Usually, I trade in my cold weather products come Spring.  (Charleston’s weather can be downright soup-y April-October.)  This year, however, I will continue to use a few gems that I discovered over the Winter – products that truly made a difference in my skin.  So, whether you’re still living amongst the snowy drifts, or things are heating up in your neck of the woods, these three picks are SO worth a look.

I have to admit that I was pretty skeptical about the best-selling French supplement, Biocyte Hyaluronic Forte,  but Dara at Ayla Beauty assured me that it made a big difference for her personally; she didn’t need a heavy-duty moisturizer anymore.  (Plus, I know she is super-smart and does tons of research.)  Biocyte is a hyaluronic acid tablet.  As you may know, hyaluronic acid is actually a natural structural component of skin, and, in fact, is present in connective tissue throughout the human body.  It is considered to have a greater capacity to hold moisture than any other natural or synthetic polymer, making it an incredibly effective anti-aging ingredient (skin loses moisture as we age).  Hyaluronic Acid makes skin appear more plump, minimizes the look of fine lines and generally helps with skin dehydration.  You’ll see hyaluronic acid in many topical formulas, but when taken internally, 80% of this tablet’s plant-based hyaluronic acid is absorbed by the bloodstream, and the results are pretty undeniable.  I took an entire package over the course of one month (1 tablet every morning), but I forgot to reorder, and Ayla, the only US retailer of this product, was sold out for a week or so.  All in all, I hadn’t taken a tablet in about three weeks.  I hadn’t given it much thought, and one morning, I realized that a few scars (depressions from too many cortisone injections during my cystic acne days) were back.  Like, I forgot I had them, and here they were again.  I thought that I had to be imagining this; how can these tablets practically erase these pitted scars?  Well, here I am a month later, and guess what?  I can barely see them.  Now I know why French women age so well!  I’m hooked.

I’m just going to come right out and say it: MUN No. 7 Ayour Body Serum is hands-down the best body oil I have ever used, and I have tried A LOT over the years.  I’ve always wanted to be a “body serum person”, but I’m usually in a rush (sometimes they don’t absorb very quickly), and it’s humid and warm most of the year in Charleston, so I just never became addicted – until now.  When I saw the beautiful (inside and out) founder of MUN, Munemi Imai, at A Night for Green Beauty last summer, she told me about a body serum she was developing.  She said that she felt the same way that I did about so many of the goopy formulas out there, and promised me that hers would be different.  She delivered.  This is the only body oil that allows me to dress within five minutes of application.  It leaves my skin soft and silky – never greasy – with a very subtle sheen.  It is absolutely perfect.  The secret is Organic Moroccan Olive Oil (which I’ve always thought makes the best body oil as far as texture).  Munemi combined it with the star ingredient of her cult-favorite face serum, Prickly Pear Seed Oil, a silky, anti-aging powerhouse.  And, because none of us want to smell like olive oil, she added Neroli, Lavender and Frankincense, which not only provide aromatherapy benefits, (the scent is very uplifting) but also soothe skin and increase cell turnover.  This might be the last body oil you’ll ever have to buy! Today thru April 10, get 10% off your entire purchase with code bbmun0316 at munskin.  Just because I love you.

Kahina Giving Beauty Moroccan Beldi Soap is unlike anything I’ve ever tried.  Straight from the hammams (traditional spas) of Morocco, this unique, gel-like soap softens skin like nothing else.  Once a week, I get into a hot shower, allowing my pores to open.  Then, I spread this luscious saponified olive oil all over my body and allow it to penetrate for about 5 minutes.  This is a great opportunity to apply a face or hair mask, or just relax and breathe deeply – the eucalyptus essential oil does wonders for a stuffy nose or a foggy mind.  Then, I work an exfoliating mitt (a washcloth also works) in a heavy circular motion.  Katharine L’Heureux, the founder of Kahina Giving Beauty, has said that while she dry brushes regualarly, (as do I) she is always amazed at how her skin literally rolls off when she uses this magical soap.  I was a little nervous, but wow!  My skin has never felt so soft, and I swear it looks… younger?  This has been a favorite weekly-or-so ritual over the winter, and it would be a perfect way to ready your skin for bathing suit season.

So, there you have it.  My year-round, anti-aging, moisture retaining favorites.

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