Dry Skin Woes: Punxsutawney Phil Predicts 6 More Weeks of Winter

Photo by Reinhard Kraasch

Deep freeze... arctic plunge... polar vortex--no matter how you say it, baby it's cold outside.

When will it end? According to groundhog guru Punxsutawney Phil, who saw his shadow when he emerged from his burrow on Super Bowl Sunday, winter will last six more weeks. 

Not to take anything away from the famed furry forecaster, but this news comes as no surprise. Sub-zero temps have gripped the country off and on for the past several weeks, causing the cold weather to wreak havoc on our skin. Symptoms typically include itching, cracking, flaking, irritation and extreme dryness. 

To rescue your face and hands from the elements, we've assembled the latest hydration helpers. These products contain plumping peptides, moisturizing hyaluronic acid, and nourishing fruit, nut and seed oils. They're designed to minimize dermal damage and maximize silky skin--even if you see your shadow.

FACE

SHINE: Alba Botanica Even Advanced CC Cream Tinted Mineral Perfector SPF 15 (Light to Medium). BEAUTY: Prevent sunburn with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, and smooth your complexion with aloe vera leaf juice, orange peel oil and hyaluronic acid. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, phthalates, artificial colors and silicones. Supports Furry Friends Rescue, Farm Sanctuary and Kitten Rescue.

SHINE: CellCeuticals InterActive Moisture Serum. BEAUTY: Peptides, hyaluronic acid and green tea extract strengthen your skin, while olive, apricot and avocado oils promote a gotta-have-it glow. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of artificial colorants or fragrances, sodium lauryl sulfate, phthalates and parabens. 

SHINE: Coola Environmental Repair Plus Fresh Relief Face Serum. BEAUTY: Stimulate collagen production and cell renewal of stressed skin with aloe vera leaf juice, hyaluronic acid, Japanese seaweed, and licorice and radish root extracts. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of paba, parabens, petroleum and phthalates. Supports Save Our Seas.

SHINE: Hada Labo Tokyo Protecting Day Lotion Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 18. BEAUTY: Avobenzone and three types of hyaluronic acid help shield and soften skin to prevent premature aging caused by exposure to the elements. BEACON: Free of fragrance, parabens, dyes and mineral oils.

SHINE: ilike Organic Skin Care Apple & Lemon Whipped Moisturizer. BEAUTY: Repair age spots, acne scars and dull skin with alpha hydroxy and salicylic acids, and step up suppleness with peppermint and lemon oils. BEACON: Vegan, and no animal testing. Free of artificial colorants.

SHINE: MyBody MyHero Ultra Rich Anti-Aging Growth Factor Cream. BEAUTY: Shea butter, peptides and hyaluronic acid restore radiance to flaky, aging and sensitive skin. BEACON: Contains no parabens, phthalates, sulfates, gluten or dyes.

SHINE: ProBios Transderma A Vitamin A Serum. BEAUTY: Revitalize weather-worn skin with vitamins A and E to create a younger looking appearance. BEACON: Hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic. No animal testing, and free of preservatives, fragrances, oil and alcohol. 

SHINE: Refineé Hydrating Gel Mask. BEAUTY: Argan oil, vitamin E, cucumber fruit extract and dragon's blood extract from the Amazon's croton lechleri tree soothe dermal damage from environmental stressors. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Swedish Skin Care Prosanol Instant Soothing Spray. BEAUTY: Relieve and repair irritation and itchiness with a pump spray that produces a light mist of nourishing oils. BEACON: Free of parabens, fragrances, synthetic dyes, sulfates and steroids. Supports the National Psoriasis Foundation and Burn Survivors Throughout The World.

SHINE: Veria Innerdosha Soak It Up Highly Hydrating Mask. BEAUTY: Sunflower seed and almond oils, aloe vera leaf juice and hyaluronic acid deeply moisturize dry skin. BEACON: Vegan and cruelty free. Contains no parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, sulfates, artificial colors or GMOs.

