4 Amazing Life Hacks for Spring

Winter can drum up images of peacefulness, beauty, and pure bliss. But after several months of cold, blustery weather, most of us are ready for spring to make its appearance. This year has been a whirlwind, starting with our good friend, Punxsutawney Phil predicting six more weeks of winter. Six weeks came and went, and for the mid-west, winter still wasn't over.

Mother nature keeps dangling the warmer temperatures and beautiful sunshine in front of us in a weird cat-mouse situation, giving us just a little taste of the sweetness and then violently jerking it back, leaving us dazed and freezing.

The constant back-and-forth in air temperature wreaks havoc on our skin and hair: Dry, chapped skin, severe cracking, split-ends, dried, damaged hair, the list is a mile long.

There is some good news, though. I've compiled my four favorite, tried-and-true, life hacks to help ease severe dry skin, revitalize your hair, and leave you feeling refreshed, hydrated, and radiant.

Petroleum jelly, aka Vaseline, is an amazing and versatile product. You can use it on your body and around your home. The possibilities are endless! It is a must-have item for every home.

If your feet are extremely dry, cracked, feeling tight and uncomfortable, this hack is for you! After each shower, rub petroleum jelly on your feet. Put it all over, toes to heels,be generous and don't forget your ankles. Put socks on and go to bed, or relax for a while with your feet propped up. You will start seeing results with the first use. You can also apply the petroleum jelly to your elbows and knees if you'd like.

Now there are multiple products that target this issue, but most of them are pricey and you never really know if they're going to work. Furthermore, because they are specific to the feet, you can't really use them anywhere else. Petroleum jelly offers the best value for your money with its versatility. Chapped lips? Apply some petroleum jelly. Dying your hair? Petroleum jelly around your hairline will help prevent any staining of the skin. Try adding a little to the ends of your hair to help smooth any split-ends or use it to tame fly aways. Use it to remove your make-up, to repair scuffs on shoes, and apply it to the inside of a carved pumpkin to make your Jack-o-Lantern last a little longer over the Halloween season.

Speaking of hair, winter is notorious for stressing out strands. Dry, damaged looking tresses and shock-value static are just a couple of issues we all deal with. The solution is super easy, though: Simply swap your normal conditioner for a deep conditioner or balm each time you wash your hair. This is especially important if you color your hair. I love L'ORÉAL's Post-Color Repair Mask. It's a staple in my shower. I also love Aussie's 3 Minute Miracle, but I have really long hair, so that bottle doesn't last me very long. Browse the shelves of your favorite store to find a deep conditioner that will work for you. If your hair is extremely dry, it's also a good idea to use a hydrating hair mask at least once a week.

Did you know that damp skin absorbs moisture better than dry skin? It's seems counter-intuitive, but applying your body lotion to just washed skin, will allow for more moisture to be trapped on the surface, leaving your skin feeling soft, smooth, and hydrated.

I fell into the wet skin moisturizer phenomenon purely by chance. I received a complimentary bottle of Jergen's Wet Skin Moisturizer with coconut oil in a voxbox from Influenster. I gave it a try and after a month of using it, fell in love with the product. I've bought two bottles since and I use it every shower. It's a game-changer.

Not only is in-shower lotion a time saver, but I've found that the effects of the product last longer than a typical lotion. There are a variety of these products to choose from, as most lotion brands offer this option. I use the Jergen's Wet Skin Moisturizer with Restorative Argan Oil. This one is for extra dry skin and works wonders!

Aromatherapy is on trend at the moment. It seems like everyone is using essential oils either in a diffuser or applying them right on the body. Aromatherapy uses the sense of smell to help boost your mood, invigorate the senses, promote a better nights rest, reduce stress, and has many other benefits. In addition to that, the diffuser puts a little bit of moisture into the air, which helps keep the humidity level in your home spot on, keeping your skin from drying out.

The biggest issue concerning diffusers is picking just one. There are so many fun designs and shapes. You can find diffusers in most stores nowadays. I like this one from Wal-Mart. It's a simple Mainstays diffuser. It's easy to fill, easy to clean, and has a multi-color option. I can have it rotate between colors, keep it lit up with one color, or choose to have no color lights on at all. The Eucalyptus oil is wonderful for stuffy noses, allergies, or for de-stressing. The lemongrass and orange oils are invigorating and energizing. Try having a diffuser in your bedroom while you sleep.