(image via Flickr)

I probably don’t need to tell you that we’ve been facing some cold days of late in NYC.  For me this season usually goes hand in hand with dry, itchy, red, flaky skin.  The combination of cold wind and dry heat from the space heaters that warm my apartment are my sensitive skin’s worst nightmare.  However, with significant trial and error, I seem to have found a skin care regime that’s really working for me these days.  So, if you’re in the market for some moisture, these are my suggestions:

ShiKai Borage Therapy Dry Skin – This body lotion is the real deal. I don’t know much about the borage plant (you can read about it here) but it works wonders. I seriously love this lotion and have never used a better one. I buy mine at Whole Foods.

Jojoba and Coconut Oil – I use coconut oil mainly to take off make-up and sometimes as a face moisturizer.  I use jojoba oil right out of the shower on my face and body (under my lotion, so to speak).  I also use it as a facial moisturizer when I first wake up and after I wash my face, before applying the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream.

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream – I first bought this facial moisturizer on a desperate winter day walking around the city with Farrell.  The skin on my face was so dry it hurt!  I can’t tell you how great it is.  The cream is so hydrating without being at all oily.  I also use this brand’s face wash, however after reading this blog post, I’m looking forward to replacing it with raw honey once I run out.

NUXE Reve de Miel – Honey Lip Balm – Simply the best.  And I’ve tried many, a many lip balm.

I have been meaning to watch this video that my mom sent me for a while. This morning, I finally did. I was pleasantly surprised that it was Brene Brown’s voice. I just love everything that she says. I felt so touched by this video because I have experienced both of these scenarios in the past couple of weeks. Sometimes not know what to say is the best thing to say.

Thanks for the reminder, Mom, and I am sorry for being the fox guy every once in a while (you know who you are).

(image via here)

January is a month so many of us are working to set healthy routines and practices in various areas of our lives.  This is apparent not only in my own daily life but in my email inbox as well.  Lately, many newsletters to which I subscribe have been sprinkling a range of healthy tips and inspirational messages my way so I thought I’d share a few of the ones I’ve found most helpful with you.  Cheers to a happy and healthy weekend!

1) Skin Brushing (via Clean)

“Use a stiff bristled dry skin brush and spend a few minutes brushing your body in an upward, circular motion before your morning or evening shower. Skin brushing stimulates the lymphatic and circulatory systems, helping you to release and eliminate more toxins. It also makes your skin soft and invigorates the whole body.”

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2) Vitamin and Supplement Cheat Sheet (via GOOP)

3) The two best places to channel your addictive energy (via Healthy Crush)

4) Mindfulness reminder from Dad:

Most of the time we are occupied with our own thoughts–thinking about what has happened in the past or imagining what might happen in the future.  Many of us live most of our lives on autopilot. Through mindfulness we develop the capacity to become more aware of what is happening in our lives as they are unfolding.  And we do this without coloring it with our judgments, fears, hopes, or fantasies.

By reducing distractions, mindfulness helps us focus our attention, enabling us to directly experience what is happening right here, right now.

After all, nothing ever happens in the past or the future.  “Now” is the only time where our lives unfold.  The only moment when we are alive.