Beauty Fix: A new way to lather up in the shower, the best moisturizer for mature skin and more answers to your beauty questions
Every week we take on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more and provide all the answers. This week it’s all about taking care of your skin and hair during the dry, chapped season that is winter. We share a new way of lathering up in the shower, have an itchy scalp remedy you’ll love and tell you how to stay hydrated despite the most temperamental office heating system. (If you’re shivering one minute and sweating the next, you know what we mean!) Have a question we haven’t answered? Email us at [email protected].
I’ve been lightening, chemically straightening and heat styling my naturally coarse, wavy hair and now it feels really dry and difficult to manage. Is there anything I can do to tame it?
It’s really important to address the state of your hair before putting each strand through the wringer of chemical treatments, colouring and heat styling. The more we put our hair through, the more rebellious it can become—and pinning it into submission with a slew of styling products is usually not the way to go. Instead, try addressing the fact that your hair is probably extremely dehydrated and is in need of some attention. Try a conditioner that’s ideal for thicker or coarse hair, such as Oribe Conditioner for Moisture & Control ($44, donato.ca). Not only is intensely hydrating, it’s full of antioxidants and hair-strengthening plant-based protein complexes, which will help bring your hair back to its former lustrous state! Bonus: it’s safe for use on keratin-treated hair and contains a UV filter to protect hair from sun damage.
What can I do in the shower to soften my skin?
I harp on about moisture a lot, but that’s because the Canadian winter does a number on our skin (even if we’re granted the occasional abnormally mild weekend by Mother Nature). When you think of smooth skin, you probably think of in-shower exfoliation. It’s time to take that concept and amp up the moisture factor: try using a Body Blitz scrub mitt ($10, bodyblitzspa.com) in the shower, but instead of a body wash, opt for the unexpected star that is Dove Shea Butter Beauty Bar ($8 for 4 bars, well.ca). You will be amazed at how moisturizing this bar soap is! It’s the exact opposite of every bar soap experience you’ve ever had (tight, uncomfortable skin, anyone?) and the price point is an absolute steal for a product that contains one-quarter moisturizer (as we all know of all Dove soap) and shea butter. The texture of the Body Blitz mitt is highly effective in exfoliating without irritating skin, and when used in tandem with the Dove shea butter soap, you’re sure to keep this duo in your shower routine all year!
The air in my office is extremely drying. How can I prevent my skin from becoming a chapped mess?
We’re all familiar with just how parched we can become from just working away while sitting in central heat. Skin can become tight and uncomfortable as moisture escapes throughout the day. Something to stash away in your desk: Aesop Immediate Moisture Facial Hydrosol ($25, aesop.com) with rose flower oil and bergamot oil. This potion will instantly moisturize your face when spritzed on—which also serves as a mid-day pick-me-up, and no one is really opposed to in the middle of winter, right? Right! Even better, it won’t disturb your makeup; it’ll simply perk up your senses enough to get you through your afternoon and relieve your dehydrated skin.
I’ve been experiencing a bout of dandruff and I’m using a shampoo to clear that up. But in the meantime is there anything I can apply to alleviate the dryness and itching?
The discomfort of an itchy scalp is extremely common, especially at this time of the year, so know that you’re not alone and that there’s always something to be applied for relief! Enter Lush Superbalm ($20, lush.ca), which is a product that’s applied directly to the scalp in order to alleviate the dryness. This little tin of goodness contains coconut oil (insanely hydrating), candelilla wax (which acts as a barrier to contain moisture) and naturally-derived salicylic acid (which works to loose excess buildup from the scalp). A tall order for an ointment, but it’s definitely a step towards less flakes and irritation for all!
I’m about to turn 50 and body lotion just doesn’t feel like it’s providing enough moisture these days. Should I turn to a different type of product for relief?
When it comes to adequately moisturizing skin, adding mature skin into the equation doesn’t necessarily complicate things but it does remind us to look for more active and anti-aging ingredients, such as essential fatty acids. A body serum, such as Sunday Riley Juno Body Transformative Body Lipid Serum ($105, sephora.com) contains a mélange of oils (blackberry seed oil, blueberry seed oil, broccoli seed oil, the list continues!) in addition to camellia seed oil, which is a source of omega-3, 6 and 9 and is high in vitamin E. This wonder serum also contains coconut oil and black cumin seed oil, which is known to calm down skin dryness, including eczema and psoriasis. Using a body serum as a night treatment allows the oils to sink in and do their restorative thing, so slather some on!
