Latest products to make your body feel better inside and out today
- Staci Gulbin, MS, MEd, RD
- 4 hours ago
- 7 min read
Cold weather can bring dry, itchy skin, cravings for calorie-laden comfort foods, and holiday stress. Fortunately, with a few simple tips, you can ease any discomfort, stay hydrated, and maintain healthy eating patterns so you can feel your best this winter. Read below to learn about the impact of cold weather and the holiday season on health, simple tips to support health during this time of year, and the latest products that can help you feel better inside and out today.
Cold weather and health
Skin
In cold weather, skin can become dry and inflamed from both indoor and outdoor exposures. Indoors, dry air from heating devices can reduce the moisture in skin and in turn increase skin stress. (1) Dry, itchy, and inflamed skin can also occur outdoors in the winter and spring due to lower humidity during those times of year. (2) Not to mention that cold weather also reduces skin barrier function that can lead to skin tightness and dryness. (3)
Therefore, when the weather starts cooling down, it's time to start ramping up your hydration routine inside and out. Drinking plenty of water daily as well as soothing skin with nutrient-rich lotions is vital to keeping your skin feeling and looking its best. A 2024 study shows that drinking adequate water daily can help improve skin barrier function, while using moisturizers containing shea butter and other natural ingredients can improve skin hydration over time. (4, 5)
Digestion
You may notice your body craving warm comfort foods during the cold weather months. This may be partly due to the holidays celebrated during this time of year that fill tables with such foods. But it may also be your body helping you to stay healthy. This is because research shows that cold temperatures can actually lead to gut bacteria imbalance and increase your gut's risk of inflammation. (6)
A 2025 study shows that low humidity levels outside can increase gut barrier dysfunction. (7) Together with cold exposure, this time of year puts the gut at great risk of imbalance. Therefore, it's important to consume warm beverages and food during the winter to soothe digestion. In fact, a 2025 study, which used data from San Diego State University's Healthy Aging Survey, shows that "study participants who drank more hot beverages in winter reported lower levels of depression, improved sleep quality, and fewer digestive symptoms." (8)
Holiday season stress health impacts
The holiday season can be a joyful time, but can also be stressful for many. This stress can not only stem from planning and preparing for holiday events, but also from the events themselves. Other holiday season stress events can include:
Financial stress (i.e. not enough money for food, gifts, etc.)
Relationship stress (i.e. pressure to meet family, friends, or gift giving)
Family stress (i.e. memory of the loss of a loved one, estrangement from family, family dysfunction, etc.)
Stress around food (i.e. staying on a healthy eating plan during holiday events, shame from family around weight and food, etc.)
This stress, or stress any time of year for that matter, can lead to high calorie consumption and in turn, weight gain. (9) Some experts suggest interventions like maintaining regular exercise, monitoring portion sizes of food during meals, tracking foods, and self-weighing during the winter months, especially between November and January, to mitigate weight gain. (10)
Simple tips to support health inside and out
Before we talk about the latest products that can help support your health this winter season, let's talk about some simple tips that can help you feel your best no matter what products you decide to use.
Consume plenty of protein
Protein is an important nutrient to support all aspects of health, especially muscle health, with most adults requiring at least 1.0 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight per day for optimal health. (11) Some individuals who exercise more intensely, have illness or infection, have sarcopenia (age-related low muscle mass), may need closer to 1.2 to 1.5 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. You can consume lean protein from animal sources like milk, cheese, beef, poultry, seafood, fish, and eggs, or from plant-based sources like beans, legumes, soy, nuts, or seeds, for example.
Whey protein is a convenient protein source that comes in many flavors and forms on grocery store shelves and has potential to enhance your gut health. For example, whey protein holds prebiotic properties that can enhance gastrointestinal health. (12) Also, a 2025 study shows that whey protein isolate can help improve gut microbiota diversity in some adults. (13)
Drink warm drinks
Drinking warm drinks like tea, coffee, and cocoa are not just soothing in cold weather, but also hold health properties. A 2022 study on the effects of warm drinks on gastric emptying after exercise shows that consuming warm carbohydrate and protein containing drinks may help reduce gastric discomfort by accelerating gastric emptying. (14) Such warm drinks may also help stimulate appetite in older adults, which can help reduce the risk of malnutrition in this population. (15)
Add spice to your diet
Spicy foods and hot sauces contain an ingredient capsaicin that shows potential to reduce inflammation in the body over time due to its antioxidant properties. (16) Spicy foods can cause heartburn in some though and can cause GI discomfort in large amounts, so moderation is key. A drizzle of hot sauce on your meals now and then though can be a great alternative to higher sodium or higher sugar sauce options.
