I love Autumn. The musty smell of tired leaves, the cardigans and over-sized scarves, the airborne intimacy of it all, the promise of thermals and hot water bottles only weeks away.
I am less enamoured with Winter though. In Joburg, where our Winters are brutally dry, it's not without reason. I hate the tight, flaking, itching skin, the nosebleeds from parched nasal passages, the exaggerated crow's feet around my dehydrated eyes, the brittle hair, the eczema and the inevitable Winter Blues.
This year, I am prepared. I am giving the cold The Finger with my Winter Survival Kit and whisking us all through Winter, happy and hydrated:
1. Omega 3. Not 6 and 9. You get loads of that in your diet. The 3's are mainly from oily fish (salmon, pilchards, mackerel), although vegetarians can get them from Flaxseed Oil. Not only are Omega 3's great for oiling up your cells from the inside out, they also do wonders for your brain and your mood. The Revite brand (from Dischem) won't repeat on you. Not cool to burp mackerel at 10am.
2. Ever suffered from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)? Not getting enough sunshine physiologically makes some people depressed. I am no sun-bunny, but I get Winter Blues every year. Because we're all paranoid about sun damage and skin cancer, we now don't get enough sun and hence, our vitamin D levels are often inadequate. Solal Technologies has an easy-to-swallow Vitamin D3 supplement, which not only protects you against some cancers, but also improves your immunity and MAKES YOU HAPPY. Try it. You will literally feel your mood elevate after a few weeks. Even my husband was impressed by how much better it made him feel.
3. Bless my mate Lauren. Not only is she one of the Fabulous Women of the World, but she also introduced me to Bioderma Photoderm 50+ - a French product you can pick up at Dischem that is great for sensitive skin and totally blocks out the sun's evil rays. I wear it every single day as my moisturiser and because I use the 'Natural Tint' version, I will often use this alone if I don't feel like make up. It gives you light coverage and a dewy look and will stop you looking like that raisin-faced granny in 'There's Something About Mary.' And yes. You need sunblock in Winter. Every day dammit.
4. Kerastase's new Elixir Ultime - an amazing blend of oils for your hair. You can use it as a treatment before washing or just put a few drops in your hair after washing or drying to protect, nourish and tame frizz. And it smells addictive. Not cheap, but you literally use a few drops per application. Worth. It. http://www.kerastase.co.uk/products/elixir-ultime/elixir-ultime.aspx
5. If you want a great body scrub that will rid of Winter flakes, boost sluggish circulation and leave you smelling like a piece of pink Turkish Delight, look no further than Moroccan Rose Otto Sugar Body Polish by REN. If you care, REN makes natural products with no crap in them. You can get this product at big Woolworths. There is a delicious body oil in the same range.
6. Finally, this Winter, I will commit to using Sterimar daily. This sea water nasal spray hydrates your nasal passages, cleans your nose and helps decongest. It's full of the minerals from the sea and is totally natural. You also rid your nose of allergens when you use Sterimar, so bye bye allergic rhinitis - a much healthier alternative to swallowing anti-histamines and using cortisone sprays.
Take that Winter. XXX
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