Tips from the experts to help you weather the chill this season

Ultra Hydration

AN arid climate or winter air can cause dry skin, and dry skin should be pampered accordingly.

For starters: humidifier. Low humidity is what causes dry skin in the first place, so compensate accordingly (I have one in every bedroom). Even a low-tech option, like a bowl of water perched atop the radiator, will allow water vapor to travel along with the heat.

Showers should be short, with lukewarm —not hot — water. Avoid harsh soaps and use something gentle, like Dove Body Wash. Moisturize immediately after patting (not rubbing) oneself dry. Consider CeraVe Moisturizing Cream or Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion. For extremely dry skin, reach for Eucerin Advanced Repair Cream (I keep a tub of this on my nightstand for my hands, and for my nose if I’ve got a cold).

For dry, flaky skin, an exfoliant like Neutrogena Hydro Boost Exfoliating Cleanser or Aveeno Calm + Restore Nourishing PHA Exfoliator can buff away those flakes.

Lea Pavel is a third-generation skin care aficionado who lives in the Five Towns.

My Grandmother’s Home Remedies

Bad cough? Mix a cup of hot water with honey and vinegar and drink a few times a day. Honey is packed with loads of antibacterial properties, and this mixture will soothe your throat. You can add some lemon juice to help with a stuffy nose.

For kids, (over one year old) cut an orange, poke holes through the top, and sprinkle salt on top. Steam in the microwave for about two minutes. Remove and drizzle some honey over it. Squeeze out the juice and use a syringe to feed it to your child.

Feeling like you’re getting sick? Mix a teaspoon of cayenne pepper and honey and swallow it.

Want to boost your immunity? Try this tea. Mix one lemon, two cups of water, fresh ginger and turmeric, garlic, and a dash of pepper. Bring it to boil and simmer on low for about ten minutes. Add honey and drink.

Mommylifesquad is your #1 stop for the best mom hacks, tips, and tricks, with over 220,000 members across four platforms and a spiritually inspiring podcast.

Banish Recipe Clutter

It’s cold, it’s dark at 5 p.m., and you just want to stay indoors and tackle the organizing projects on your to-do list for rainy days. Top on that list is organizing your recipes! Here’s how to simplifize the process:

1. Collect the recipes that you’ve collected over the years. These may include magazine clippings, Yom Tov Family Table issues, post-it note recipes, scrap papers, and napkins.
2. Sort them by category — Salads, Soups, Grains, Sides, Chicken, Healthy Desserts….
3. Choose your favorites from each pile, the tried-and-true (as opposed to the ones you’d still like to try), and toss the recipes that weren’t big hits.
4. Rewrite (or type) your faves onto 5x7 index cards (or custom recipe cards). Then place those and the magazine page pullouts into sheet protectors (index card and 8.5x11”)
5. Using extra-wide dividers to separate the categories, place the sheet protectors into an extra-wide binder. You want divider tabs to be visible beyond the sheet protectors.
6. At the back of each section, place one more sheet protector and fill it with the recipes that you have yet to make. Over time, if those go over well, rewrite them onto additional index cards and add them to the favorites!

You can use a labeler to type out the categories on the cover index page for that super professional look.

Since 2013, Ruthie from Simplifized has been organizing homes and training new organizers worldwide.

Coat Wig Fix

When wearing a coat outside, split your wig in the back and bring the hair forward like a scarf around your neck so the hair stays under the coat. When it’s contained like that, it’ll have less knotting and static than it would if you leave it outside your coat.

When you arrive at your destination, just comb the wig out with a wide-toothed comb and your waves will bounce right back.

Tzipora Ehrman is an experienced sheitelmacher with a full-service salon in Lakewood, servicing all ages and styles and selling brands in many price ranges.

Dry Lip Tips

Dry and cracked lips are uncomfortable and painful. They also keep your lipstick from laying well, and it will peel and won’t last as long. I always suggest using a good overnight lip mask before bed. Leave it on until morning, and you’ll wake up with the softest lips. My personal favorite is the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. The Elf Holy Hydration Lip Mask is another great, more affordable option.

If you want to apply makeup but your lips are dry, apply the mask right when you start your makeup. Once you’re up to the lips, wipe off the mask (make sure to wipe it fully or your lipstick won’t stick well). You’ll notice that your lips are much more hydrated and softer than when you started. Then apply your lipstick like you normally do.

Happy hydrating!

Raizy Bodek is a self-taught makeup artist who shares her expertise and passion for makeup on her WhatsApp status, Status Glow.

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 929)