Is it too late to say happy new year? Probably.
But it’s my first newsletter of 2026 so it feels right to mention. I don’t love that taking a month-long break in January is becoming my thing, but it’s played out this way for a second year in a row. If you follow my Instagram, you’ve seen that I’ve been working through grief after a tough holiday season.
But I’m here to talk about high winter (we’re IN IT) and how to push through the final stretch. True to form, what started as a simple moodboard escalated into an informal guide, and before i could rein it in, i decided to prevent overload by making it a two-parter.
Shall we?
An update from Heathland in 9 images.
We’ve experienced a snowy, snowy winter around here. The snowiest i’ve seen in my 15 years of living in the wonderful state of New York, and certainly the snowiest since moving to the Hudson Valley five years ago.
Recent winters only gave us periodic snow days between long stretches of above-freezing temps, too warm to keep any of the white stuff around for any significant amount of time. Not this year: the ground’s been consistently blanketed since December. And that bone-chilling cold, oy.
I was reveling in it (“It’ll help control the tick population!” “It’s so beautiful!” “The outdoors are neither brown nor grey!”) up until right around last week where i crossed into “Enough of this!” territory.
If you reside in a ‘real winter’ climate, you’re well aware that it’s a bit of a mental game at this point. Let’s discuss.
I speak in visuals, so illustrating the mood always feels necessary. Here are my notes on it:
High winter is a tug of war between the need to remain cocooned and the desire to break free from hibernation shackles.
Conflicted between remaining cozy in thick, soft, plush knits or letting loose in silky, elegant, glam getups.
It’s an internal rivalry between carb-o-loading for survival and craving a juice fast.
The one through-line: doing whatever you can to keep your spirits high until you can put that puffer away.
A very fine line separates winter appreciation from winter breaking point, and i’m hovering over it. I’ve made us a trusty checklist to keep the ol’ sanity as intact as possible until those April showers come a knocking.
What overpriced tulips can do for your soul in mid-February is a thing of sorcery. And daily gratitude lists can surprisingly help resist the pull of seasonal depression.
But I want to expand on some of those starred items on the checklist.
I hate to point out the obvious… Of course it’s been knitwear only since the equinox.
But what i mean here is not just over-indexing on sweaters themselves, but on their re-wearability, too.
For instance: below are my five most worn sweaters this season. My top rotation. Each one serves a stylistic purpose, all are extremely layer-able, and they’re individually wonderfully cozy and warm.
Highly, highly recommend these — breakdown below.
A soft, plush, perfectly oversized Jenni Kayne cashmere crewneck — hands down one of my favorite sweaters of all time and most worn around the house by far. Use code HELENE10 for 10% off.
They’re hard to make out in this pic, but i’m also living in those Eleven Six knitwear pants. Bonus: they’re local to the Hudson Valley. Use code HELENE15 for 15% off.
Came for the icy blue color, stayed for the insane softness of this lovely layering cardi. I love the chunkiness and how it looks handmade. Better still, it’s by Nikki Chasin, a local shop in my town.
Bit tough to fully make out in this pic, but despite having worn this beaut of a knit by Ozma (one of my favorite brands) on repeat for months, i couldn’t find another photo. Can’t begin to describe how luxe it feels. Use code HELENE15 for 15% off.
Quick shoutout to my cashmere beanie that goes with everything!
This White & Warren chunky wool vest is exquisite. A weighty sweater/cardi hybrid that’s been perfect for cold weather layering, but’ll also be a standout transitional light jacket come spring. We love a go-the-distance gem.
Fair Isle forever, aimiright? Mine is Jenni Kayne, but unfortunately sold out. A few options: this Nili Lotan one is on my list (soooo soft), love this Dôen cardigan iteration, or if your budget allows, Khaite makes one too (love the hearts).
I’ve gone through a lot of winters in my lifetime (41 of them, to be precise), so i like to think i know a thing or two about skin management when it’s literally battling the atmosphere.
Simply put, the focus needs to remain on hydration as much as possible. I’m lucky to get to try a lot of beauty products — here are my top performers this winter.
Wonder Valley Oil Cleanser — Big statement: my favorite oil cleanser of all time. The texture is beyond, it’s rich, silky, incredibly hydrating, and works wonderfully (pun intended).
YSE Vitamin C Serum — Not all vitamin C serums are created equal and this one is superior. Creamy instead of watery, it really punches above its weight with its hydrating properties.
It Cosmetics Eye Cream — A balm-like texture that surprisingly doesn’t feel heavy and absorbs really well. Works overtime in these temps!
