How A Science-Loving Wellness Enthusiast Prepares for Cooler Months

October's Living A Better Life Resources are born from how irritated I am about that cold I had last week.

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I swear I had the Suds last week.

It’s that time of year when we’re all either sick, depressed, ashy, or a combination of the three. This newsletter is a week late because last week I was sick and, at various points, ashy because I forgot my hand cream and the weather dropped below 60 degrees. During my downtime, I decided it made sense to dedicate this edition of the Living a Better Life Resources to how I survive the changing seasons as a wellness lover who is really into making science-based decisions.

Let’s get into some science, y’all.

My Big Three

I get my seasonal vaccines every year without fail

I understand vaccine hesitancy—and I’ve written about it at length. But vaccines are safe and effective, and they save lives. This year, getting the COVID-19 booster may be a bit more difficult due to changes in the CDC guidance, which says people must now consult a doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider before getting the vaccine. While the extreme health risks we once saw posed by COVID are less likely today, the vaccine will still help reduce the spread to vulnerable populations and reduce the risk of developing Long COVID.

Make sure you get your flu shot, too!

I take a zinc supplement every day

I really do not play about my zinc supplement. I started taking it for my skin health, and once I realized how good it is for the immune system, I made sure to continue taking it.

Zinc is crucial to the development and function of T, B, and natural killer cells—the three types of immune cells. It also aids in producing cytokines and antibodies essential for fighting off infections. Because of this, zinc is also good for avoiding inflammation. (You can read more about inflammation in a piece I wrote for Hello Gloria.) I use Nature Made’s 30mg zinc tablets because the brand is USP verified, meaning they allow for third-party testing of their products to ensure efficacy and safety.

I’ve found a moisturizing routine that works for me

Moisturizing the skin is often dismissed as a vanity project when, in fact, it helps maintain the health of your body’s largest organ. Moisturizing protects your skin barrier—which helps protect the skin from irritants like toxins and bacteria—prevents dryness and the associated skin issues, and staves off irritation.

I have eczema, and the flare-ups during the colder months are intense, leaving me with painful chapped patches on my hands, face, lips, and chest. Keeping my skin hydrated helps the flare-up calm down quicker. For my hands, I love Prequel’s Hand Wrap—shoutout to the brand for sending it over a few months ago. I’ve been testing it out just for Healthy Futures.

On my body, I stick to the basics: Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream in the big tub. It’s thick and hydrating, and that’s all I need personally. I’m not a huge fan of scented skincare because of my eczema. But honorable smell-good mentions that keep your skin hydrated for real include Fenty Beauty’s Butta Drop and eos’s Shea Better Cashmere Whipped Oil Butter.

Lately, for my face, I’ve been using Dieux’s Instant Angel, MediCube’s Salmon DNA PDRN Pink Peptide Serum, and EADEM’s Le Chouchou Lip Treatment Balms. I’ve tried many skincare products, especially lip products, that have caused eczema flare-ups for me, but EADEM’s is among the few that don’t.

But Julia, how do you choose your products?

A lot of people ask me this, so I figured in the next LBR I would answer.

It’s a combination of sifting through magazine articles and research studies, ingredient analysis, watching a few TikTok reviews on how the products feel, and then just trying them out. When I see a product I’m interested in, I hit the Google News tab and find articles about it from women’s magazines because they tend to take skincare seriously. Once satisfactorily interested in trying a product, I bounce over to INCIDecoder to analyze ingredients. The magazines give excellent overviews, but now I need to know how a product’s composition could benefit my skin, as well as staying away from irritants and things that will clog my pores. I know that the higher an ingredient is listed, the more it makes up the product base, so I use that knowledge to help decide whether something is worth trying—and if I’m getting my money’s worth. Finally, I hit TikTok to see reactions that haven’t undergone a copyedit. Then, I’ll buy it and hope it works. Sometimes it does, and I repurchase. Sometimes it does, and I don’t. Sometimes it’s a complete fail. The trial-and-error process is the worst, but it’s how we figure out what we like. We can make smart choices, but ultimately, we must give it a go.

Everything Else I Use:

Mucinex Sinus Max and Mucinex-D: I use the former for regular colds and the latter for flu and COVID. Mucinex-D has pseudoephedrine in it, which completely knocks out whatever is backing up my sinuses.

Breathe Right strips: These lift your nostrils to get more air into your lungs.

Vicks VapoRub: I must stay true to my culture.

Hand sanitizer: Duh.

Dr. Jart sheet masks: I’ve found these to be the best for hydrating my skin. I do one every week or so as a booster.

Oversized sweatshirts: This has nothing to do with health, and everything to do with my love of being comfortable. Preferably, any big ole sweatshirt I’m wearing has been stolen from a man I’m dealing with. But if I must buy my own, Gap has the best options.

Saline spray: During the colder months, my nose bleeds every day, so this is a must. I buy the cheapest one on the shelf because they’re all the same.