Posted Wednesday, January 4, 2012 by Christina Marrale,

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Keep hydrated & gorgeous this winter!

WHERE TO FIND

Though Southern California is known for easy going, rather warm winters, in recent years it has become unseasonably chilly, leaving crisp days and even colder nights. Like clockwork, as my thermostat begins to drop, my cravings for hot showers and baths beings to rise. There’s something about taking a nice, long hot shower that sounds so appealing after a day out in the cold. After chatting with friends and a few readers about it, I’ve discovered, I am not the only one.

TREND ALERT

As much as I enjoy a nice hot shower, I’ve tried to wein myself from doing it so often. Here’s why: the heat from the water may be great for warming you up when it gets chilly outside, but it’s a nightmare for drying out your scalp and body. Hot water sucks the hydration out of our bodies, leaving us with chaffing/peeling skin and dandruff. If you absolutely love taking hot showers like me, here’s a few tips to keep you hydrated (and toasty) this winter:

GET THE LOOK

-Moisturize within minutes of stepping out of the shower. Most think the best time to hydrate is after your skin is dried off….wrong. The prime time to lather on facial mositurizers and body lotions is when your skin is still slightly damp. Your body absorbs the product better and in turn you end up using less product then you normally would!

-Choose a hydrating formula in both your shampoo and body wash. For the winter, I absolutely love using Dove’s Deep Moisture Body Wash. For shampoo, stick to brands without sulfates as that will add to drying your scalp out. Sojourn is my go to products for hair care, check out my review on them here.

-Argan Oil is my best kept secret to smooth, soft skin…especially in the winter months. I mix a few drops into my body lotion, rub into my cuticles and layer on top of my moisturizer for added hydration. Argan oil is also an excellent preventative treatment for aging skin.

-Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate!! Though we are taking preventive measures in keeping our skin from drying, you are still bound to have a few dead, dry skin cells on the skin’s surface. Exfoliating will help products absorb better, give you a smoother appearance and prevent the signs of aging as well.