Winter essentials

Has the Chinook blown in your area?  Over here, it is still very cold and very, very dry.  Here are my winter essentials which are helping me get through the coldest winter I have ever experienced!

1. Sunscreen/sunblock
The sun is still shining very strongly here, even if the temperature is below freezing.  I wear sunscreen religiously to protect my face.  I like Biore Sarasara UV daily care gel because it does not leave my skin feeling oily.  (This product is NOT intended for the face and contains alcohol.  Please be careful if you want to use it on your face!)

(from Kao's website)

2. Toner
I use a ton of Japanese toner, going through a bottle every two weeks.  Japanese toner, also known as lotion in some lines, does not alcohol.  It is considered an essential skin care step in Japanese skin care.  Most Asian skin care lines, including imported brands such as Dior and Chanel, will have a toner and a separate moisturizers.  I love the Rohto Gokujun line, which is affordable enough that I don't have to skimp.

 (from Google image search)

3. Cotton
Every morning and night, I soak a few pieces of cotton in toner and put them on my face for about 10 minutes.  The result is the same as a sheet mask.  This method is very popular in Japan, and I really need to do a blog post on it!  I love this Mekuru Cotton.  Yes, it's very important that I can split this into 5 pieces... but it's hard to explain why without doing a post!

(from amazon.co.jp)

4. Hair treatment
For the first time in about 15 years, I'm having to battle static electricity!  I like to use a thick hair treatment at least every other day to moisturize my hair, in order to hopefully reduce static electricity.
In Japan, the thick hair treatments are usually called hair packs, and are sold in pots.  The thinner ones are usually called hair treatments and are sold in tubes.  I'm currently using the Pantene Pro-V Deep Repair Hair Mask, a Japan-exclusive product.

(from yahoo.co.jp)

5. Body Lotion
Regardless of which shower gel I use, I need to use a heavy duty body lotion.  Without a nightly application of body lotion, my skin will get dry and itchy.  Considering how obsessed I am with the brand, I would love to try the Bath & Body Works Body Butter in Twilight Woods.

 (from the Bath & Body Works website)

6. Lip cream
The cold, dry wind means chapped lips!  I see a lot of girls here with painful-looking bleeding lips!!  My lip cream of choice is Vaseline.  Yes, pure petroleum jelly.  I find that it is the most moisturizing.  I apply a thin layer before I do my makeup in the morning.

(from Unilever's website)

7. Uniqlo Heat Tech tank tops and leggings
These are lifesavers here.  I wear the tank tops and leggings under my normal clothes.  It's the same as wearing thermal underwear, but I would rather say I'm wearing Uniqlo leggings!

8. Uniqlo room shoes (slippers)
Long time readers of this blog know that I hate socks.  However, I need to wear something when I'm at home, or else my feet will get really cold.  I love these ones from Uniqlo which are made of sweatshirt material! 

(from Uniqlo's website)

On the other hand, here are some typical winter essentials that you will not see on me:

1. Knits
Most woolen knits make me itch like crazy, even if I am wearing a shirt underneath.  I haven't worn wool in a very long time.

2. Turtlenecks
I don't like how I look with turtlenecks.  I love my V-necks and that is what I wear most of the year.  I also seem to have very sensitive skin around my neck, which turns bright red even with cotton turtlenecks.

3. Scarves
I just can't make them work for me!  I know there are plenty of non-wool scarves, but I just don't know how to do them properly!!

What are your winter essentials?  Please let me know!

xoxo, K