Winter Skincare Routine

Have you ever noticed how winter weather can really wreak havoc on your skin? From cold, blustery outdoor conditions that can leave skin chapped and raw, to dry indoor heat from a fireplace or household heater that zaps skin of its natural moisture, there’s virtually no escape. So, aside from throwing in the towel and packing your bags for Tahiti (which, don’t get us wrong, is an excellent Plan B), what can you do to manage your complexion throughout the bleak mid-winter? Below are some of our best tips for caring for your skin during these icy times.

#1 Invest in a humidifier

Our skin acts like a barrier to help keep water inside the body, but when the outside air is dry and cold, water evaporates off the surface much more quickly, reducing our body’s natural hydration level. By investing in a humidifier for your bedroom, water will be added back into the air and help replenish moisture to your skin while you sleep. (Bonus points if you also drink an extra glass or two of water a day to supplement your hydration from the inside out!)

#2 Gentle, fragrance-free cleansers

Using the wrong cleanser can actually exacerbate dry, itchy skin caused by cold weather. Alcohol-based cleaners or toners are generally too harsh for winter months, and products containing synthetic fragrances can be an irritant, further drying your skin. To help skin retain its natural moisture and oils, switch to a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser, like our Vitamin C Facial Cleanser, which contains no synthetic fragrance and has been created with sensitivity in mind, using gentle and soothing active ingredients to remove impurities and reveal a more youthful and dewy complexion.

#3 Limit shower time AND temperature

There’s nothing quite as relaxing as a long hot shower on a cold day. Unfortunately for those of us that love a good soak, exposure to water that’s too hot during the winter months can actually dehydrate the skin. Hot water evaporates very quickly, and if moisturizer is not immediately applied, cracks can form on the surface of the skin, causing a dry, rashy sensation, or “winter’s itch”. While applying the proper moisturizer or cream can help the situation (see below), your best bet for avoiding the dreaded itch is to simply limit both the length of your shower AND your water temp. 

#4 Upgrade Your Moisturizing Game

This may seem like a no-brainer, but properly moisturizing your skin is key to keeping it hydrated throughout the winter months. One pro-tip is to switch to a thicker and more hydrating cream-based moisturizer (rather than a lotion), to really help lock in the hydration. If you’re looking for an all-encompassing system to reach peak hydration level, we recommend our Intense Facial Hydration Kit. This three-step regimen combats dryness first through the hydrating and plumping properties of our Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum, then soothes and repairs the skin with organic aloe and alpha-hydroxy acids found in our Multi-Active Hydrating Night Cream, and lastly, rejuvenates and restores the often dehydrated skin around eyes through a blend of green tea, aloe, and jojoba, with our Total Restorative Eye Cream. Truly “next-level” hydration for the neck and face. 

#5 Don’t forget your lips!

So now you’ve got your complexion in check, but a fresh face paired with chapped, flaky lips is NOT a good look. Be sure to give the same extra love and attention to the skin on and around your lips this winter season. While, in general you’ll want to avoid exfoliating too much during the cold months to avoid compromising the skin barrier, if your lips are already dry and peeling, try gently exfoliating them with a product like our Mineral Enzyme Exfoliant. This will help remove the dead flaky top layer of skin and reveal a fresh new layer of skin below, as well as prep the skin for application of an emollient (moisture-locking) lip balm, preferably containing natural moisturizing ingredients such as beeswax, shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil, or rosehip oil.