We've never been much of a tree hugger, but the new Stark skin care line from Montreal has us seeing the forest.

My favourite, the Cypress facial oil ($45), blends smoothly into skin with no greasy look and a fresh, clean scent. All ingredients are pronounceable and plant-derived, most are organic and they're sourced locally as much as possible.

We'll bark up that tree. —Kat Tancock

www.starkskincare.com

Erratic temperatures are wreaking havoc on our skin. If dry skin has given you a flaky, flared-up look, try this new line of products designed with us sensitive types in mind.

From our favourite local beauty brand comes Holistic Vanity a fresh new range of lotions, potions and serums enriched with herbal extracts known for their soothing and healing properties. Made with organically and responsibly sourced ingredients in its formulas, this is the line for you if you’re prone to bouts of Rosacea.

I’ve been using the line’s cleanser, skin tonic and camellia oil for a few weeks now and my skin is noticeably better.

Rather like the weather. —Athena Tsavliris

At Pure and Simple, www.pureandsimple.ca

Artisanal toothbrushes may sound poncy, but once you’ve given your pearlies a scrub with this Binchotan toothbrush, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better bristle.

The nylon bristles are blended with Binchotan charcoal powder that naturally freshens the mouth like a visit to the dentist. It helps get rid of plaque and bad breath, and keeps the toothbrush bacteria-free.

At $8 it's pricier than your basic, nylon bristled options but your teeth will thank-you. And so will your lovey-dove every time you lean in for a smooch. —Athena Tsavliris

Available in various colours through Rikumo, www.rikumo.com or in chic black at Pink Tartan, 77 Yorkville Ave., 416-967-7700, www.pinktartan.com

Why do things in a man’s wash bag seem more interesting than our own? Much to his chagrin, here’s what we pillage every day:

If ‘men sweat and ladies perspire’ we may need some help. Alcohol and aluminum- free, the eucalyptus deodorant from Malin+Goetz keeps us dry as a duchess. $20 at Jacob & Sebastian, 622 Queen St. W., Toronto, 674-345-0478, www.jacobandsebastian.com

Our boy likes his hair products (lucky us) and we routinely dip into his jar of Kerastase Homme Densifying Modeling Paste. It’s great for taming fly-aways and we love the smell. $35 at www.kerastase.ca

The old-school barbers of Florence might not approve but Proraso isn’t just for signori. The brush and shaving cream combo that Sweet Cheeks uses on his five-o-clock works wonders on our legs. Get great tips for a close shave here. From $7 at Shoppers Drugmart, www.shoppersdrugmart.com

While we’re at it we may as well take the wash bag too. This handsome one from WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie is made from recycled cotton canvas. It’s roomy enough for all his haul, plus our own. $225 at www.mrporter.com —Marianne Wisenthal

You may recognize Gillian Tweedie as co-owner of Goodnight but did you know that she is also a kick-ass long distance runner? With a 3:03:10 debut in the NYC marathon under her belt, Tweedie is now preparing for a grueling 1:20:00 half, and that means no break for winter. Whether your goal is 5km or 25km, Gill’s winter running tips will help get to the finish line.

1. Add strength training and hills to your workouts: You will be amazed at the speed and strength you can gain by running through the winter months. Strength training will help you maintain proper form in the snow and if you can run hills in the winter, you can take on anything in the spring.

2. Sign up for a spring race: Registering (and paying) for a race will keep you motivated- like the Chilly Half Marathon on March 4th in Burlington.

3. Run with a friend: Kilometres seem to pass faster when you’re catching up with a friend while on solo runs music makes all the difference. Summer Principles by Prince Language is my current mix of choice.

4. Wear the proper gear: Wear enough layers and you won’t be cold (I promise) but it’s also worth investing in a pair of Gore-Tex runners for the really bad days. I like Nike’s Running Shield Collection.

5. Consider a running coach or club: I train with Darren Weldrick and have made huge improvements in less than two years. Or join run ambassador Adam Reynolds and me for a run club starting January 23rd at 6pm at lululemon athletica 153 Cumberland St.

Style, substance and speed, the girl’s a triple threat.

