Winter is here and the colder weather can have some major effects on our skin. Much like protective styling is vital for our hair, we have to have a system in place to protect our skin. Moisturizing your skin is very crucial in the winter and most times, it requires us to switch up our products and use something a bit heavier and equipped to protect us from the cold and other elements.
In addition to sunscreen and serums, you need to have a good moisturizer in place, here are five great moisturizers that will help your skin conquer this winter:
Nubian Heritage African Black Soap Moisturizer, $14+
Writer Krissy Lewis/xoNecole
You can't go wrong with a thick cream-based moisturizer. The Nubian Heritage African Black Soap moisturizer is great for protecting your skin in the winter. It's a thick moisturizer that feels lightweight and leaves your skin feeling very moisturized without being greasy. It also makes your face feel very soft and it smells amazing. The only downside is that it does not include sunscreen, which isn't a big deal. You can mix it with your favorite sunscreen and it won't interfere with how it works.
This moisturizer is good for both day and night time, as well as for all skin types.
e.l.f.’s Daily Hydration Moisturizer, $8
Writer Krissy Lewis/xoNecole
I have to say for the price, it's a steal. I paid about $8 for this moisturizer and it has an amazing fresh scent — it's soft, pleasant, and clean. The scented daily moisturizer is made with natural ingredients like purified water, jojoba oil, aloe, vitamin E, and cucumber.
The bottle recommended using a small amount however, I would use about two to three full pumps (if you have oily skin you may want to use less). When I used three full pumps, the moisturizer melted into my skin and gave me a beautiful natural glow. My face felt moisturized and smooth, it definitely did better than I expected. I would highly recommend for my beauties on a budget.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel, $16+
Writer Krissy Lewis/xoNecole
This is my first time trying a water gel and I did notice that there was a slight difference between the gel and the cream moisturizer. The gel moisturizer allows your skin to absorb moisture much quicker.
As far as the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel, I think it's best for people with oily skin, although it works fine for those who have combination/normal skin. I also think it would work for those who have dry skin, however, I do recommend either using a serum along with this gel or purchasing the Hydro Boost for extra dry skin. I used this gel for about a month and I noticed that it instantly moisturized, soothed, and softened my face. The gel is very lightweight and non-comedogenic, so it doesn't clog your pores. You can use this moisturizer at any time of the day; I usually use it in the morning along with the Neutrogena sunscreen and go about my day.
I wouldn't say this gel gives you a lot of glow, but it does brighten your skin and acts as a primer for your makeup.
Shea Moisture’s Bamboo Charcoal Hydrating Gelee Moisturizer, $11+
Writer Krissy Lewis/xoNecole
The Bamboo Charcoal Hydrating Gelee Moisturizer is made with African Black soap, bamboo charcoal, and aloe. Not only is this mixture good for moisture, but it can reduce the appearance of dark spots and acne.
This product is for people who experience frequent breakouts, however, if you have dry skin I won't recommend it. Depending on how dry your skin tends to get, it may not give you all the moisture you need. If you have oily, normal, and combination acne-prone skin, then this is perfect. It hydrates, soothes, and treats your skin; if used twice a day, you can see results in about 2-3 weeks.
Olay Total Effects 7 In 1, $7+
Writer Krissy Lewis/xoNecole
This moisturizer is on the pricey side for a drugstore moisturizer, but is still a good price for a skin care product. There's a lot of hype around this Olay moisturizer, so I purchased the trial size to see if it really works. I do think it's worth the hype, especially for the winter. It hydrates your skin, fights dry and aging skin, and it also includes SPF 15. This is a good product to get if you want one product that gives your skin what it needs.
The fragrance-free lightweight moisturizer is good for all skin types and adds a beautiful glow to your skin. To me, this is your everything in one product, and you don't need to use multiple products to get your desired look and achieve proper skin health (aside from cleansers and toners). I think it's worth the money, but what works for me may not work for you. I recommend trying the trial size first to see how you like it. A little goes a long way for this product and the smaller size should last for 1-2 months (depending on use).
What are some of your favorite tried and true winter skincare staples? We want to know in the comments below!
