“In Their Expert Opinion” features three bloggers who bring special expertise on living a natural lifestyle to The Clear Conscience Blog. Each month, we’ll share tips and advice on how to live a little greener from a few of our favorite experts.

By Elizabeth Dehn, BeautyBets.com 

                          Photo courtesy of The Beauty Department

What do you get when it’s cold outside and dry inside? A cruel combination never ceases to suck the moisture out of hair and skin. Extreme weather like this calls for creative measures.

• Unless you have super-oily skin, switch to a creamy cleanser. You’d be amazing by how much gel and foaming washes strip skin of moisture. Better yet: skip washing your face altogether in the morning. 


• Throughout the day refresh skin and revive makeup with a hydrating mist. I keep one at my desk and one in my bag at all times. 


• Press a face balm or oil on top of you makeup—especially around the eyes and cheek bones—whenever skin starts looking dull and foundation looks pasty. Typically late afternoon. 


• Sometimes all you need is cuticle cream to combat dry hands. After all, it’s your fingers and nail bed that tend to be the roughest. The same salve (I like Watkins lemon-scented version) will give nails a buffed, glossy look— a plus when you don’t have time for a manicure. 


• Simple but highly effective: Don’t go to bed without putting on lip balm. You’ll prevent and eliminate cracked chapped dry lips. Choose a balm (like J.R. Watkins) that contains natural beeswax and plant oils, not petroleum-based ingredients which interfere with the body’s natural moisturizing mechanism,


• Smooth static, frizz, and fly-aways by switching to a richer conditioner and/or apply a leave-in conditioner or serum from mid-shaft down, before styling.


• Lackluster skin is a sure sign that your moisturizer isn’t cutting it. Buff away dry, dead skin cells and restore radiance by whipping up one up this easy Honey Face Mask recipe (honey is a natural humectant): 
  
  
  1. Combine one tablespoon sugar with 3 tablespoons honey
  2. Spread a thin layer and clean skin and leave on face for 15-20 minutes 
  3. Dampen fingertips and gentle scrub mask in circular motions for 30-60 seconds.
  4. Rinse and moisturize as usual.

Disclosure: The bloggers featured in the Clear Conscience Blog “In Their Expert Opinion” series have received product samples and compensation from Watkins, Inc.