 Have a question we haven't answered? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.
Read on for the full fix! »
I've been lightening, chemically straightening and heat styling my naturally coarse, wavy hair and now it feels really dry and difficult to manage. Is there anything I can do to tame it?
It's really important to address the state of your hair before putting each strand through the wringer of chemical treatments, colouring and heat styling. The more we put our hair through, the more rebellious it can become—and pinning it into submission with a slew of styling products is usually not the way to go. Instead, try addressing the fact that your hair is probably extremely dehydrated and is in need of some attention. Try a conditioner that’s ideal for thicker or coarse hair, such as Oribe Conditioner for Moisture & Control ($44, donato.ca). Not only is intensely hydrating, it’s full of antioxidants and hair-strengthening plant-based protein complexes, which will help bring your hair back to its former lustrous state! Bonus: it’s safe for use on keratin-treated hair and contains a UV filter to protect hair from sun damage.
What can I do in the shower to soften my skin?
I harp on about moisture a lot, but that's because the Canadian winter does a number on our skin (even if we're granted the occasional abnormally mild weekend by Mother Nature). When you think of smooth skin, you probably think of in-shower exfoliation. It's time to take that concept and amp up the moisture factor: try using a Body Blitz scrub mitt ($10, bodyblitzspa.com) in the shower, but instead of a body wash, opt for the unexpected star that is Dove Shea Butter Beauty Bar ($8 for 4 bars, well.ca). You will be amazed at how moisturizing this bar soap is! It's the exact opposite of every bar soap experience you've ever had (tight, uncomfortable skin, anyone?) and the price point is an absolute steal for a product that contains one-quarter moisturizer (as we all know of all Dove soap) and shea butter. The texture of the Body Blitz mitt is highly effective in exfoliating without irritating skin, and when used in tandem with the Dove shea butter soap, you're sure to keep this duo in your shower routine all year!
The air in my office is extremely drying. How can I prevent my skin from becoming a chapped mess?
We’re all familiar with just how parched we can become from just working away while sitting in central heat. Skin can become tight and uncomfortable as moisture escapes throughout the day. Something to stash away in your desk: Aesop Immediate Moisture Facial Hydrosol ($25, aesop.com) with rose flower oil and bergamot oil. This potion will instantly moisturize your face when spritzed on—which also serves as a mid-day pick-me-up, and no one is really opposed to in the middle of winter, right? Right! Even better, it won’t disturb your makeup; it’ll simply perk up your senses enough to get you through your afternoon and relieve your dehydrated skin.
I’ve been experiencing a bout of dandruff and I’m using a shampoo to clear that up. But in the meantime is there anything I can apply to alleviate the dryness and itching?
The discomfort of an itchy scalp is extremely common, especially at this time of the year, so know that you’re not alone and that there’s always something to be applied for relief! Enter Lush Superbalm ($20, lush.ca), which is a product that’s applied directly to the scalp in order to alleviate the dryness. This little tin of goodness contains coconut oil (insanely hydrating), candelilla wax (which acts as a barrier to contain moisture) and naturally-derived salicylic acid (which works to loose excess buildup from the scalp). A tall order for an ointment, but it’s definitely a step towards less flakes and irritation for all!
I'm about to turn 50 and body lotion just doesn’t feel like it's providing enough moisture these days. Should I turn to a different type of product for relief?
When it comes to adequately moisturizing skin, adding mature skin into the equation doesn’t necessarily complicate things but it does remind us to look for more active and anti-aging ingredients, such as essential fatty acids. A body serum, such as Sunday Riley Juno Body Transformative Body Lipid Serum ($105, sephora.com) contains a mélange of oils (blackberry seed oil, blueberry seed oil, broccoli seed oil, the list continues!) in addition to camellia seed oil, which is a source of omega-3, 6 and 9 and is high in vitamin E. This wonder serum also contains coconut oil and black cumin seed oil, which is known to calm down skin dryness, including eczema and psoriasis. Using a body serum as a night treatment allows the oils to sink in and do their restorative thing, so slather some on!
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