Best Bet: Vaseline Intensive Care Healing Serum

Moisturizer is my number one desert island product.  Hands down.  Curious about what yours would be, I tweeted out the question and received responses like: mascara, lip balm and yes, moisturizer!  So some of us are on the same page.  Of course, when you walk into the drugstore, you're faced with the mega moisturizer shelf of promises and luckily for you, it's my job to test them all out so you don't have to waste a single penny. My latest post-shower obsession works to moisturize and heal even the roughest skin.  Seriously.

There's nothing more disappointing than a "moisturizer" that sits on top of your skin or maybe even worse, one that smells like old-lady perfume.  Seriously?  As you can imagine, I've been putting quite a few brands to the test this winter and found one I really love and am sticking with – Vaseline Intensive Care Healing Serum.

Yes, a body serum.  Instead of temporarily soothing and moisturizing my skin, it actually corrects the problem by healing any cracked areas (like my feet, ew, I know) and ensuring that the rest of my skin remains hydrated and protected.  A triple threat for sure.  With a combination of ingredients that help to heal the skin by penetrating to the deepest layers to replenish lipids and Vaseline Jelly to help to prevent any moisture loss, this one's a winner.

The new Vaseline Intensive Care Healing Serum is available in Deep Repair, Radiance Restore and Advanced Healing at drugstores for $8.49.

*This post is sponsored by Vaseline, but all of my thoughts and actions are true.

Vaseline® Intensive Care, A Multipurpose Moisturizer

If there's one beauty product I could bring with me on a desert island, it's moisturizer. How about you?  If you're in the same boat as me, we better bring a good one!  Did you know that all moisturizers aren't created equal?  That's right, many just sit on top of the skin and act as temporary relief, but you and I both expect more than that.  This winter, make sure you're using a moisturizer that'll get the job done on multiple levels. Enter: Vaseline_® Intensive Care TM.

I received this cozy package (pictured) of Vaseline_® Intensive Care TM Advanced Repair Fragrance Free, a personalized mug and GODIVA hot chocolate mix from Vaseline last week and have been hooked ever since. Of course like other moisturizers, it immediately relieves dry skin, but the Vaseline_® Intensive Care TM range is also clinically proven to heal dry skin in just five days, and lock moisture into your skin.  How?  It addresses the root of the problem  – the skin's protective barrier by using humectants (which draw water to your dry skin) and Vaseline_® Jelly to help seal the moisture in.

Even if you're not feeling dry yet, I recommend you start moisturizing from head to toe daily as soon as you step out of the shower to help prevent itchy, dry skin.

A Moisturizer that Works When I Need It To, Plus A Giveaway

In December (see post) I was asked by Vaseline if I would try out their Vaseline Intensive Rescue body lotion and take part in some outdoor winter activities to really put it to the test.  A month later, it's time I paid tribute to the product that really did work when I needed it to.  Plus, I'm giving it away! I went ice skating at Bryant Park and shopped the holiday market, visited the tree at Rockefeller Center and did my day to day of running around being a NYer.  The hero: Vaseline Intensive Rescue Repairing Moisture Lotion.  I put it on from head to toe in the morning when I step out of the shower and never have to think about it again.  It absorbed quickly without leaving my skin feeling sticky or greasy and helped heal my somewhat dry chins and feet.  That's the best part.

Share your favorite winter activities in the comments section below, for a chance to win one of five of the prize packs listed below. 

• 10 oz. sample of Vaseline Intensive Rescue Repairing Moisture Lotion
• 7.5 oz. jar of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly

*This post is sponsored by Vaseline, but all of my thoughts and actions are true.

Become A Real Life Sleeping Beauty, Thanks Daylight Savings!

Fall is my favorite season for many reasons, but perhaps the biggest is because we get to 'fall back' – an extra hour of sleep!  That's right, don't forget to turn your clocks back an hour on Saturday night.  Make sure you're getting the most out of your snooze with beauty loot that works best while you're at rest.  Check out my favorite finds. Bliss FatGirlSleep, $38 at blissworld.com

I've been a fan of the original cellulite fighter, FatGirlSlim, for years, but this jar of booty whip added a soothing lavender scent to their tightening complex to help you relax and sleep well as it works.  Lotus flower helps to fight the four causes of cellulite: fat storage, fat burning, water retention and slackened skin.  With continued use, I've seen an improvement on my thighs, but must note that when I stopped using it, the horror came back.

