the extreme conditions. But this luxurious cleanser packed with maize flour, corn meal, and cinnamon powder will gently exfoliate it away to reveal soft, glowing skin underneath. We love how the lightly hydrating corn oil leaves behind a yummy caramel scent and velvety texture over every inch of skin.

New Charity Pot body lotion, $6.95 - $25.95
Can a beauty product do a world of good for you and for others? LUSH thinks so! This gorgeous body lotion contains the pretty scent of ylang ylang and hydrating rosewood oils in a cocoa butter base for smooth, velvety skin (even if it’s hidden under the warmest, coziest sweaters!). 100% of the price (excluding the taxes) goes to grassroots organizations working in the areas of environmental conservation, animal welfare, and human rights – so your skin-saving work also means goodness for great causes.

Let’s share secrets, shall we? Tell us how your beauty routine adjusts to the winter climate. What’s your go-to skin saving tip?

See something you like? Visit LUSH at St. Vital Centre to shop for all of these products (check store for availability).