—Julie Whelan

The biggest shock after the blue line appeared? Learning that pregnancy is ten months long. Thankfully, you get a lovely present at the end. In the meantime, here are a few things that kept Toronto Contributor Marianne Wisenthal’s sanity intact:

Being pregnant through winter meant that I couldn’t swan around in flowing empire- waist dresses. Instead, it was maternity jeans six days a week (and PJ’s on the seventh). Montreal’s Second Clothing makes the coziest pair of over-dyed black skinnies that won’t fade as you wash, or pinch as you grow. $118 at Rhonda Maternity, 110 Cumberland St., Toronto, 416-921-3116, www.rhondamaternity.com

Alas, there’s no miracle cure for stretch marks—you’ll either get them or you won’t (ask your mother). I did, however, find a great remedy for dry itchy skin in Substance Belly Jelly. Packed with lavender, oats and Vitamin E, it’s truly the balm. $19 at Ella & Elliott, 188 Strachan Ave., Toronto, 416-850-7890, www.ellaandelliot.com

Finding a nice-looking maternity bra that doesn’t poke or flatten shouldn’t be harder than installing an infant car seat (and yet it is). I stocked up on organic cotton Majamas at Evymama. The changing rooms have chairs and you can sip tea while the staff measures your bourgeoning tatas. $40 at Envymama, 266 Jane St., Toronto, 416-913-0546 and 230 Danforth Ave., Toronto, 416-465-9991 www.evymama.ca

Growing a human can be a pain in the neck, back, feet, ankles and head. I can’t say enough about the fine hands of RMT Julie Moore. Her side-lying prenatal massages are the best in town. Better still, her little therapy room is one-door down from The Ceili Cottage so you can stop in for sticky toffee pudding on the way home. Julie Moore RMT, 1303 Queen St. E., Toronto, 416-768-4722, www.juliemoorermt.com —Marianne Wisenthal

Between those Christmas puddings, ports and hefty wedges of Stilton, we could all use a post-crimbo detox. I refuse to live on cabbage soup, but I am prepared to trade lattes for tea with medicinal oomph.

Start the day with this super detoxifying blend ($7) of lychee, lemon, flowers, Kombucha and Green Tea from Toronto’s tea kings, Tealish. 728 Queen St. W., Toronto, 416-203-3301 www.tealish.com

Packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, Sea Buckthorn ($5.99) is a superhero in the plant world with healing properties as long as the Great Wall.  At www.noahsnaturalfoods.ca

With delicious ingredients including cinnamon, ginger and licorice, cardamom, clove and black pepper, this tea ($30) from Teaopia warms the cockles, cleanses and calms. At www.teaopia.ca —Athena Tsavliris

You can always count on the Swedes to come up with a product that is more functional and better looking than its predecessors.

Say goodbye to the nose aspirator and say hello to the Nose Frida. This highly effective snot sucker works by allowing you to suck it straight out of your little one’s nose. Don’t worry, the mucus won’t come anywhere near your mouth, but it will come shooting straight out of their blocked passages. Not the most fun of tools, but you won’t complain once you’ve seen how well it works.

And after all, we want our turkeys and our stockings to be stuffed, but certainly not our kids’ noses. —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

$22.99 at Whole Foods, 510 W. 8th Ave., Vancouver, www.wholefoods.com

Coconut is one of those funny fruits that people love or loathe. If you fall into campo amor, have we got a product for you.

Packed with 100-per-cent organic fresh-pressed Philippine coconuts, Barlean’s extra virgin coconut oil (same oily, thick consistency of Vaseline) is as good on toast as it is on your tummy.

[Use it] “straight, in cooking, baking or frying, as a spread on toast or muffins and as a massage/body oil or hair tonic,” reads the label. Talk about multi-purpose.

And as long as you don’t mind smelling like a Daiquiri, it’s wicked on winter-worn, irritated skin. —Athena Tsavliris

$13.69 at Noah’s Natural Foods, 322 Bloor St. W.,Toronto, 416-968-7930 (and other locations) www.noahsnaturalfoods.ca

Burning the midnight oil is making our blood sugar spike faster than the European debt crisis.

To fight our junk food demons, we’re signing up for a healing raw food cleanse. Big on Bay Street, Carol Belmonte’s daily delivery includes berry and nut-based smoothies, box lunch and dinner, snack and fresh-pressed juice served in glass bottles. The meat, sugar and gluten-free menus are laced with energizing super foods like acai berry, maca and cacao nibs (to release toxins), and tasty dishes include spaghetti made from squash and zucchini, Neatballs fashioned out of nuts and seeds, or burritos with collard wrap and cashew-based ‘cheese’.

Carol promises that a five-day cleanse will change how you see the world. Someone tell Berlusconi. —Marianne Wisenthal

Raw Food Cleanse from $425/5-days, Belmonte Raw, 1022 Queen Street E., Toronto, 647-340-1218, www.belmonteraw.com