Oh the weather outside is frightful!!! Not quite as frightful as my singing yet, but it’s getting there! I think I actually saw a flurry the other day. A FLURRY! It’s barely the middle of November! With the temperatures dropping and the dry indoor heat rising, my skin is looking not so shiny-happy today. I’m also taking new medicine to prevent migraines. It has the unfortunate side effect of sucking all the moisture out of my body, so I’ve been blotchy lately.
Over the last month or so (in some cases, more on the so), I’ve been trying out some different health and beauty products to see how they work. I thought I’d share them with you along with some of my favorite tips for staying healthy and pretty all winter long. Check them out!
How to  Stay Healthy & Beautiful All Winter Long
Affiliate links included below. Items mentioned were also received for review. All opinions are my own.
Sleep, baby, Sleep
Never underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep. I know you see it on every single list of how to stay healthy and beautiful. Obviously, there’s a reason for that! Sleep keeps your brain healthy. It also helps keep those dark circles at bay. Getting enough sleep can be a challenge, especially when you’re naturally a night owl like me. I’ve been trying out Somnacore by Medix Select. It’s a natural sleep aid that contains a blend of vitamins, herbs and nutrients to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. I love it because it not only works incredibly well, but it’s not habit-forming. I only take it when I’m having a hard time falling asleep.
Somnacore works pretty fast, too. For me, I’m sleepy within about half an hour. Since it has Valerian Root in it, Somacore helps relieve my anxiety. My inability to turn off my brain and stop thinking about everything on my to-do list is the number one reason I can’t fall asleep at night. It’s also reasonably priced at $39.95 for a month’s supply (if you take it nightly). If you order more than a month’s worth at a time, though, you’ll save quite a bit. Find out how you can get free Shipping for Somnacore Natural Sleep Aid
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If you can afford it, invest in a super spectacular mattress. I’m totally dreaming of a Glacier Gel Memory Foam Mattress from Nature’s Sleep. It’s not quite in my budget right now, but some day! Doesn’t it just make you want to curl up and take a nap?
 Fake it until you make it!
Can’t get a good night of sleep? Fake it with Patchology Energizing Eye Patches! These are seriously cool eye patches that mean serious business when it comes to eliminate puffiness. Simply peel them off the backing, apply the activating gel and go do something for about 20 minutes. Then remove them and wipe off the gel. Admire your gorgeous, not-so-puffy eyes in the mirror, pretty lady!
I was a bit intimidated by the Patchology Energizing Eye Patches at first. Anything that has the words “activating gel” makes me think of electricity for some reason. I thought they were going to be all zappy or something. They’re not. While they do feel a bit odd, the patches didn’t even interfere with my ability to work while I was wearing them. In fact, I could even fit my reading glasses right over top of them. Check out this video to see how to use your Patchology Energizing Eye Patches:
The Patchology Energizing Eye Patches cost $75 for a kit including 3 sets of re-usable patches (good for 12 treatments).
Brighten Dull Hair for instant Winter Beauty
Dull hair is a major concern for many women in the winter. The same forces that dry out our skin also suck the moisture from our locks. I highly recommend washing your hair as little as you can get away with. For me, that means about twice a week. If you have fine hair, though, it may mean more often. When you do wash it, add some Rita Hazan Ultimate Shine Gloss between your shampoo and conditioning routine.
I’ve had my Rita Hazan Ultimate Shine Red Gloss for about two months now and feel bad, because I meant to review it earlier. Alas, I accidentally colored my hair an incredibly dull brown and even Rita’s magical Gloss wasn’t able to pick up my red tones. That’s what I get for using ultra-cheap hair dye. Then I had to wait until the end of the Living Proof challenge. The Ultimate Shine Gloss comes in tones for blondes, red heads and brunettes. It’s also available in clear for those who just want to add shine without playing up highlights. For those with brassy hair, Breaking Brass can help tone that down for you.
Rita Hazan Ultimate Shine Gloss is really easy to use. Just pump a bit into your hand and apply it to your hair after your shampoo but before your conditioner. Leave it in for a few minutes, then rinse. I typically dye my hair in the burgundy range. The Red Gloss helps pump up the shine along with the highlights. Grab yours at Rita Hazan online for $26. Check out Rita Hazan on Pinterest for fabulous hair inspiration. Follow on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with news.
Fill up on Wonderful snacks to energize and prevent overindulgence
Fuel up during the winter with delicious Wonderful Pistachios and Wonderful Almonds. Not only do they keep you going with plenty of protein, they also help fill you up. That way, you’re less likely to overdo the cookies and cakes at all those  parties. While I am all for indulging during holidays, if you overdo it, you’re going to feel like a bloated sack of coal.
This year, Wonderful makes healthy snacking more glamorous than ever with their gorgeous holiday gift bags. The Holiday Gift Bag for Wonderful Pistachios comes in 13 oz. and Wonderful Almonds comes in 14 oz. Head to the Wonderful Pistachios Website to find out where to buy and grab a coupon.
Moisturize Like a Fiend
Remember, moisture is your BFF during the winter months. Don’t skimp! You know how some people stockpile canned good in case of a zombie apocalypse? Well, I stockpile beauty supplies, including lotion. During winter, keep a supply everywhere: your car, your office, the TV tray next to your couch. I am constantly reaching for mine. I don’t recommend overdoing it (yes, it’s possible, especially if you use lotions with ingredients like alpha hydroxy). Just make sure you have it close by for when you feel those rough patches.
Quick Buying Guide
Need a refresher on where to buy each of the products mentioned in this post? Hey, I get it, I’m not big on scrolling back up either. Here you go!
- Somnacore Natural Sleep Aid
- Glacier Gel Memory Foam Mattress
- Patchology Energizing Eye Patches
- Wonderful Pistachios Website
-  Rita Hazan Ultimate Shine Gloss
Do you have any other tips to stay healthy and beautiful all winter long? Share them in the comments!
I do have to try to sleep better. I would like to try Somnacore especially on the nights where my mind is not stopping. I also want to try the Wonderful Pistachios!
It really helped me with those nights. I also do this thing where I force my brain to think of something else, like I play “if I won the lottery,” then pick out my dream home. It helps a lot.
As soon as the heat goes on…like you all the moisture in my skin goes out the door! I slather goops of all kinds on and on and still have dry skin. Shea Butter is the one thing that seems to work for me. But I would really love to try the Rita Hazan Ultimate Shine Red Gloss that you wrote about for my hair!
Oooh, I LOVE Shea Butter! It’s so silky and absorbs right into my thirsty skin.
I thank you so much for touching on to the dry skin problem I use shea butter, and also Argon Oil also.
I love your site and can always use tips to stay healthy in winter .
Thank you
Great tips. I use a lot of moisturizer on my face arms and legs. However, as I write this my upper back is itching. I know this is because it is dry. So hard to reach my upper back. Thanks for the tips, I guess I need to moisturize more, and drink more water too. 🙂
That is a problem spot for me too. I wonder if they make something that makes it easier to apply lotion to your back? They make back scrubbers and back scratchers. Why not back lotioners? It’s logical, right?