Since the start of the new year, swimming in the morning has become part of my routine. Wake up when it's still dark out, put my bathing suit on under my clothes and head out to the local community pool. Before I know it I've plunged into the pool and spend the next half and hour keeping my head above water. When I'm finished, I can be guaranteed of two things. 1/ I will smell like chlorine and 2/ My hair will need some intense love.

Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment. Designed to repair damaged hair and help prevent future breakage, it leaves my hair manageable, with great body, texture and shine. And no hint of chlorine!

To foundation or not to foundation, that is the question when it comes to creating a solid palette for a look. And although in recent years there has been innovation is the world of foundation and powder with M.A.C Studio Fix in the '90s and anything by Laura Mercier during the last decade, L'Oreal recently released a foundation that could revolutionize your routine. Magic Smooth Souffle Foundation is easy to apply (although I find that fingers work better than a brush in this case for fine tuning) feels like velvet once on and blends with skin tone seamlessly. Now, if only you could eat it.

The best way to bust out in this season's brightest lip colours? NARS Pure Matte Lipstick. Not for the timid, the lipstick goes on smooth and rich without an ounce of shine. Colours stand out even more when their finish is unexpected and matte is the finish du jour. But careful with the nude colours; although classy when glossy, when matte, the shade can make your lips dissappear. And you wouldn't want that. Mwah!

It used to be that in order to get my hands on Essie colours like Geranium and Sugar Daddy, I had to make a salon visit for my mani. And although I do love a little pampering, sometimes I need a nail pick-me up, stat. As of last week though, I can now visit my local Shoppers Drug Mart to get my well manicured mitts on the latest and greatest colours from Essie. A favourite of Queen Elizabeth and the queen of mean, Joan Rivers, Essies been gracing celeb since its inception in 1981. Look for the new spring pastel palette in stores now, and classics like Ballet Slippers to step out like royalty.

On the rare mornings when the sun shines during these first months of the year, I am committed to meet the bright light with a little brightness of my own. But with black being my wardrobe colour of choice, with some grey thrown in for variety, it's not always easy. This year though, it's been Secret Legwear to the rescue. Bright blue, berry hues and rich reds and golds have kept my glams gorgeous this season. An easy, and affordable,  way to look on the bright side.

German haircare and skincare brand Weleda make it easy to get back to basics. Their all natural offerings run the gamut from body lotion to face cream to even oral care. Good for Canadian winters and dry skin thanks to the cold, the Birch Body Scrub is light enough to not irritate, but effective enough to slough away the flakes. Made with organic ingredients that include sesame seed oil and apricot kernel oil you'll be feeling refreshed in no time and ready to take on winter!

Feel like you need a little something extra to take on this weather? Maybe a golden lasso of truth, bullet proof bracelets or an invisible plane that could take you away from all this? Well, M.A.C. can't bring you that, but they can offer up a whole capsule collection of cosmetics that are packaged to pay homage to Wonder Woman and add a little bang to your beauty routine.

Available from mid-February (right when you really need it) until the beginning of April, you can super charge your entire makeup kit! The limited line offers everything from nailpolish, to lipglass, powder to blushes, mascaras to eyelashes!

I've been converted. And to be honest, I have NO idea what took me so long, but me and MorrocanOil... we're a thing now. Although the MorrocanOil line has expanded to include everything from hair spray to ceramic brushes to repair masks (which honestly is like a dream come true), but my heart lies with the original. Thick enough to not make a mess when you're applying it, the oil is immediately sucked into the hair cuticles and leaves my locks soft - which doesn't happen very often to be honest. The newest addition to the MorrocanOil family is the Curl Control Cream and I have no doubt that it can deliver.

It may seem like an old lady cosmetic item, but not only is blush a hot look right now for women of all ages, but in the grey of winter, it can make you, and your look, come to life. Inspired by a colleague in the early summer who always looked so refrehsed, I started working blush into my very small 5-minute makeup routine. The extra 20 seconds has certainly more than paid off since I no longer feel like the walking dead on those mornings when the sun has still yet to rise and you find yourself already at your desk. Cover Girl and Olay Simply Ageless Sculpting Blush not only gives you the colour you want, but in the winter, helps your skin gets the moisture you need.

After having consumed enough alcohol in the past 48-hours to win some sort of liver endurance award, I open my eyes on the first day of the new year and things don't look so bad - dehydrated maybe,  but not bad. Despite the grey skies and the freakishly warm temperatures 2011 is shaping up to be a good one so far. And as I wring my hands together with anticipation, I realise that the hand salve I have been absentmindedly applying while sitting at my desk must be working, 'cause my hands feel amazing! J.R. Watkins Lemon Hand and Cuticle Salve may not sound sexy, but the results are hands that are smooth to the touch. With a beeswax base infused with natural oils, the salve is perfect for wriging in the new year!