Winter skin care is not something that you should mess around with, even more for those of us living in the northern hemisphere. Between our dry and cracked cuticles and static filled hair, you’d think we didn’t need anything else to worry about but that’s only the tip of the winter beauty iceberg. We all know what the cold weather can do to our skin and especially to our faces. Even those who might have combination or oily skin, the brisk and brutal winds paired with the dry air in our homes thanks to our dependency on heaters is all the takes to turn our glowing summer skin into a dull mess.
What most people surprisingly aren’t aware of, are a few of the skin care rules of thumb that us beauty junkies live by so naturally. There are 4 main things you should always keep in mind when it comes to beauty be it your winter skin care routine, or anytime of the year:
- Know your skin type, and choose skin care products that help nourish it. It’s so often I hear of people using products just because someone recommended them without even checking if it works for their skin type, and that’s if they even know their skin type. They’ll usually end up not being satisfied with the skin care products in question and potential do more harm to their skin than good.
- Don’t constantly switch our your skin care products. I know so many people who just buy what’s on sale at the drugstore or whatever they managed to find at Winners. By constantly switching your skin care products, especially your cleansers, your skin doesn’t get the time it needs to adjust to the product and produce results. It’s okay to try new products here and there, but your main skin care products should be consistent in your routine.
- With the above being said, it’s still super important to switch out your routine seasonally. I usually recommend twice a year: once for the spring and summer focusing on detoxing, after-sun protection and oil removal for those heat waves, and a second for the fall/winter to help combat cold and dry conditions.
- Contrary to popular belief, skin care doesn’t need to be overly complicated. I mean sure, I might have (and use for the record) a skin care product collection that could rival most spas, but that doesn’t mean you have to. You should really focus on cleansing, toning, nourishing and moisturizing. For this you’ll want at least 5 products: cleanser, toner, exfoliant, serum and a moisturizer (with SPF).
Now that everyone is up to speed it’s time to get to the reason we’re all here, winter skin care. To keep your skin looking its best you want to focus on moisturizing and protecting your skin from the elements. Here are some the tips and products I use as the core of my winter skin care to keep my skin looking it’s best.
Winter Skin Care Tips
1. Cleanse Thoroughly
Cleansing is a step you should never skip out on, especially during your winter skin care routine. We tend to wear a bit more makeup in the winter months with the Holidays and cold weather helping our faces actually stay on. This means more we need to make sure we’re cleansing properly to keep our skin clean and fresh. To remove eye makeup, I always recommend using Bioderma‘s Micellar water that’s available in their Sébium, Hydrabio and Sensibio for different skin types. And just for the record I’ve tried using micellar water from several different brand’s and I always go back to Bioderma, in particular their Sensibio micellar water. Whatever cleanser you choose to use nothing does the job better than pairing it with a cleansing brush. I’ve been using the new Silk’n Fresh Facial Cleansing Brush for the last couple months and my skin has never felt cleaner! It’s a wireless brush with 4 different vibrating modes that helps get a deep clean that’s especially needed to remove makeup, dirt and pore build up. It also has a built in cleanser dispenser that makes cleansing an easy all in one step.
2. Use A Moisturizing Serum
Serums are one of those skin care products that mistakenly not everyone uses, but they’re a great way to get key nutrients into your skin to help it look its best. Many will dispute in what order you apply your serum, but whether you choose to apply it under your moisturizer or mixed in it the important thing is you use one. For your winter skin care toolkit I recommend a serum that can add some extra moisture into your skin to help your creams keep your face hydrated against the cold. I haven’t been happier with hydrating serum than I have been with the Volition Snow Mushroom Water Serum, it’s been so helpful in keep my skin hydrated this winter. Not only does it deliver ultra-hydration, but it helps boost collagen while reducing the look of pores. I especially love using this under my makeup just before putting on my primer.
3. Moisturize With SPF
A moisturizing serum is important, but it’s not enough to keep your skin hydrated especially all winter long. Second to cleansing a good moisturizer is the basis to good skin and should never be skipped. What’s the most important thing to keep in mind when selecting a moisturizer is to make sure it has SPF in it even during your winter skin care routine. What most of us don’t realize is SPF is just as important during the winter as is it in the summer. Just because the sun is further away it’s still very much there and causing sun damage, especially as it reflects off the snow. It’s recommended to use at least an SPF 15 on your face, and an SPF 30 if you plan to be outdoors for long periods of time. One of my favourite SPF moisturizers is the Day Prep by Hynt Beauty. Legally in Canada, they don’t claim any SPF benefits due to regulations but it does have titanium dioxide and on their official website it’s listed as an SPF 25. On top of it’s moisturizing and sun protection benefits it’s also a great makeup primer leaving you with a smooth base for your foundation.
4. Exfoliate Weekly
Your winter skin care routine wouldn’t be complete with exfoliating. With the dry winter air and constant need for heat in our homes, even with the best moisturizers we build up dry skin so a weekly exfoliating routine is a must. I know when some hear “exfoliating” they immediately think of the classic St. Ives Apricot Scrub I’m sure everyone’s used once in their life, but if you missed the info on the 2016 lawsuits, you might want to wipe it out of your memory forever. Exfoliants don’t have to be course and in fact course formulas, such as the Apricot Scrub, can actually cause micro tears on the skin, causing premature aging and even infections. Reality the best exfoliants are usually much softer on the skin. I actually recently prefer using at-home peels to exfoliate like Dr.Roebuck’s Daintree AHA Brightening Mask. Chemical peels aren’t as harsh as they seem and work to gently exfoliate dead skin cells and brighten skin without the irritation that classic exfoliants can cause.
Stay Hydrated
Any time I give beauty advice, staying hydrated is up there on the list and it’s no exception I’m giving winter skin care tips. All the dry air in our homes thanks to heating leaves us even more dehydrated than usual which is why drinking water is especially important in the winter. It’s no secret that our body is 60% water, but asides for being a key part of our overall health it’s just as important for healthy skin. If keeping up with your water consumption proves to be a bit of a challenge for you, try staying hydrated in the winter with warm teas. It’s best if you can to have them without milks or sweetners, to get ultimate hydration without the extra sugars or calories. Kusmi Tea have been some of my favourite teas lately including their Detox line which has helped me not only keep my hydration levels up but cut cravings after the Holiday binge season.
At the end of it all if you’re going to follow beauty regime it has to fit for you no matter how simple or intricate you like them. Luckily these are small and easy steps that don’t take much time but can make a huge difference on the look and health of your skin. Don’t let the cold months take a toll on your skin and be sure to use these winter skin care tips in your daily routine!
* This Winter Skin Care guide was put together using inspiration from items I’ve been previously gifted by my brand partners Silk’n, Kusmi Tea, Dr. Roebuck’s, Volition, The Detox Market, and Bioderma, however is not directly sponsored. My review and feedback on these products and my overall experience is 100% honest and authentic as always. To learn more about my sponsored content, please visit my about me page.
