Your wardrobe isn't the only thing you should switch come winter. Your usual lightweight gel moisturizers & sudsy cleansers that worked just fine in the summer months might not cut it now that winter has arrived.
As colder temperatures approach, dry air, frigid winds & constant exposure to indoor heat suck the moisture from your skin, stripping it of oils essential for healthy skin barrier function.
These conditions can also spark skin sensitivity, redness, & irritation.
Bottom line: A regimen shakeup is most likely due.
But don't contemplate an entire overhaul just yet. You might just need a few simple swaps & additions!
Keep an eye on how your skin changes & adjust or switch out products accordingly.
Generally, treat skin with care ~ add in more gentle cleansers & richer moisturizers.
To keep that skin happy & hydrated —as well as flaky freakout-free— consider these recommended
skincare switcharoos to execute a seamless transition:
1) Treat with a Cream Cleanser (Luxurious Creamy Wash $28)
While foaming, bubbly cleansers are fun to apply, they're not doing your skin any favors. Foaming or salicylic acid-based cleansers are great at removing dirt and oil but contain sulfates that can be more drying in winter months. Cleansing creams effectively wash the skin keeping it hydrated by not disrupting the skin barrier.
* Cleanse both AM & PM please. Sleeping with your makeup on can age you 7 times faster!
2) Add a good Exfoliator (Slough Away Scrub $40 / DefenAge Reveal Mask $60)
The benefits of exfoliation—when done right—are no secret. Gentle exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells accumulated from dry winter air. The process leaves your skin looking more glowy & helps improve product absorption. That being said, don't overdo it! While exfoliating can help brighten the skin by removing dead cells, overdoing it can disrupt the outer skin layer, leading to dryness and irritation.
* Exfoliate once per week ~ increase to twice weekly if your pretty skin can tolerate it!
3) Cut down on Shower Time & Temp
While winter weather seems like the optimal time for a long, hot bath, resist the urge please! Prolonged hot water can strip skin of its natural moisture, leaving you even drier. Instead, take brief lukewarm showers no more than once per day. Try my "olive oil" trick to gain overall hydration without the need of a moisturizer. (Ask me how!) Or ~You can immediately after your shower while your skin is damp, apply rich moisturizers to lock in hydration.
4) Switch From Lotion-based Moisturizer to a Cream
If you take away one thing, it's this: The cardinal rule of wintertime skincare is keeping skin hydrated!
A lighter lotion may satisfy your skin during the dog days of summer, but not into colder weather.
While humectants for some may be sufficient to keep the skin hydrated during the winter months, emollients can play an important role during low-humidity winter conditions.
* Humectants (hyaluronic acid) are low-molecular-weight substances ~ they extract water from the air & deposit into the skin to plump. (Sustain Hydrating Serum $88)
* Emollients come in 'cream or lotion' form (Nourish & Repair Cream $90 / HydraRich $85) that increase & support skin barrier function.
5) Layer Your Skincare
Not to compare skincare to clothing, but it's really the best metaphor! Think of skincare application like outerwear for your skin! Just like you layer clothing to keep warm in cooler months, your skin needs the same to prevent over drying. Layering allows you to address multiple skin concerns with different products at the same time ~ a good rule-of-thumb is to layer lightest to heaviest (serums 1st, moisturizers 2nd, and 3rd - you guessed it - SPF! (Ulta-Matte or Ultra-Silk $49 / Moisture Matte or Clear Shield $48)
* Many people don’t use sunscreen in the winter, because it’s cold & cloudy & we spend much of our time indoors. But did you know that UVA rays, the ones responsible for changing the DNA of your cells ~ causing premature lines & wrinkles, are close to the same strength in winter as they are in summer? To make matters worse, they can penetrate through clouds & windows, so your skin is still exposed to them even when you’re inside. It’s crucial to apply sunscreen every single day of the year—no matter how cold, cloudy or snowy it may be.
6) Incorporate an Overnight Mask (Elegant Evening Mask $45)
Not that we need an excuse to apply a face mask; but if you haven't started, winter is the best time to try it!! Designed to be the final step of your nighttime skin regimen, overnight masks help lock in all the serums & creams applied earlier. Your skin undergoes circadian rhythms ~ skin hydration levels start to decline in the afternoon and continue overnight, so PM masking is extremely helpful to keep winter the skin hydrated.
