Winter Skincare for Dry Skin

I have super dry skin, so in the winter, it's always necessary for me to have a more moisturizing skincare routine. My favorite wintertime cleanser is Lancôme's Huile Douceur. At first it seems so crazy to rub oil all over your face, but actually it is really lovely. First, you apply the oil to a dry face and massage in, then bring to the eye area and gently massage to remove eye makeup. (It's such a bonus to not need a separate eye-makeup remover. It really works, and with no raccoon eyes! ;) Then you wet your hands with warm water and mix into the oil already on your face. When you do this, the oil magically emulsifies and becomes a creamy cleanser. Finally, rinse with warm water or use a washcloth to remove for extra exfoliation. This cleanser leaves my skin feeling smooth and protected and it smells wonderful. 

For the past year and a half, I've been using Arbonne's RE9 skincare year-round. It's wonderful stuff, and really delivers, but this year I decided to trim the budget, so I'm making a switch. That means I am without an eye cream, night cream and day cream. I've been sampling a few different brands, but so far I haven't found a winner. I'd really like to find a drugstore or health food store brand that works well, but is still inexpensive. Do you have dry skin? What creams do you use in the winter? I'm curious, do you find that you spend too much on skincare, too?

(photo from Lancôme)

Trial & Error: My Favorite Foundations

It doesn't work for me to have just one foundation. I find that depending on how dry or oily my skin is during a particular season, I have different needs. No one foundation can fit the bill every time. Through lots of trial and error, here are my favorite picks to feel glamorous everyday!

For dewy radiance try...

Aveda's Inner Light Mineral Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15, pictured above. This product is absolutely incredible. It delivers a lot of moisture which is perfect during the fall and winter when my skin tends to be a bit drier and the SPF 15 means I'm protected from the sun's damaging rays that still cause wrinkles through clouds and fog. The best thing about this tinted moisturizer is the natural, radiant finish. It truly makes my skin fresh and dewy!

For oily days try...

Lancôme's Ageless Minérale with White Sapphire Complex. It works best on oilier skin because the powder needs something to blend into. On non-oily days, I absolutely never use it because I feel like it actually accentuates my fine lines! Make sure you don't skip the brush. It's a must have for getting good coverage and even application. The powder leaves a soft matte finish and has SPF 21. A little pot lasts positively forever! 

For anti-aging try...

29 Cosmetics Varietals Grape Seed Age Protecting Hydrating Foundation SPF 15. I wore this foundation on our wedding day and my skin looks perfect in the photos. It feels completely natural, like second skin. The grape seed extracts really do seem to reverse the aging process on the skin. It's a little more coverage than I need or want on a daily basis, but for a special occasion or a night out, it's ideal.

For summer time try...

Clinique's Super City Blog Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 40. This easy to apply formula has full spectrum UVA/UVB sun protection perfect for hot summer days. It stays on all day long without being sticky or heavy on the skin. I love the moderate coverage, and powder blush blends into it really nicely. What's most amazing is that it seems to go on almost transparent and then flawlessly blends to your skin tone. It's like magic!

Do you wear foundation daily? What is most important to you? Coverage? Sun protection? Moisture? What are your favorite picks? 

{photos from aveda, lancôme, 29 cosmetics and clinique}