- 8 Best Drugstore Moisturizers 2018 - Hydrating Facial Moisturizers ›
- Best Drugstore Moisturizers for Dry Skin | InStyle.com ›
- 30 Best Face Moisturizers - Best Drugstore and Luxury Facial ... ›
- 8 Best Drugstore Moisturizers According to Dermatologists | InStyle ... ›
- Best Drugstore Moisturizers | POPSUGAR Beauty ›
- 12 Best Drugstore Moisturizers for 2018 - Drugstore Moisturizer ... ›
- These Drugstore Face Moisturizers Are Just As Good as the ... ›
- The 10 Best Drugstore Moisturizers of 2018 | Byrdie ›
- These Are the 10 Best Drugstore Moisturizers, Experts Say ... ›
- The Best Drugstore Moisturizers of 2018 Under $20 - Allure ›
RELATED
Camesha created the organization after her struggles with mental health and the lack of community she experienced. The Chicago native explains how she created Sista Afya to be rooted in “culturally grounded care.”
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet/ Shutterstock
“So at my organization, Sista Afya Community Care, we focus on providing mental health care through a cultural and gender lens,” she tells xoNecole. “So when we think about the term intersectionality, coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, we think about the multiple identities that lead to certain experiences and outcomes as it relates to Black women.
“So in the context of culturally grounded care, being aware of the cultural history, the cultural values, and then also the current issues that impact mental health outcomes.”
Words like “strong” and “independent” have long been associated with Black women for some time and many of us have begun to embrace the soft life and are using rest as a form of resistance. However, some of us still struggle with putting ourselves first and overall shedding the tainted image of the “strong, Black woman” that had been forced on us.
Camesha shares that while there’s more and more communities being created around empowerment and shared interests like running, she still questions, “are Black women really comfortable with being vulnerable about sharing their experiences?”
Being vulnerable with ourselves and others play an important role in healing the instinctive nature of always being “on” for everyone. “I'm currently facilitating a group on high functioning depression, and yesterday, we talked about how when Black women may be struggling or have shared their concerns with other people. They may be minimized, or they're told to just be strong, or it's not so bad, or I went through something worse back in Jim Crow era, so you should be thankful,” she explains.
“So I think there's a challenge with Black women being able to be honest, to be vulnerable and to receive the support that they need in the same capacity as how much they give support to other people. So that is probably a very common theme. I think we've made a lot of progress when we talk about the superwoman syndrome, the mammy stereotype, the working hard stereotype, the nurturing stereotype. I think we're beginning to unpack those things, but I still see that we have definitely a long way to go in that area.”
I think there's a challenge with Black women being able to be honest, to be vulnerable and to receive the support that they need in the same capacity as how much they give support to other people.
Roman Samborskyi/ Shutterstock
While we’re unpacking those things, we know that we’re still women at the end of the day. So as we continue to serve in various roles like mothers, daughters, sisters, and caretakers, we have to make caring for ourselves a priority. Camesha reveals four ways we can still care for others without abandoning ourselves.
Trust
First things first, trust. Camesha explains, “Some of the burdens that Black women have can be linked to not feeling like you can trust people to carry the load with you.
“It's hard because people experience trauma or being let down or different experiences, but one of the things that I found personally is the more that I'm able to practice trust, the more I'm able to get my needs met. Then, to also show up as my best to care for other Black women.”
Know Your Limitations
Another thing Camesha highlighted is Black women knowing their limitations. “The other thing that I would like to bring up in terms of a way to care for yourself is to really know your limitations, or know how much you can give and what you need to receive,” she says.
“So often, what I see with Black women is giving, giving, giving, giving, giving to the point that you're not feeling well, and then not receiving what you need in return to be able to feel well and whole individually. So I really think it's important to know your limitations and know your capacity and to identify what it is that you need to be well.”
Don’t Take On A Lot Of Responsibilities
Next on the list is not taking on so many responsibilities, sharing herself as an example. “The other thing is taking on too much responsibility, especially in a time of vulnerability.
“One thing that I personally struggled with was being so passionate about community mental health for Black women, and saying yes to everything and taking on so much responsibility,” she reveals. “That affected me to do well in serving Black women and then also impacting my own well being.”
Practice Self-Care
Lastly, she notes the importance of practicing self-care. “The last thing is really practicing regular self care, regular community care, so that it's embedded into your daily life. So for me, having prepared meals, going to the gym, getting eight hours of sleep, spending time with friends and family, all of those things are part of my self care that keep me at my best,” she explains.
“Then community care, leaning into social networks or social groups, or spending time with other interests or hobbies. That's a part of my community care that keeps me going, so that I can take care of my needs, but also to be able to show up best in care for others.”
Find out more about Camesha and Sista Afya Community Care at communitycare.sistaafya.com.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by AS Photo Family/ Shutterstock