As you read this post, I am on a plane to St. Louis - their visitors center is flying me out so I can check out their Fashion Week.

Granted, this part of my job is awesome - but the constant traveling (especially the flying part) I have done lately is drying my skin out like crazy.

So, you can imagine how excited I was when Lamas Beauty Spa Sensuals Hand Scrub arrived in the mail just in time.

This is a super-gentle scrub that helps to exfoliate and moisturize your hands, feet, or anyone else you are feeling distinctly scaly and unsexy - and is made with natural sea-salts and soothing oatmeal - you can’t get more natural than that! From the first application, I really could see it working - so much so, that it’s currently in my baggage.

Talk to you from THE ARCH.

Image: Lamas Beauty

While we often blame the weather for common skin irritations, many of us don’t realize that dry, red, broken-out skin isn’t only a consequence of winter weather – stress can also play a big role.

Given the current economy, coupled with bitter, windy weather and drying heaters and radiators, it’s no wonder our skin is in serious need of TLC. Below, Dr. Ellen Marmur, the Chief of the Division of Dermatologic and Cosmetic Surgery at the Mount Sinai Medical Center New York, provides skin-saving at-home tips – perfect for the cold winter months when our stress levels seem to reach their peak:

”At home facials once a week in the winter will help reduce dead skin build-up and a dull complexion,” says Dr. Marmur. “Make it yourself – blend one avocado, juice from half of a lemon, and the contents of a lemon-zinger tea bag. Apply to face for 10 minutes, wash with gentle face wash like Terralina, and immediately moisturize with your favorite face/neck cream, massaging for 5 minutes.”

The number one tip for extremely dry or irritated skin: “don’t scrub or pick inflamed skin, and don’t wash with harsh soaps!” says Dr. Marmur. “Number two: apply a thick ointment, such as Aquaphor (available at drug stores), to your neck, chest and hands before bed for at least one hour. Either gently wipe off with a soft towel, or wash with a gentle face wash like Terralina,” advises Dr. Marmur. “Apply aloe lotion (not gel) and your favorite moisturize – and make it chemical free.”

Remember to use a humidifier in your home, especially in your bedroom, to protect against the drying effect of heaters.

“Winter skin is very dry, rough and red. Simplify your skincare routine and focus on protection — moisturize, avoid extremes of cold, heat, wind, and use gentle products that are chemical free.”

‘ Tis the season for lizard skin.  It is for me anyway.  This time, every year like clockwork, my skin turns pasty white and disgustingly scaly.  Really, its not cute.  So I am always searching out body creams desperately this time of the year.  There are, of course, no shortage of good ones out there, but the one I have been using most recently is the new Vitalization from Bioelements.  Bioelements is one of my all time favorite skin care brands so I always really love to check out what they have out that is new, and Vitalization is, not surprisingly, a great, rich body cream. 

The key features of this multifunction cream are:  “Regulates moisture to banish dryness, smoothes away rough brittle surface cells (hello!), encourages a firmer body (uh huh), restores radiance to skin and surrounds the body with the enticing aroma of pure botanical oils.”  Pretty dreamy stuff.

Along with some groovy peptides and amino acids, Vitalization also contains 10 botanical oils, shea butter, red tea and beta carotene.   The fragrance is good, but light and nothing that clashes with your fragrance at all.  It is thick, but creamy, not REALLY thick like some of the other shea butter products out there. 

For those of you that are concerned about this sort of thing, Bioelements products are not tested on animals, use no artificial colors or fragrances and contain organic botanicals (have you visited Pretty by Nature lately?).  Vitalization is sold in a big 8 oz jar, and can be purchased at DermStore for $49.50.  DermStore also has a deal going on right now, with a $125 purchase, receive a free Pumice Peel (exfoliating cream - $48 value).  That’s a great product too - in fact, I really have never met a Bioelements product I didn’t really love.  Sleepwear - the best night cream going.  So spend a little time at DermStore and try out Bioelements if you haven’t - I am positive you will love it!