• Don’t skimp on the tissue by looking for the cheapest price with the largest quantity. With the constant blowing of your nose and dabbing of tears, you really want to use tissue containing lotion. This type of tissue will be the most soothing and gentle on the delicate skin beneath your nose and under your eyes. Also be sure to always have tissue with you. The biggest mistake you can make is using paper towels, napkins or other harsh paper products for blowing your nose and blotting your tears. Doing this will only cause further irritation and redness of your skin.

• Keep your skin well moisturized to avoid intensely dry and chapped skin. Look for skincare products that contain soothing and healing ingredients such as aloe vera and vitamin E. Creams that help reduce inflammation and irritation are also ideal. A fantastic skincare product that will do all of this for your skin is the Peter Thomas Roth Aloe-Cort Cream. I have been using this cream for years to treat my eczema. A little will go a very long way, so dabbing a drop on the sensitive areas of your skin throughout the day is a fantastic way to soothe the irritation.

• Pick up a gel-based hydrating serum like the Murad Cellular Replenishing Serum to treat the overall dehydration of your skin that is caused by allergies. Not only can you use this serum everyday under your moisturizer, but you can also use it as a special treatment for the sore skin under your eyes. In addition to over-the-counter eye drops, it is also a great idea to use cold tea bags as a way to treat the puffiness, redness and irritation.

• Maintain your beauty by using makeup products which will help to counteract redness of the skin and even out your skin tone. For example, a concealer with a yellow-base will cover up redness. This concealer can be used under your eyes, around your nose and for over any blemishes that may pop up. Continue using your foundation as you normally would in order to keep your complexion looking healthy and even. You may need to use a little more foundation in the areas that are being concealed, but be sure not to over do it. Another excellent way to brighten up your skin is to use a highlighter or illuminator. Clinique Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator is fabulous for adding a pinch of color and radiance. This Clinique illuminator can be used with your foundation or just where you want to give your skin a little glow. A highlighter powder or stick can be applied to your cheek and brow bones to give add a little shine. Don’t forget to also apply a little blusher for some contrast and color. And lastly, use only waterproof eyeliner and mascara as to avoid a smudged and dreary looking eye.

Christmas day is rapidly approaching. Everyone is in a frenzy to get their Christmas shopping done. In addition, many are also preparing for that long awaited Christmas vacation, or simply ready to travel back “home” to spend the holidays with friends and family. That means, not only is there stress in having to bring along all of your holiday gifts, but there’s also your own personal belongings to pack up. As someone who travels a lot, I’ve learned what skincare and beauty items are essential to have while traveling, without going overboard or leaving anything behind. Here are my tips to packing light, while keeping your skin happy.

First and foremost, prepare your skin for the long trip by drinking lots of water. Several days before you intend to travel, drink even more water than the recommended daily consumption of 64 ounces. I know, that’s a lot of water, but the benefits are so worthwhile! Exposure to the very dry cabin air while traveling via airplane is extremely dehydrating. You will not only feel the effects of dehydration in your skin, but also throughout your body. Have you ever wondered why you tend to experience bloating, puffy eyes, chapped lips, and swelling of wrists and ankles after a flight? These are all symptoms of dehydration! The body will actually retain extra water in those particular areas in an effort to prevent total loss of hydration. The best way to avoid dealing with these discomforts while traveling, is to start hydrating your body beforehand.

Be prepared for possible travel delays or detours. Put together a travel size (3 oz or less) skincare kit which you can take along in your hand carry bag to include your facial cleanser, toner, moisturizer, sunblock and lip balm. If you don’t have time to venture out and find travel size containers for your skincare kit, consider a travel kit such as the MD Formulations Travel Essentials Kit.

Carry your toner in a small spritzer bottle. During your travels, a quick mist of your toner will help to revive tired and dehydrated skin.