HANDS

SHINE: Desert Essence Pumpkin Spice Hand Repair Cream. BEAUTY: Moisturize and mend dry hands with pumpkin fruit extract, aloe vera leaf juice, shea butter and sunflower seed oil. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Juice Beauty Green Apple Age Defy Hand Cream. BEAUTY: Aloe, apple, lemon and white grape juices, as well as peptides, help address hydration and hyperpigmentation issues. BEACON: USDA Organic certified. Free of parabens, petroleum, propylene and butylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfates, pesticides, phthalates, artificial dyes and synthetic fragrances.

SHINE: M-61 Vitablast C Hand Cream. BEAUTY: Dehydrated skin disappears with grape seed and avocado oils, aloe vera leaf juice and shea butter. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances and dyes. Supports Action Against Hunger. 

Put a Ring on It: Hydrating Hand Creams for Holiday Marriage Proposal Season

The Proposal by Giacomo Mantegazza (1853-1920)

Happy Thanksgiving week! Not only do Americans spend this special holiday connecting and calorie loading with family and friends, they also have a higher likelihood of getting engaged. Chalk it up to the sugar rush of pumpkin pies or the mass consumption of alcoholic beverages, but Thanksgiving curiously marks the start of proposal season--which lasts until the end of the year.

More than one in four grooms ask for their bride's hand in marriage on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or New Year's Eve. In fact, the months of November and December account for more than 25% of proposals, according to some reports. This means if you see someone getting down on bended knee during the holidays, chances are he probably doesn't intend to pick up cookie crumbs off the carpet. 

In honor of marriage proposal season, we've compiled several hand creams, lotions and scrubs. They not only promote the appearance of silky smooth hands, but they also deliver the moisture needed to fend off dry skin during the winter months. We can't guarantee that you'll be hearing wedding bells in your immediate future, but you'll definitely be the belle of the holiday ball.

SHINE: Ava Anderson Hand & Body Lotion. BEAUTY: Maximize moisture with aloe vera gel, shea butter, and sweet almond, pomegranate and coconut oils. BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. Free of gluten, nuts, parabens, PEGs, SLS, triclosan, synthetic fragrances and dyes, phthalates, formaldehyde and nitrosamine.

SHINE: Elizabeth Grant Hand & Foot Cream. BEAUTY: Aloe vera extract and vitamin E nourish chapped hands, elbows and heels. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports Mount Sinai Hospital and Sick Kids Foundation.

SHINE: Fleur's Velvet Hand Cream. BEAUTY: Soften skin and prevent dehydration with shea and cocoa butters, sweet almond oil and honey extract. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of fragrances, dyes, sulfates, petrolatum, alcohol, mineral oil and parabens.

SHINE: Lamas Beauty by Peter Lamas Spa Sensuals Hand Cream and Hand Scrub. BEAUTY: Shea butter, sweet almond oil, and green tea and aloe vera leaf extracts help remove dead skin cells and prevent moisture loss. BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. Free of parabens. 

SHINE: LATHER AHA Hand Creme with Evening Primrose. BEAUTY: Smooth and soften hands with alpha hydroxy acids, evening primrose oil and lemongrass leaves. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of sulfates and parabens.

SHINE: M-61 Vitablast C Hand Cream. BEAUTY: Grape seed and avocado oils, aloe vera leaf juice and vitamin E help nourish and brighten dehydrated hands. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances and dyes. Supports Action Against Hunger. 

SHINE: Moonessence Hand & Body Moisturizer SPF 15 (Orange Honey). BEAUTY: Soothe dry skin and help prevent sunburn with aloe vera juice, coconut oil, zinc oxide and vitamin E. BEACON: Vegan and gluten free. Supports the Carousel Fund. 

SHINE: Phytoceane Hydra-Conditioning Hand Cream. BEAUTY: Green micro algae, red seaweed, shea butter and sweet almond oil increase skin's softness and suppleness. BEACON: Contains no parabens.

SHINE: Priti NYC Deep For Your Hands & Feet Organic Cream. BEAUTY: Stimulate circulation and promote youthful looking skin with shea butter, and grape seed, apricot kernel and peppermint oils. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan.