Winter Beauty Pick-Me-Ups

First things first. When most of your body (including your head, hands and feet) are covered for the winter, don't forget about your skin and face! Why not spoil yourself a little while brightening your overall appearance? My absolute favorite skin products come from Mario Badescu, who (for the record) uses all natural ingredients and does not test on animals.

I'm especially fond of the Glycolic face gel for night time.

The Whitening Mask works wonders on my sun spots and uneven complexion, and is great for anyone with some acne scarring as well.

I started using this Kera Facial Moisturizer while I was pregnant and had fragile facial capillaries -- now I can't stop!

There's also the Glycolic Foaming Cleanser -- dead and dull skins cells be gone!

Don't forget that you can get shipping discounts added to your order at checkout by searching online for the company name and 'coupon' -- and with each order you get three free samples of other products you'd like to try.

These products have really given my face a pick me up this winter, so indulge!

Another place to add a little spice is with lip color. It's such a simple addition to your 'wardrobe' but can really transform your face. With the drier weather I find mixing some sheer color with a regular lip moisturizer is great, but Origins also has some gorgeous moisturizing colors that actually stay on (they're waxy so have the same effect of blending chapstick and lipstick). Check them out here.

They also do a great line of sheer tints with SPF that are longer lasting than most I've tried.

Next up, eyes! More dramatic eyes doesn't have to mean a ton of eyeliner and shadow that, especially in the drier weather, will only rub off, crack, run and make you look like a sad clown. Keep it simple -- the idea is accenting, not overdressing. My problem in the colder months is that my eyes tend to tear, which can leave makeup in all the wrong places. My solution? I use an angled liner brush like one of these and line my eyes with eye shadow.

Powder does not smudge like traditional cream or pencil liners, and just slowly fades over the day rather than leaving a muddy looking smudge below my eye. Another trick is using colors other than the traditional black and brown. Paula Dorf makes a fabulous line of eye shadows in vibrant colors that have real staying power through the day – try a darker pink, purple, or green!

Mascara is another great way to make your eyes standout when nothing else feels good enough to flaunt. I have worked my way through the bulk of these and have settled once for all on Maybelline's Full and Soft Waterproof (and when its dryer, their washable version).

It doesn't run, clump, and it really seems to enhance my lashes across the board in both the thickening and lengthening sense. Great Lash (also by Maybelline) usually gets tops billing in the fashion mags, but I find it makes my lashes look to stiff and often clumps.

My last winter beauty tip is for your hair. First and foremost, if you color, and think that winter is the season you can afford to ignore your hair (because you're always wearing a hat, or pulling it back, or whatever) -- stop right there! This is the time to go get your color done right. Go to a salon and let your one indulgence of the season be a great color job when you're feeling otherwise tired an defeated. You wear your hair every day, so why not pamper it? If you're not a colorer (and even if you are), I have a great shampoo for you to try that will make your hair look the shiniest it's been in years.

Framesi Shine In Shampoo and Conditioner have given my limp, oily on top, dry at the ends, long, colored, none-too-thick hair new life and great shine –and it's all about the shine in winter!

So in this era of economic hardship, focus on the things closest to home – your face, skin and hair! Everyone's looking at it, why not make the most of your noggin's assets?