better than a fairy godmother? i think so!

     During the winter months it feels like I'm constantly on a quest for something, anything to soothe my dry skin. Just when I'm on the brink of giving up all hope... poof! These little beauties work like magic, saving the day (and my skin!) This post is a testament to my favorite skin- care items for winter.

Dionis goat milk lotion and bar soap in Virginia Hyacinth

 Dionis bar soaps, lotions, & lip balms (not pictured)

     Dionis is ran by a mother- daughter team out of Charlottesville, Virginia. All of their products include nourishing goat milk and smell absolutely heavenly. Fragranced soaps and lotions are usually a no- no for sensitive skin, but so far I've had no problem out of these products, which is a very pleasant surprise. Right now I'm using the Virginia Hyacinth scent, but I have used the Cucumber and Mint, which may be a better option for those worried about irritation. 

     The first product from Dionis that I ever tried was their Milk & Honey lip balm, which smells and tastes lovely, and has turned out to be one of my tried and true favorites for all seasons. Not only is it super moisturizing, but it feels rediculously luxurious. I use the bar soap as my night time facial cleanser. It leaves my skin very clean yet buttery soft. The lotion is my night time moisturizer I only apply a small amount and work it into my skin well; it is so hydrating that it doesn't take much.

     The packaging of the soap is just too cute. Each bar is wrapped in paper and has a sticker label, which, of course, features a nanny and her kidd. There is also a goat stamped into the soap, along with other designs. Dionis looks and performs like an expensive brand but is really quite affordable. I paid $3 for a bar of soap and $5.50 for a bottle of lotion at a local drugstore. Dionis products are also available at Cracker Barrel (the perfect excuse to go have a yummy meal!) & on their website,  http://www.dionisbathandbody.com/ .

 Isn't the tin just adorable?

 Just from reading the print on the sides of the tin, you would never guess that this is a great product for those us us who aren't exactly... livestock.... hehe. 

  

Bag Balm

     My next pick is from a family run company in Vermont and coincedentally has to do with farm animals as well! Bag Balm was originally developed to heal the chapped udders of dairy cows during the harsh Vermont winters. According to lore, farmers' wives started noticing their husbands smooth hands and decided to start using the product their selves. The result? A legend was born! Today this product is endorsed by all sorts of people, from veterinarians to Oprah (not that I'm an Oprah lemming, but it is true!)

     I had been using Bag Balm on my super- rough feet at night, hoping that it would give me results. And what results I got! In just a few days my feet transformed completely. Each night I massage some onto my feet and put on socks to keep from rubbing it off on my sheets. Another place I use Bag Balm is on my eyelids. I have what my optometrist refers to as "eye scales," which just means that the skin around my eyes is very dry and flaky. Before I got to bed each night I massage just a dab onto my eyelids and up to my brown bones. After just one use, I haven't seen a single flake and the skin around my eyes has stayed soft and smooth.

     Bag Balm comes in an adorable tin, but of course it's what inside that counts. This product contains lanolin, a natural emoilent that comes from sheeps' wool. I have felt this ingredient first hand, and it really is something else. Bag Balm can really be applied anywhere externally; the only body part that I'm not sure about is lips, and that's just because you may not want to ingest it. It is pretty widely sold, especially at farm supply stores (I feel like this was something that y'all could've figured out for yourselves, but I was just wanting to cover all of the bases, lol.) I bought mine at Tractor Supply Company where it is currently on sale for $5.99. The only real downside to this product is the smell. To me, it's unnoticeable (plus, I use it at night, so who really cares?), but some people notice a slightly medicinal aroma.  For more info, check out http://www.bagbalm.com/ .

 This photo is from bathandbodyworks.com. 

 C. O. Bigelow's lip balms
     The only place that I'm aware of selling this is Bath and Body Work; they are available in- store and online at http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/home/index.jsp . They are normally $7.50 each (for the ones in a squeeze tube- balm sticks are available too, and a little bit cheaper.) I usually buy mine on sale or when there is a special offer, which is pretty often. I use them almost every day to moisturize my lips before applying any sort of color product. The ones I own are colorless, but there are tinted ones available. "My Favorite Lip Balm" is a true balm and contains shea butter and sweet almond oil. The "Mentha Lip Shine" is nice and glossy, but still very moisturizing and as an added plus, it freshens your breath. It contains natural vanilla extract and peppermint oil.