For the partiers in northern states, like me, winter is already bearing down. I try to stay positive and remember all the things that I love about the winter season. I love wearing beanies. I love layering pieces. I love Christmas lights and hot toddys. See–winter doesn't totally suck! 

But the dryness, irritation and chapped angry skin that come along with the season is no fun. To keep skin happy throughout the brutal cold months means several adjustments. But it IS possible to maintain your glow. Take our advice–

Dial it back

Take it easy on the heat. Home heating creates a dry atmosphere that is literally sucking the moisture out of your skin. Put on a sweater, grab a blanket, and keep that thermostat low. It's not only better for your skin, using less energy to heat your environment is also better for the earth. #ftw 

Exfoliation is necessary

You've got to rid your skin of the expired outer layers in order for your products to reach the cells that require nutrients to thrive. This is especially true in the winter when our skin dehydrates much gently exfoliating on schedule. 

Pump up the moisture

Ok, this one may seem like a no-brainer, but it shouldn't go without saying that a increasing the amount of moisturizing products will keep your skin more moisturized. It's simple math! Consider adding an ampoule or a serum with hyaluronic acid to your regimine to hydrate from deeper within your skin to keep cells plump. And choose a moisturizer that is thicker and richer and includes skin soothing ingredients like calendula, chamomile, aloe or hemp oil.

Finish with a facial oil

This is my gospel so let me PREACH. I don't care if you have acne or an oily complexion a facial oil is your friend! It won't do you wrong hon, I promise! Adding an oil to your regimen will seal all that moisture in and keep it from evaporating in the dry air. Your skin needs these oils and–here's the rub–if it doesn't have them, it will frantically produce it on its own! This overproduction causes a buildup of sebum that mixes with dead skin cells that clogs pores and leads to whole host of problems. Do yourself a massive solid and just add a few drops of oil as the last step in your daily skin prep. Trust honey, you will see the difference!

Protect your pout

They often get overlooked, but please bbs, protect your lips. Apply a healing ointment daily will help prevent chapped lips. Applying a healing ointment at night is a great way to keep your kissers healthy and happy. 

See, great skin in the winter is possible! Just believe, and fortify with a few skin essentials. 

May we recommend: 

Hello Partiers! We've rounded up some of our favorite looks this week and we're here to serve you with weekend beauty inspiration for any activity–apple picking, farmers market, dinner with the parents, date night or the club. Get inspired and go out feeling fine!

Get the look with these essentials–

Party On!

There's a lot of categories of 'indie' out there–indie magazines, indie music, indie films, and the obvious here, indie beauty. But what does that mean exactly? Well, that's an excellent question! Let's explore...

Founder owned

Something unique happens when the founder has so much invested, personally and financially–their beliefs and values are automatically infused into the brand's DNA.

Probably the most basic definition of indie means to be independent of corporate control. The founder and owner of the company is the major stakeholder and decision maker. Something unique happens when the founder has so much invested, personally and financially–their beliefs and values are automatically infused into the brand's DNA. When a brand acts with these values at it's core it creates a real reason to exist beyond an opportunity to make money.  

Unconventional

Indie beauty brands have to be creative in order to set themselves a part.

Indie is also about doing things differently than the mainstream. Indie films don't look like blockbusters and indie music doesn't sound like the run of the mill pop music. To be indie means to offer something different to the cultural conversation. Beauty is a crazy crowded product space and for any brand to stand out it has to have a different spin on what's existing already. Indie beauty brands have to be creative in order to set themselves a part. Their creativity and unique values show up in their ingredients, sourcing, colors, product application, branding, customer interaction and charitable giving. 

Passion

Indie brands bring that passion and authentic voice to their story and that is exactly what consumers can relate to.

Indie isn't easy! Going against the grain takes real effort and a strong conviction in your product and values. It's often tireless work with incredible risk. I am constantly in awe of the drive that propels these founders to keep creating, improving and growing. Running a small business is an all consuming lifestyle! Indie brands bring that passion and authentic voice to their story and that is exactly what consumers can relate to.

In the literal sense indie is founder controlled, unconventional and infused with passion. Beyond the literal, indie is about celebrating diversity, not compromising values for profit, and supporting the founders that are working against the odds to make products that bring us joy everyday.  

I'm a huge NFL fan. I get that it doesn't make any sense that this beauty obsessed lady is spending her autumn Sundays watching football ALL day. But it is the absolute truth and it's my favorite time of the year. 

And when I heard the announcement that Jennifer Lopez & Shakira will be performing the halftime show for Superbowl 54–honey, let me tell you–I nearly lost my mind! I can't wait for my head to be spinning from 12 minutes of nonstop hip shakes, rhinestones and hair flips. Can you imagine?? It will be so epic! 

I love the choice of these fierce, Lantinx women for the show. These are two women who are the definition of powerful femininity. They are a literal force and have endured decades in popular culture for being true to themselves, their culture and their craft. Not to mention they have been style icons since the 90s and have given us so many incredible looks throughout the years. Unforgettable looks like Shakira's wild curly mane or those high contrast low lights from the early aughts (sure to be making its way back around soon!) And J. Low's snatched ponytails and bouncy blowouts are timeless as much as they are of the moment. They have been the example that femininity and strength are not mutually exclusive and have shown the world how much women are indeed incredible, strong, multi-talented, gorgeous beings. We appreciate these queens!

I wonder if you find this experience familiar–you open a bag of your beauty stash and products tumble and spill out every which way. Maybe you unexpectedly locate a long lost tinted lip balm in a jacket from last winter–nice! I have beauty products in every pocket, drawer, cabinet, bag, purse and literally anywhere else. I know I can't be the only one with these experiences. A recent survey found that the average American woman owns 40 beauty products. 

And when I look at my makeup bag, or my bathroom skincare shelf I can very quickly point out the products that actually motivate me to dive into a beauty sesh, and then there are the things that tempt me to skip the whole process. You can probably guess that the products that most inspire me aren't the factory made Chanel lipsticks, or that random sheet mask I picked up from Walgreens that one time. It's certainly not the Bioderma Cleanser. Those are fine products, sure, I bought them for a reason. But they don't make me love my beauty routines. They might be effective enough products, but they don't have any stories. They aren't speaking to me in any way. 

When I get into doing my morning skincare routine, I am truly excited to pick up and use the Vitamin C serum from Lark Skin Co. The brand is a St. Louis based, woman owned, natural and holistic skincare company that was inspired during a meditation session after learning about her mothers terminal cancer diagnosis. A young mother herself, she funneled all her energy into starting her company and has since become a center for wellness in her community. The founder, Lisa Dolan is on a mission to create a community for women to feel confident in their skin and to provide natural alternatives to traditional beauty products. I think my contribution to her cause every time I use her product. 

And then I look into my makeup bag and I'm giddy to find a lipstick to wear from the natural makeup line, Spela Cosmetics. They are another woman owned company that chooses to create their whole line in the United States, making sure the manufacturing process is safe and that workers are paid a fair wage. Also, as a company they hold their products to the much stricter european standards of safety. I'm proud to swipe that on my face and please ask me about it!

I shop products from small brands for many reasons, and mainly because I am happy that my contribution and support is not just going to an executive or a shareholder. It's a vote with the dollar in my pocket to support vibrant communities, worthy causes, a code of ethics and humanity. Let's cheers to that!