During winter my skin becomes a wreck. It is dry, it’s a flaky and often super irritated. For years, I tried different products that I thought would be my winter skin cure-all. Finally, about two years ago I found some solutions that I recommend to everyone and anyone suffering from the winter skin blues. Here are my favorites:
- Creamy Cleansers
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During winter, you want to use a face wash that doesn’t strip the skin. A face wash that will also hydrate and sooth your skin. This is why I recommend any cleanser that is a cream formula. Unlike a super foamy cleanser, cream cleansers don’t create a lot of bubbles with in turn means it doesn’t leave your skin feeling dry. My personal favorite is Philosophy’s Purity Cleanser. This luxurious cleanser works as both a makeup remover and a facial cleanser. I personally use it to remove my makeup and then go in again and wash my face. Double Cleansing for the Win! A great dupe for this cleanser is the Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser.
- Facial Oils and Serums
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This step is key in my winter skincare routine. With my skin already being dry, adding in an oil really helps during the winter. My favorite is argan oil. Argan oil is great for conditioning, hydrating, and healing the skin. It also absorbs quickly, so you aren’t left with a greasy feel. I personally love to use this all over my body, but the key winter areas are my face and my hands, as a cuticle oil. It is also amazing to heal eczema. The brand I recommend is Josie Maran because they use 100% argan oil that is organic and free of anything harmful to the skin. I also recommend adding in a serum. While serums can often be pricey, they are worth every penny. Serums should be the first skincare step and perfectly prep the skin for other ingredients. Serums also go deeper into the layers of your skin to provide the nutrients further down. My favorite serum is the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair (definitely worth the cost) but a great dupe for this serum is The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5. Both of these serums contain Hyaluronic Acid, which draws in moisture from the environment and helps retain moisture.
- Sheet Masks
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Sheet masks are my favorite year-round but especially during the colder months. I love them because unlike a clay mask or a deep pore mask, they don’t take anything away from the skin. Their main function is to add in things your skin might need. I recommend using one about 3 times a week for drier skin types and also picking masks that target hydration. My favorite brand of sheet masks is TONYMOLY because they are pretty inexpensive and get to the point. Some masks to try are the honey, aloe vera, avocado or the coconut mask!
- Moisturizer
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This is a broad category but only because it is needed in everyone’s everyday life, no matter your skin type. First and my favorite is a good face moisturizer. The cold dries our skin out and you need to find ways to replace the moisture lost and keep your moisture barrier intact. My current favorite for this is the Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream. This cream is super thick but doesn’t leave the skin greasy in any way. It is also packed full of ceramides that hydrate and replenish the skin’s natural barrier. It also has my favorite ingredient Hyaluronic Acid. Eye creams are also an important step because the skin around your eyes is the thinnest and therefore shows aging and damage first. My pick for eye cream is the Belief Moisturizing Eye Bomb. It is super creamy and does exactly what it says it will. Lastly lip care is essential. In addition to a good conditioning lip balm, adding in a lip mask can help prevent your lips from cracking in the cold air. My personal favorite is the Bite Beauty Agave+ Intensive Vegan Lip Mask because it is super hydrating, doesn’t contain any nasty ingredients, and doesn’t taste gross.
Winter can wreck your skin but it doesn’t have to with these skincare solutions. These products have helped me survive through the winter without the discomfort of dry skin and hopefully they help you as well. Goodbye winter skin blues!