Your hands will also need some TLC. Include a small instant hand sanitizer gel and a travel size of your favorite hand cream. While traveling, I find myself washing my hands more than usual. So when a sink is not available, I take comfort in knowing that I have my handy hand sanitizer. With all the hand washing and drenching in hand sanitizer, it is important to have a good and heavy hand cream to keep your skin moisturized.

If you are like me, then you cannot travel without your makeup. Here are a few suggestions for condensing your makeup bag. Consider a tinted moisturizer with SPF, such as the Juice Organics SPF 30 Light Tint Moisturizer to take on the job of your moisturizer, sunblock and foundation! A creme blush like the DuWop Blush Therapy For Cheeks, Elixir (natural taupe pink) or NARS The Multiple Multi-Purpose Stick, South Beach is great for your cheeks, lips and even eyes! Be sure to choose a fairly neutral color with just a hint of pink. Lastly, don’t forget your brow brush to keep those brows tamed and mascara to complete your look.

For those of you who can’t leave the house without wearing makeup, then a portable makeup remover like the Revlon Makeup Eraser Pen is a must-have. This convenient beauty tool works great for making small corrections to smudged or running eyeliner or mascara without having to wash off all of your makeup.

There are just so many things to worry about when traveling, especially during the holidays. Ease the burden by using my tips above to keep yourself looking and feeling great, while on the run.

Before getting into my usual list of topical cures, I must lay down the law with rule #1. Water, water and more water. You must drink your water! Dehydrated skin is inevitable during the fall and winter months. Cold climates are tough on all skin types, including those that are more prone to oiliness. Staying well hydrated with water is one of the most effective and simple ways to combat skin dehydration.

How do you know if your skin is dry or dehydrated? Skin dehydration can be easily identified by the appearance of tight, flaky and patchy skin. When your skin is dehydrated, there is a lack of water moisture. We can all fall behind on our water intake, which is why we are all at risk of skin dehydration at sometime or another. In order to re-hydrate your skin, it is advisable to incorporate a hydrating serum or masque into your daily skincare regimen, in addition to drinking more water. A highly effective hydrating serum such as the Murad Cellular Replenishing Serum will help to quench your skin’s thirst for more water. The Murad Cellular Replenishing Serum is formulated for all skin types specifically to hydrate and relieve the skin of superficial lines, flakiness and tightness caused by dehydration. You should also consider using a gel-based hydrating masque like the Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque . This masque is so yummy to the dehydrated skin that most of the gel will quickly absorb into your skin leaving little residue to rinse away. I highly recommend enhancing your skin’s hydration with the use of skincare products like the Murad Cellular Replenishing Serum and Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque on a regular basis. Your skin will be thankful for the boost of hydration it so badly craves and you will be thankful for the more comfortable feel of your skin.

When your skin is dry, not only will you have all the symptoms of dehydrated skin, but you will also begin to show the signs of premature aging. Dry skin is differentiated from dehydrated skin by it’s loss of oil moisture rather than water. The dreaded onset of deep lines, or wrinkles is also a prime suspect of dry skin. Obviously, wrinkles will come with age, but there can be other causes of premature aging such as the use of inappropriate skincare products, certain cosmetics and medications, or extreme climates. Dry skin requires more moisture-rich and cream-based skincare products. The combination of a cream cleanser and moisturizer such as the Decleor Cleansing Cream and Decleor Vitalite Nourishing Firming Cream will work wonders for dry skin. A botanical skincare line like Decleor is fantastic for dry skin because of it’s very delicate and nourishing ingredients. Complimented with ingredients to encourage accelerated skin renewal, the Decleor Vitalite Nourishing Firming Cream will not only restore oil moisture in your skin, but will also aid in bringing to life new skin cells. This dual action results in well-moisturized and younger looking skin.

This holiday season, don’t forget your body’s largest organ and give to it the gift of tender loving care. Endless exposure to the outside world requires your skin to be continuously nurtured. The reward of your skin looking and feeling it’s best will be yours to keep for seasons to come.