Algenist Overnight Restorative Cream, $90 at Sephora

As you sleep your skin cells turnover, which makes nighttime the ideal time to really take care of your skin and use the right ingredients.  I was introduced to this face cream about a month ago and love, love, love it.  I'm a fan of the light, creamy texture as it feels heavy enough for nighttime, but not like I'm wearing a mask.  Made with alguronic acid, which was extracted from a microalgae cell, it works overnight to even out skin tone and fight fine lines and wrinkles.

Fekkai Protein Rx PM Repair Strengthener, $65 at fekkai.com

I'm obsessed with hair treatments of all types and normally do masks in the shower.  This one is an overnight treatment that I sometimes use (you should use nightly if you have really damaged hair).  Proteins help to rebuild your strands (and let's be honest, we all can use a bit of help).  I find that after I wash it out in the morning my hair is super soft and shiny. Tip: After putting it in your hair, comb it through with for even distribution and then braid your hair or wrap it in a bun to keep the product out of your face while you sleep.

C.O. Bigelow My Favorite Night Balm, $7.50 at bigelowchemists.com

You need to coat your pucker!  Your lips are an extension of the skin on your face so the skin cells are turning over during the nighttime, making it the best time to moisturize and take care of them.  This isn't just another small tube of chap stick.  For $7.50 you better be getting something good and I promise, you are.  I love my cherry chap stick sometimes, but I feel like it just coats the top of my lips protecting them from the wind and outside elements.  This stuff actually penetrates them and moisturizes all night long.  Trust me.

L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand & Foot Cream Duo, $16 at usa.loccitane.com

This is the best stuff.  I've been addicted to the hand cream ever since I've been introduced to it about five years ago when I worked at Cosmo and no matter how many different kinds I try in between tubes, I'm constantly going back to it.  Don't forget to moisturize your hands and feet before getting in between the sheets.  Loaded with shea butter, this duo is a steal!  Tip: Wear socks to bed and wake up with super soft toes!

It's Fall and My Skin's Been See Through... Until Now

As soon as September turned into October I began noticing that I was so pale I was actually unhealthily see through. Yes, that's my natural skin tone. You could see the blue veins in my hands creeping up into my arms and it wasn't attractive.  It was sickly looking. Everyday for the past two weeks I've been using one of those gradual self tanning body moisturizers that not only changed all that, but also my outlook on gradual self tanners. Once a day when I step out of the shower I've been applying Nature's Gate Glow Lotion, $12.99 all over.  Made with shea butter and Vitamin E, it's super hydrating so unlike other gradual self tanners I've tried in the past, I'm comfortable replacing my moisturizer with it.  When I pump it out of the tube it has a slight scent of cinnamon and I'm not sure why.  Turned off at first, the scent doesn't last once you rub it in so it's safe to say it's odorless on the body.

For some reason after two weeks now I haven't noticed any blochiness of the the glow wearing off.  In the past when using these types of products I would notice that the self tan would wear off in certain spots quicker than others.  I think it's because this "tan" is more of a radiant glow than a tan.  It's perfect.

Fall Must-Have: Votre Vu Bebe Duette

Most of the time when I come across two-in-one beauty products I find that I like them for one reason, but wouldn't really use them for the other. Recently I was sent Votre Vu Bebe Duette Luxe Lips and Tarte D' Amande, which is the simpliest of all two-in-one's, yet genius!  I don't know any woman who wouldn't use it. It's a tube of rich almond scented hand cream with a cap that contains a super nourishing lip balm made of coconut oil, shea butter and beeswax. Bonus – the top of the cap has a tiny mirror inside!

I'm obsessed with moisturizing and know this will be in my handbag all Fall and Winter.  You can get it on votrevu.com as a package of two for $39.50.

