I am convinced that there is an internal alarm that tells my skin to consume all water reserves when the clocks turn back for Daylight Savings Time. Does this happen to anyone else? For those of us that live in colder climates, we have to change out our skincare, just like we do our chunky sweaters and boots in place of sandals and shorts. Even though I’m oily in the t-zone normally, my skin starts to dry out in the Fall/Winter, and gets sensitive to boot. It’s not pretty guys.
Today I’m sharing my winter skin must-haves. Affiliate links provided.
STEP 1: WINTER SKIN CLEANSER
Once the weather starts to change, my Summer cleanser has to go. It leaves my skin feeling tight and tingly once the cold sets in. Time to go back to Old Faithful, my winter skin craves Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser. I use the formula for Normal to Oily skin, it cleanses thoroughly, without stripping skin of the oils that it needs to stay hydrated. A Dermatologist recommended this to me years ago when I was having breakouts, and I have yet to find a cleanser as gentle while still being a cleansing workhorse.
STEP 2: WINTER SKIN EXFOLIATOR
With dry or dehydrated skin often comes flaky skin. Ew. It leaves my skin looking dull and textured (NO one wants textured skin!), and no makeup out there will do us an favors sitting on top of flaky skin, other than magnify it! That’s why exfoliation is a must. During the colder months I cut back from 2 – 3 times a week to 1 – 2 times a week since my winter skin is more sensitive.
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant is my go-to for Winter skin exfoliation. And using it is like a fun chemistry project! (Btw, I never thought I would use “fun” and “chemistry” in the same sentence! It was definitely not my finest moment in school). Anyway it comes in a huge bottle and is in powder form. You pour some in to the palm of your hand (I do about 1 1/2 teaspoons) and add a little water until it forms a grainy paste (see below), then you work it in to your skin and massage gently in a circular pattern. It’s slightly gritty so delivers a little bit of a physical exfoliation, but it’s primary delivery is via lactic acid. This leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth, with zero irritation or dryness.
STEP 3: WINTER SKIN TREATMENTS
Next is where we can address our pesky skin concerns like pimples, fine lines/wrinkles, redness, discoloration, etc. Our skin’s demons! Here are some of my favorite skin care warriors:
Breakout banisher – Mario Badescu Drying Lotion
The potent combination of bacteria blasters in this formula lives up to its name, drying pimples overnight. It’s important to make sure to grab both the clear and pink parts in the bottle when you dip in your Q-tip (it should look like the below). Let it drip in the sink for a few seconds so it doesn’t drip right off your pimple.
Anti-aging AND dark spots – Philosophy Turbo Booster C Powder
Another little chemistry project for you! Mix a little of this anti-oxidant packed powder in to your moisturizer, serum or SPF. I use this every morning and it really helps fade my sun damage and improves skin texture by blasting free-radicals.
Eye and Lip Treatments
Don’t forget your poor eyes and lips! Neither lips or eyes produce oil. This is part of the reason that these 2 areas are the first to betray us and tell people our age.
Eyes
My favorite eye cream for night is RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream. Retinol is a powerful anti-aging ingredient but can sometime cause dryness and irritation, this formula doesn’t. For day I use Strivectin Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles. It instantly hydrates, without leaving a greasy residue to interfere with eye make up application and staying power.
Lips
Is there anything worse in your makeup application than putting on your favorite lipstick or gloss and showing off that peeling lip? Not to me! To help combat a multi-layer lip, we have to exfoliate our lips too. I’m a big fan of the Lush Lip Scrubs or try these DIY copycat lip scrubs: , followed by a nice hydrating lip balm, I like Lush Honey Trap lip balm. Contrary to the name, it isn’t sticky at all, so it won’t trap your hair in your lips. It leaves lips soft and plush, and has a tasty honey vanilla flavor as an added bonus!
STEP 4: WINTER SKIN HYDRATION
Whether dry or oily, moisturizing is a must. It is a misconception that if your skin is oily, moisturizer will make your skin more oily. False! Even oily skin deprived of moisture will go in to starvation mode and hold on to oil in it’s pores for safe keeping, which actually triggers your oil glands to product MORE oil. Eeek!
Choose a moisturizer with Hyalauronic Acid (it will be listed in the product’s ingredients as Sodium Hyaluronate), it’s water lovin’! If you’re dry year round, add a hydrating serum prior to moisturizer, and do a moisturizing mask a couple times a week. Also make sure to drink plenty of water, your skin’s outsides will mimic your insides.
For my year round moisturizer, oh how I love Belif Aqua Bomb! Another product name that lives up to it’s title! It leaves no oily residue, the only thing it leaves is a cushy, comforting blanket of hydration.
STEP 5: WINTER SKIN PROTECTION
Even in the months when the sun might make only a brief cameo, sunblock is still a must! Whether you can see it or not, the sun is always there, and even spending just a few minutes a day outside without sun protection will accumulate and can be just as damaging as a bad sunburn.
I’m lucky enough to have a dear friend, Lindsay, who is a brilliant aesthetician. She is my skincare mother (reminding me to always wear sunscreen!) We could talk skincare and makeup ALL DAY! Are you proud of me for spreading your word on sun protection, Linds? 🙂
My favorite year round is Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Suncreen in SPF 30. If I will be outdoors for an extended period of time I will bump up to SPF 50. The name says all of the reasons why it’s my fave. It absorbs quickly, doesn’t break me out (as many SPF’s do) and does it’s job.
And that’s my Winter skin routine. Do you switch out your skincare “wardrobe” with seasonal changes? What are your winter skin care must haves? I’m a skin care junkie and always love to try new things that I hear raving reviews about!
Thanks for reading!
bloodforcetrauma says
Actually, my eyes are the only ones that don’t have a problem with dry.
I’m gonna have to find some other mircoexfoliate, There’s a wheat in that product, that I can’t use, it’ll probably cause more problems to my skin.
I used to have a really oily forehead, then I got into washing my face twice a day to try and help with acne, but then the only time I’d have a problem with dry face was from September to June, so basically only 3 month relief, depending on if we had warm temps sooner than June.
Anonymous says
Wish I had done these when I was younger. Great suggestions. It is never to late to make an improvement.
Lydia Nordhoff says
You’re absolutely right, it’s never too late!
Lydia Nordhoff says
Thank you Elaine, I’m glad they were helpful for you. Though some of the products I mentioned are available at drugstores, the 2 specific products that you mentioned are available at speciality stores like Sephora or Ulta. Dermalogica is also often carried in spas and Dr’s offices. Check back and let me know how they work for you, good luck!
Elaine Parisi says
Great tips Lydia. I will be adding those to my shopping list! I’m especially intrigued with the turbo booster powder and the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant. Can you get them at Drugstores or only specialty stores such as Sephora?