Skin hydration
Drinking plenty of low to no calorie fluid is vital to staying healthy inside and out. But to optimize skin hydration and health, there are certain ingredients you can look for in skin care products to help keep your skin moisturized and glowing. Research shows that grapeseed oil-based products can not only help reduce pore size, but can also improve skin moisture and elasticity. (17)
Skin care products containing other natural ingredients like shea butter also show potent hydration potential. (18, 19) Other natural ingredients like aloe vera can provide moisture in a gentle way, ideal for sensitive skin. (20)
Along with such topical treatments, it's vital to keep your gut healthy to maintain skin health and hydration. Research shows emerging evidence that there is a gut-skin axis in which the gut microbiome impacts inflammatory and immune-mediated responses in the body. (21) Therefore, keeping your gut healthy in balance with proper nutrition is just as important as skin care for ensuring skin health.
Find time to relax
The holidays can become so busy that we can forget to take time to enjoy them. Follow these simple tips to help ensure proper rest and relaxation during the cold weather season and any time of year.
Engage in gentle exercise such as walking each day without running errands or having a goal in mind.
Set up a bedtime routine with a warm cup of cocoa or herbal tea to help you settle down so you can get a minimum of seven hours of sleep each night. (22)
Manage menstrual symptoms like cramping or bloating by not only eating less salt and drinking less alcohol and caffeine, but also taking time for meditation and gentle exercise daily. (23)
Delegate tasks to others to avoid burnout and to help you build a support system for the long term.
Reach out to trusted health professionals to talk about your stress and to learn ways to manage stress better.
Try alternative therapies like acupuncture, tai chi, or massage therapy to help reduce stress in your body and mind.
Latest products to help you feel better inside and out
ATASHE Bodysuit
Atashe is a line of simply beautiful bodysuits made of a high-quality, buttery soft fabric with unique designs made specifically for each phase of your menstrual cycle. I was lucky enough to sample the Rest Cycle-Syncing Bodysuit that provides gentle compression to help relieve bloating during the late luteal phase. And with its cute capped short sleeves and two button closure between the legs, this bodysuit pairs well with leggings, jeans, or dress pants alone or under a blazer for a fashionable look. Atashe is where style meets comfort in its finest form.
Wholesome Hippy Skin Care
Wholesome Hippy skin care work to provide all-natural, clean ingredients to create products to help heal and nourish skin at any age. I had the chance to try their foot rescue lotion and hydrating face lotion.
The Wholesome Hippy Foot Rescue cream provides a rich and thick finish with a light feeling that coats your dry and/or scaly feet with soothing relief, while invigorating the senses with its refreshing peppermint scent.
Meanwhile, the Dehydrated Skin Rescue face lotion provides an unscented yet subtle and naturally fragrant layer of moisture on the skin that you can barely feel. My skin soaked up this lotion like water almost immediately after applying it. In no time at all, my facial skin went from dry and rough to smooth and hydrated.
Ghost protein powders and electrolyte drink
GHOST is a lifestyle sports nutrition brand that carries protein powders, protein bars, protein cereals, and more to help support your health goals.
I was lucky enough to try a few of their delicious products. GHOST Count Chocula whey protein tastes great mixed with cold milk…reminiscent of childhood cereal flavors. If you prefer, use warm water or milk to mix with the powder for a comforting hot cocoa feel. Place it in the microwave for 30 seconds to warm, or about one minute to create a pudding-like texture perfect for a high-protein dessert option.
GHOST also has a clear protein powder option if you’re not in the mood for a sweet drink. This fruity and tart strawberry kiwi powder blends well in cold water. Just place water in your water bottle or blender bottle, measure in the powder, then close the lid to your bottle and shake your bottle well. It will create a foamy mix that you just need to allow to settle for a minute before consuming this delicious protein water. And from my experience, it tastes even better if you let it chill in the fridge for a bit after mixing.
Finally, GHOST electrolyte powder contains a mix of vital electrolytes in convenient packets to enjoy optimal hydration on-the-go. Just mix one packet with a bottle of water for a low-sugar alternative to sports drink options.
Taste Flavor Co. hot sauces
Taste Flavor Co.'s low-calorie, sugar-free hot sauces are the perfect complement to any dish no matter what your flavor preference is. For spicy palates, there is Sriracha Hot Honey, Mango Habanero, and Spicy Blue Cheese sauces. On the sweeter side, try Cherry BBQ and Sweet Honey Mustard. Then there is my personal favorite, Spicy Garlic Parmesan which has a delicious cheesy garlic flavor with a pepper bite. Drizzle these sauces onto your favorite protein like chicken or shrimp, or toss into veggies for a unique flavor boost.