Going El Natural with Tata Harper

A few weeks ago I was chatting with my friend Denise, a publicist for Tata Harper Skincare, about eco-friendly beauty products and confessed that I've never used natural skincare.  When it comes to my face, I know what works and have been scared to make the switch.  Later that week I met with Tata Harper herself and was introduced to my new regimen. Tata convinced me to try her Resurfacing Mask during our meeting and being a total mask junkie, I was down.  After leaving it on for 20 minutes, I was glowing.  I couldn't stop looking at my skin in the mirror.  Pomegranate enzymes gently exfoliated my skin and I didn't even put bronzer back on for my next meeting.

I'm now using her Refreshing Cleanser, Repairative Moisturizer and the Resurfacing Mask twice a week.  She grows all of her own ingredients on her private farm in Vermont.  So far, the all natural skincare thing is working for me and my skin didn't freak out from the change.  I'm going to keep it up, I love knowing that I'm not putting chemicals into my skin daily.

Help Kiehl's Ensure No Kid Goes Hungry in the USA

This weekend Kiehl's stores across America have partnered with Share Our Strength, a national nonprofit that is ending childhood hunger in America by connecting children with nutritious food they need to lead healthy, active lives, to launch an event called "Erase Lines, Fill Needs and Ensure that No Kid Goes Hungry in America." You can get involved by visiting a Kiehl's free standing store in your area and donating $1 at the register.  Believe it or not, $1 can feed up to 10 children!  As a thank you, you'll receive a 10.5 day supply of their Powerful Strength Line Reducing Concentrate.

Unable to visit the store?  You can still participate by donating through the end of the year at Kiehls.com.

Nutricosmetics Invade Dial Lotions

So far one of the biggest trends this year that I've recognized is that people are purchasing items that do more for them.  Take for example Wheat Thins.  It used to be that people would buy the one's that said "Fat Free," "Low Carb," and "Guilt Free Snack" on the label, but today's shopper is different. We're all looking for more.  Instead, we're picking up the boxes that read things like "Added Fiber." I thought of food first when writing this post, maybe because it's almost dinner time and I'm hungry, but what I was getting to is a new beauty product that just added more – I'm talking about Dial Lotions merging with what we know as nutricosmetics – added vitamins and minerals to give it a boost creating Dial NutriSkin Innovation.

Regular moisturizer doesn't cut it anymore.  The Dial NutriSkin Innovation comes in five varieties (including one for men) and can be found in drugstores.   What added benefits to you look for in your beauty products when shopping?

Body Care Done Right

You can apply all the creams and serums you want to your face to try to maintain your youth, but what about the skin on the rest of your body?  It could be a dead giveaway of how old you really are or make you look even older if you don't pay attention to it.  I always say you should look at your neck and chest as an extension to your face.  There's nothing worse than seeing a woman with a fresh face and turkey neck. A recent study showed that if you maintain the skin on your body as well as the skin on your face people perceive you to be 10 years younger.  If you haven't already, start now.  I'm obsessed with total-body skin care and can only hope it continues to pay off.

I recommend starting right in the shower with Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Advanced Anti-Aging Body Wash, $5.99.

It has tackles body skin care... issues just like a good face wash does from brightening dull skin, improving elasticity and smoothing roughness to helping to even out your skin tone.  It's rich and creamy and feels super moisturizing.

Follow up with a good moisturizer and get into the routine.  I know you live by your facial routine each morning and night.  Trust me, treat your body the same way and it will pay off in the long run.

*Note: This is a sponsored post.

Lush Colour Supplements

I have a confession to make... as much of a beauty junkie that I am, I hate wearing make up.  I love learning about new product launches, getting tips and tricks from the pros and trying and testing different formulas of mascaras and pops of colors on my cheeks and lips, I hate wearing it. I recently discovered Lush Colour Supplements, which are the answer to face makeup for girls who hate wearing makeup.  I wouldn't consider it a foundation at all because its a very light formula.  Nor is it a tinted moisturizer.  I find it works perfectly as an additive to your everyday moisturizer.  It mixes very well and leaves you with an overall dewy glow.

I'm a huge fan because unlike traditional tinted moisturizers, which are all made with a general moisturizer, you can mix these colour supplements into your favorite moisturizer that works well with your skin.  They're also made with rice bran and soya oil instead of mineral oil so they're less irritating.