5 Things I’ve Changed About My Beauty Routine, as a Mom Since Moving to the Desert
By: Julia Eisner
When I first moved to Las Vegas, I did all the things you’re supposed to do to stay hydrated and moisturized. I bought a humidifier for the bedroom, dabbed Vaseline in my nostrils at night, and kept a giant water bottle on my nightstand because I would wake up every few hours feeling parched. It was like my body was in shock from the sudden lack of humidity.
Eventually, my body adjusted (thank goodness), but I didn’t realize how much of my beauty routine would need to adjust, too. Everything from my skincare to my haircare had to be rethought—and I’ve picked up a few desert-specific tricks along the way.
Here are the five biggest changes I’ve made:
1. I ditched lotion for oil.
Creamy body lotions that used to work in cooler, more humid places just didn’t cut it anymore. No matter how thick they were, they’d sink in too fast and leave my skin feeling dry an hour later. I made the switch to body oils, and honestly? Game changer. I apply them right out of the shower when my skin is still damp, and it locks in moisture so much better. Total desert essential.
2. I started oiling the ends of my hair (and stole my husband’s beard oil to do it).
Back in California, my hair leaned oily—I was definitely an every-other-day shampoo kind of girl. But in the desert? I can go a week without washing my hair, and it still feels dry. The lack of humidity just sucks the life out of it. Now I rub a few drops of oil into the ends every few days.
3. I changed my hair color strategy.
I love a good bleach-and-tone, but desert water (hello, hard minerals) plus intense sun exposure did not mix well with that kind of maintenance. My hair started feeling straw-like, no matter what products I used. So I switched to balayage highlights instead—it grows out more gracefully and my hair stays so much healthier. Less upkeep, less damage, more natural glow.
4. SPF 40 is my new BFF.
Finding a high-SPF product that’s clean and doesn’t make you look like a ghost was harder than I thought. But I finally found one I love: Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40. It goes on like a serum, gives nice coverage (bonus!), and most importantly, it protects my skin without leaving a chalky cast. In this sun, daily SPF isn’t optional—it’s survival.
5. I never skip SPF on my hands anymore.
This one snuck up on me. After a few years of desert living, I started noticing my hands looking… older. Like, weirdly fast. That blazing sun takes a toll. So now, I apply SPF to the backs of my hands every single day, just like I do with my face. It’s a tiny step, but it makes a big difference—and I wish I’d started sooner.
Living in the desert means embracing a whole new way of taking care of your skin and hair. Once I made peace with the dry air and strong sun, and tailored my routine to match, everything started to feel more manageable—and my beauty game? Totally leveled up.
