What’s in My Bag: Winter Edition

Winter Wonderland or Numbing Nightmare? It’s all in the eye of the beholder when it comes to this frosty time of year. Can’t honestly sit here and say I’m team cold weather, but since I’m not looking to develop a Jack Torrance level case of cabin fever, I’m going to embrace the Winter Wonderland mindset, bundle up, and get out!

Venturing out in the winter means new style, beauty, and kid essentials for my mom bag. I’ll spare you my full purse list, no one wants to read that much. Diapers, wipes, face masks, phone, - yep. They’re all in there. All the time. Some purse essentials do change with the seasons though! This is what I am prioritizing in my bag come the cold weather.

Lip Color

Winter is a romantic mood, and darling, your lipstick should reflect accordingly. Fireplaces, cabins, snuggling up under fur blankets- I’m seeing sultry mauves and steamy reds that make daddy want to warm up with you.

Buxom Full-On Plumping Lip Cream in Dolly

I love love LOVE the shade Dolly by Buxom! Available in gloss, cream, lipstick, and liner! It is wonderful on a range of complexions and the perfect compliment to a winter weather kissed face.

Highlighter

Months away from the shimmering glow of a tan, a luminous highlighter can go a long way. In the winter months complexions can become a little flat.. and who wants that? Contouring is a bit ambitious on the go, but a mini dollop to the cheekbones and you will glow!

L’Oreal Lumi Glotion

L’Oreal’s croonworthy highlighter comes in different shades for individual skin tones and applies lightly for a natural look. Liquid highlighters are easy to blend with your finger pads and control the amount you’re applying - perfect for the busy on-the-go mom!

Moisturizer

I’m 100% a believer that women are beautiful at every age. Doesn’t mean I want to rush through those ages! The elements can be harsh, so it’s important to protect your skin if you hope to be carded forever as I do. I apply moisturizer religiously day and night, but just like I would reapply sunscreen with a burning sun, on a cold dry day I reapply my moisturizer.

Clinique Moisture Surge Intense

This product description reads: “Sensory testing on women in Siberia during winter, where they face extreme weather conditions.” Since Siberia and Chicago have similar climates, this moisturizer has the appropriate level of testing needed for me and my mom bag. I can feel this moisturizer working right away, but it has an airy application that doesn’t muss up my make-up.

Lip Balm

No way around it, nothing cute about chapped dry lips! Lip balm is a total critical in my mom bag. Keeps my pucker soft and easy to apply color to. I typically have a heavy duty chapstick that I can share with the kids, but I also love a girly exfoliating one for me!

Revlon Kiss Exfoliating Lip Balm

Looks good, feels good, tastes good? I’m in. This gem is an affordable find and a staple in my skincare routine year round- I own multiple so I am never without!

Blush

In the movies they’re always showing off perfect rosy smiles when the sky is decorated with plush snowflakes, so that’s what I look like too, right? Well, maybe sometimes. Maybe sometimes not. But the image is charming, and I’m going to shoot for it! To get that perfect snow sweetheart look, turn to a lovely warm floral blush.

Clinique Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balm

It’s all in the name with this one. The rouge goes on like a balm, smooth and easy. The hydrating nature of this blush looks and feels lovely on a winter complexion. And the colors are beautifully warm, layering easily to achieve your desired color pop.

Sunglasses

Am I dreaming of being somewhere sunny and hot enough to wear a bikini? You bet. But thats not why I’m wearing sunglasses. The sky may be grey but the sun is still out, and you’re squinting more than you realize. I wear sunglasses year round to minimize crows feet! In addition, if you are experiencing a white winter day, you will be grateful to have a pair of sunglasses when you get hit with the sun’s glare off that snow.

Salvatore Ferragamo

If I’m wearing something on the moneymaker I want it to be nice, but I am not in a place to justify spending full designer prices. Outlets offer a wealth of styles, designers, and an expected level of quality that look more than nice at half the price.

Ear Muffs

Cold weather hats are sweet and endearing and picturesque with a snowy backdrop. But tbh they mess up my hair and I don’t really have time for that. Most days I try to rough it without, but some days I realize that was a mistake. On those days I reach for ear warmers for my functional, hairstyle preserving, cold weather accessories fashion.

Simplicity Ear Muffs

The divine faux fur on these ear muffs will keep your ears nice and toasty. They read much higher-end than their affordable ticket price, and have lasted me multiple seasons!

Hand Lotion

Man, do our hands need some TLC in the winter. Cold, wind, sanitizers- they can take a beating. They do a lot for us, why not give them a helping hand with a creamy hand lotion (get it?).

Hand Food

Hand Food lotion has a lovely subtle scent and is at an affordable price point. Most importantly, it really works! The creamy lotion feels like it is saturating your hands with soft moisture- a true skincare treat!

Sanitizers

Life has taught us we need these on the regular, so why not have some fun with them? Instead of smelling like alcohol, stay safe with a seasonal scent.

Bath & Body Works PocketBac Hand Sanitizers

In winter I am always looking for the juxtaposition to the cold, and this warm vanilla scent fits the bill. Change up your sanitizer scent with the season or choose one that compliments your signature perfume!

Don’t Forget the Kids!

It’s your bag mom, so we talked about you first, but there are a couple of things (to add to the one hundred million other things we carry around for our children) that I always have in my bag for them throughout the winter season!

Cat & Jack 3 Pack Magic Mittens

I do my best to have all my kids bundled up when I leave the house. But like the kittens, they lose their mittens. I keep an extra couple sets in my mom bag for just this. These affordable mittens from Target are fairly basic, but perfect for your in-a-pinch-people-are-judging-my-gloveless-child needs. I also love that this set matches so I am not in perpetual search of it’s pair like all my other kid’s gloves!

Boogie Wipes

Sick or not, winter weather can lend to messy faces. Boogie wipes are gentler on resisting faces than tissues (ok let’s be honest-napkins), more effective at getting at the goo than wipes, and more sanitary than a sleeve. And, it’s tissue my kids don’t fight me on - need I say more?

Stay Warm and Stay Stylish Mamas!