Most Wantedis a weekly series in which one editor, staffer, or influencer shares their top 30 must-haves or current wish-list items.
I'm from a small town in Northern Michigan, but up until this year, I spent four years living in L.A. and two years living in Austin, Texas. Not to state the obvious, but the climates of those three locations are drastically different. In L.A., I had balmy 70-degree days. In Austin, I had high heat and high humidity to contend with. Now, I'm dealing with below-freezing temperatures and lots of snow, wind, and ice. Like I said, it's different.
Even though I grew up here, it wasn't exactly easy to readjust to the climate. I dreaded it. Dark, cold days do a number on my mental and physical health—not to mention my skin and hair. For the former, I had to rework my daily routine, get fresh air, and engage in lots of self-care activities. For the latter, I had to rework my beauty routine, collect new products, and use them strategically. It took me a while, but I'm happy to announce that I have my cold-weather essentials on lock. Ahead, check out the 30 products that will see me through to spring.
Dior
Dior Addict Lip Maximizer Plumping Gloss in 065 Icy Blue
This plumping gloss is made even better in a sheer icy blue shade. On the lips, it looks pretty much transparent, but I love the shine and volume it leaves behind.
Ellis Brooklyn
Après Eau de Parfum
You know the scent of crisp, winter air? Somehow, Ellis Brooklyn bottled it into a fragrance. Notes of juniper berries, bourbon, and cedarwood make this perfume smell both fresh and cozy. I can't stop spritzing it.
Unboxme
Ultra-Luxe Cloud Socks in Snow White
When it's 20 degrees outside, fluffy socks are a must.
Uggs
Coquette Shearling Slippers
I basically live in these slippers. They're so comfy.
Ilia Beauty
The Base Face Milk Essence & Lightweight Moisturizer
I get a lot of redness in the winter, so I use this essence-moisturizer hybrid to help calm and soothe my skin. It uses hyaluronic acid, microalgae, and prickly pear flower to hydrate, smooth, and support the skin barrier.
Sorel
Caribou Boot
Yeah, snow boots are a must.
Saie Beauty
Dew Blush in Dreamy
This is one of my all-time favorite blush formulas. It's creamy, easy to blend, and helps me accentuate my unintential "cold girl" look.
Tom Ford
Vanilla Sex Eau de Parfum
This is a cozy yet sensual take on a classic vanilla fragrance that has notes of vanilla tincture, vanilla absolute, and sandalwood. It's one of those perfumes that draws people in and leaves them saying, "You smell so good."
Ouai Haircare
Hair Gloss In-Shower Shine Treatment
Dry, static hair is a no-go. This in-shower hair gloss keeps my strands super smooth and shiny with hyaluronic acid and rice water.
Kiehl's
Mini Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado
This iconic eye treatment is so moisturizing, and it never fails to plump up fine lines caused by dryness.
H&M
Double-Breasted Coat
I'll be wearing this long coat all through winter. It's long enough to keep me warm and it's easy to layer.
Charlotte Tilbury
K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in So Red
I love wearing red lipstick in the winter. This one is highly pigmented, moisturizing, and long-lasting, so I reach for it all the time.
Iota
Superplant Body Serum+
This body serum is chock-full of vitamins and antioxidants to leave skin soft, nourished, and glowing.
Iota
Supermatcha Body Lotion+
I follow up the aforementioned body serum with this body lotion. It's a retinol alternative, meaning it benefits the skin like retinol without any dryness or irritation. My skin basically drinks it up.
Mutha
Body Butter
When my skin gets really dry, I'll add this body butter into the mix. It's reach and creamy and turns my dull, dry skin into bright, glowing skin.
Canopy
Humidifier Starter Set
The air here is so dry. This no-mist humidifier helps fix that. Put it on your bedside table, and it'll keep moisture in your skin and hair while helping stop the spread of viruses. Cool, right?
Givenchy
Prisme Libre Loose Setting and Finishing Powder
This TikTok-viral powder makes the skin look airbrushed. It's perfect for pairing back shine and disguising texture and enlarged pores.
Aerie
Ribbed Unreal Beanie
A goes-with-everything beanie is a winter necessity.
Saltair
Lush Greens Serum Body Wash
This bodywash smells incredible—like pear, lily, and palm leaves. It turns my shower into a sensorial experience.
ESW Beauty
Plant-Based Milk Mask Set
Incorporate a sheet mask into your skincare routine once or twice a week and your skin will thank you. I love this variety pack. After I used the first one, my sister asked, and I quote, "Why does your skin look so good?"
Aquaphor
Aquaphor Healing Ointment
My hands and cuticles look and feel so much better when I use this as my hand cream. There's nothing better for extreme dryness.
Virtue
The Perfect Ending Split End Serum
The brand's Healing Oil ($45) is a long-time favorite, but I've had my eye on this split-end serum for a while now. It uses protein and oil to seal up split ends and strengthen the hair cuticle.
Laneige
Lip Sleeping Mask in Vanilla
I apply this every single night before bed and I wake up with soft, smooth lips. It's been my lips' saving grace this winter.
Dae
Monsoon Moisture Mask
This moisturizing hair mask has lived in my shower for months. Now that it's winter and my hair especially parched, I use it basically every time I shampoo.
Slip
Silk Pillowcase
Dry hair means tangled hair. This silk pillowcase keeps my hair smooth and shiny even when I toss and turn.
Bioderma
Atoderm Shower Oil
A shower oil is a great way to simultaneously clean and moisturize dry skin. This iconic French formula works so well that sometimes I don't feel the need to apply body lotion afterwards.
Butter London
Patent Shine 10X Nail Lacquer
I've been wearing this classic red nail polish nonstop.
La Roche-Posay
Cicaplast Baume B5
I use this as an overnight mask to keep my skin smooth, plump, and moisturized. Apply it as the last step in your skincare routine and I promise you'll wake up with baby-soft skin.
Phlur
Tangerine Boy Body Wash
Phlur is best known for its fragrances (which I love), but the brand's body washes deserve more credit. With notes of jasmine, green moss, and tangerine, this one brings a refreshing and revitalizing edge to my shower routine.
HigherDose
Infrared Sauna Blanket for Full-Body Detox
I've already waxed poetic about this sauna blanket, but it's even more useful in the winter. There's nothing better than slipping into this and warming up after a long, cold day spent outside. More than that, it promises to aid in detoxification, relaxation, and circulation.
Kaitlyn McLintock is a Beauty Editor at Who What Wear. She has 10 years of experience in the editorial industry, having previously written for other industry-leading publications, like Byrdie, InStyle, The Zoe Report, Bustle, and others. She covers all things beauty and wellness-related, but she has a special passion for creating skincare content (whether that's writing about an innovative in-office treatment, researching the benefits of a certain ingredient, or testing the latest and greatest at-home skin device). Having lived in Los Angeles, California, and Austin, Texas, she has since relocated back to her home state, Michigan. When she's not writing, researching, or testing beauty products, she's working through an ever-growing book collection or swimming in the Great Lakes.