Naturium Body Wash — I typically favor good ol’ fashioned bar soap, but this body wash is chef’s kiss: an oil formula that transforms into a beautifully silky, hydrating lather.
Le Prunier Beauty Oil — Truthfully, some face oils cause me milia, but dire times oblige and this one’s light texture has been a winner. I use it nightly with the Solawave red light wand (see no.12) to exceptional results.
Goop Beauty Eye Patches — These have been a fantastic addition to my morning routine. They prep my pesky dark under eye area with a dewy luminosity. I’ve found that daily use goes a long way.
Neurae Serum — Talk about a truly luxurious sensation — thick yet fast-absorbing, you can feel your skin plumping up as it gets in there. Exquisite.
Merit Glow Serum — This oil-forward serum is perfection. Actually sets in the skin seamlessly without leaving a greasy film, only mega moisture and a superglow. Works surprisingly well under makeup, too.
Iris & Romeo Mist — I adore a mist. Winter, spring, summer, or fall, misting is a must. One might associate misting with summertime (refreshing!), but plot twist: it’s actually one of my cold weather staples. Dry air begs for a face spritz. Packed with hydrating ingredients, this one’s my fav for this weather. A few sprays instantly quenches that midday tight and dry feeling.
Oak essentials Restorative Mask — A real power player. Especially if you spend the day outdoors (skiers, take heed). I like to apply a thick layer and leave it on for several hours while i do chores, read, or putter around. Code HELENE10 for 10% off.
Osea Body Oil — Big, big fan of body oils. Mix in one (or two) pump of this with your lotion to take hydration to the next level. Smells divine, too.
Solawave Red Light Therapy Wand — I’m obsessed with this. Consistency is key, and daily use brings noticeable results— quickly, too. It’s been instrumental in repairing the surface look of my skin. Their activating serum is great, but i’ve been wanding with Le Punier oil since running out.
Iris & Romeo Lip Cocoon Balm — Think of this as an elevated Aquaphor. It actually hydrates lips (i find many lip balms/masks do the opposite) and i never go to bed without it.
Eve Lom Moisturizer — A silky, rich cream that’s pleasant to apply and makes moisture feel fully locked in. The texture is incredible.
True Botanicals Sugar Scrub — Dry air brings dry skin, and consequently, the need to exfoliate. Body scrubs are a year-round essential, but this one has my winter vote because it leaves a lovely, subtle creamy feel on the skin after sloughing and rinsing. Quite nice.
Crown Affair Hair Oil — Ok, not technically for skin, but it’s helped my ultra-processed hair remain shiny and silky this season, so i couldn’t leave it out. No doubt my favorite hair oil: light, fast absorbing, never greasy, ultra nourishing. Applying on wet hair for maximal absorption is key.
Beauty Pie Body Cream — A lotion with a room-temp butter hand feel (rich and velvety) that goes on in a very soothing way. It made my skin SO soft. I also enjoyed its fruity-floral scent.
The quiet season is ideal for leaning into home improvement. When you have no desire to leave your house, it only seems right to be bettering it. And i gotta say, it’s kind of a vibe when you can put on a bingeable podcast and zone out. Nearly went through If Books Could Kill’s entire episode library while i painted.
I’ve been leaning pretty heavily into this concept and it’s brought a lot of satisfaction for a few reasons, notably finally checking things off the list and seeing my vision come to life. It’s like a super mega dopamine hit.
Below are some snippets of things i’ve been working on around the house: paint and more paint, beadboard, wallpaper, oh my! Robust project updates will come to Life Well as they wrap up, but a little peek never hurt. I’m excited to share more soon.
Here’s a positive about still being in daylight savings time: you can fully settle into a movie night by 6PM. Heck, make it a double feature. And that’s a beautiful thing when it’s still well below freezing at day peak.
In that same vein, it feels too early to start watching spring films — we’re too fragile to be teased when there’s still a solid month (at least) of winter. Just me?
Below is a round-up of winter-forward flicks to keep the cocooning momentum. Comedies, dramas, mysteries, modern and retro pictures—something for everyone, i reckon. To be enjoyed with popcorn and red wine while cloaked in a throw blanket.
That’s a wrap on part one of my high winter survival guide. Part two is already cooking! We’ll explore a few more items on the checklist, and it should hit your inboxes in a few days.
May these be useful to you. Personally, they’ve served me many ups among the downs throughout the entire season. In the meantime, stay warm and lean into small joys.
À bientôt,
Hélène
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