As I noted in my previous post Damn You, Canadian Winter!, this winter has been hellish. Our city is on track to set a new record for the coldest February ever. A few weeks ago, our city was colder than the North Pole! Winters here in Ottawa, Canada are long, harsh and dry, stressing our skin greatly. Couple the harsh elements with indoor heating that is constantly blasting to ward of hypothermia and your skin ends up similar to that of an alligator.
I have been testing out various moisturizers forever. I have a few favourites that really work for me, such as Palmer’s Cocoa Butter, Nivea Extra Nourishing Body Milk and good ol’ Vaseline. The latter though is a last resort as it can be too thick and greasy for wear under silk clothing, etc.
Over the weekend I took a trip to the huge and beautiful Shoppers Drug Mart in my neighbourhood looking for a thick and heavy moisturizer for my terribly dry skin. Thankfully, my favourite sales associate was working and recommended Vichy’s Ideal Body Balm after listening to my skin woes.
She tested some out on the back of my hand and I was instantly sold. It was thick, heavy and rich – truly like a balm. It is pale pink in colour and very lightly scented of flowers.
According to the Vichy website, the balm contains 10 fundamental oils: apricot kernel, passionflower, corn, rice bran, sunflower, blackcurrant, rosehip, coriander, macadamia and jojoba oils with LHA, which is well known for its smoothing and unifying properties. It also contains hyaluronic acid, which is renowned for its hydrating and plumping properties.
This balm is also paraben-free and hypoallergenic, suitable for all skin types and “enriched with Vichy Thermal Spa Water” – fancy!
To guarantee maximum hydration, it is recommended to apply to damp skin immediately after bathing.
I HIGHLY recommend this product! Very happy with the results. Since I’ve started using it (six days ago), the skin on my legs is no longer itchy and flaky and my skin seems to be normalizing overall. Very, very happy. This balm is frankly, a steal at $27.00.
Run, don’t walk to your nearest Shoppers Drug Mart to check it out!
I welcome you to share your own winter skincare routine in the comments section!
Dominique is a Canadian-based fashion and beauty influencer with a strong voice in Ottawa’s black community. Since launching her blog Style Domination in 2015, she has amassed a global fanbase. Dominique shares her life through beautiful imagery and compelling story-telling that speaks to her fans on a personal level. She’s been featured in The Guardian, Flare, The Kit and Cityline. She also hosts events for Dress for Success, the Gem Conference, and has been named a United Way Person 2 Know for the past three years.
Thanks for the lovely post. 🙂
Author
You’re welcome, Christy! Thanks for checking it out!
great post! I have heard such great things about Vichy! xoxo
Author
Thank you! Honestly, I love every Vichy product I’ve tried. So good!
Yes this is a wonderful balm. After the first use my skin was incredibly soft and smooth. I advise to let it dry on your skin as it will rub off right away. Nice to have in the Canadian prairie winter.
Author
Great tips, Shawna! I agree. I put it on then put on a silk dress. It stained it a little (nothing that the dry cleaner couldn’t handle). I should update that post to reflect that. Ok – sending you warming vibes from Ottawa and Happy Easter!