Winter Skincare Tips: 10 Products You Need Right Now
Winter is not coming, it is officially here. I just got back from Canada and brrrr, I’m still freezing my tush off. Winter officially means that temperatures are dropping, diets go out the window, winds are gusting and central heating is flowing. Don’t even get me started on holiday travel and family visits. All of these things combined, sadly don’t lend themselves to radiant, clear, Instagram worth skin. All of the elements can leave your complexion tight, dry, flakey, chapped, broken out, dull and just plain sad. We’ve all been there, hell I’m there right now. Real talk: thank god for snapchat filters because I’ve got intense bags under my eyes and not even a hint of a tan left.
So, how do we get soft skin and a glow in the winter? Your mission, should you choose to accept it: check out my top 10 must have winter skincare products and tips!
Skincare For Winter Tips
First things first, you have to drink water. Hydration is clutch. Water not only keeps your skin plump, it increases collagen production which keeps your skin nice and elastic. It also helps flush toxins out of your body that can give you acne. So be sure to chug a few glasses of water after your holiday cookie swap. Did I mention it’s free?! YESS!!
When you go outside on a freezing day, you bundle up in your warmest jacket and gloves. But how do you keep your skin protected? Short of wearing a ski-mask to the mall, what are some of the best skin-care products to stock up on this winter?
10 Must Have Winter Skincare Products
1. Precleansing Is Totally A Thing
I know, it sounds crazy. Why would I wash my face before washing my face? I thought it was a total gimmick until I tried it too. My latest obsession with getting my skin extra clean is using Dermalogica’s Precleanse Balm & Mitt. Basically, it’s a water activated balm that turns into an oil. It breaks down all of the layers of oil, waterproof make-up, pollutants, product build up, etc. It also comes with a handy little mitt you use to massage onto your face (which also feels nice – bonus)!
Other Pre Cleansing Products:
2. A Gentle Face Wash
Ok, so you have to actually wash your face too. Don’t skip this step. Don’t believe the hype when you hear Kim Kardashian sleeps in her makeup, it will not work and you’ll end up with dirty pillowcases. I’ve been using Glossier’s Milky Jelly Cleanser for about 6 months and love, love, love it. It’s pH-balancced and has a super creamy, jelly like consistency. Hence the name “Milky Jelly”. It’s also really gentle on your skin, which is important during the winter. You don’t want to use anything that could irritate your skin any more. It’s magical cleaning agents are actually the same as what’s in contact lens solution, so you won’t have to worry about burning your eyes!
Other Awesome Face Washes:
3. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize
Literally the world’s grossest, but most important word. Keep your skin moist ladies.
Let me tell you about the most amazing “face lotion” I’ve ever used from the wizards at Perricone MD. Their High Potency Classics: Face Firming and Finishing Moisturizer is scientifically formulated to deliver extreme moisture while delivering nourishing, protective and restorative benefits. It leaves my skin feeling baby soft and my make-up also goes on smoothly and evenly (aka doubles as a primer)!
A Few Other Moisturizers I Recommend:
4. Keep Those Lips Silky Smooth
Chapstick/lip balm is one of my addictions. You can find them in my purse, on my nightstand, in my jacket pockets, in my junk drawer, at my desk, in my car & everywhere in between. I’m a ride or die Burt’s Bee’s gal. Their Beeswax Lip Balm is the best. Plain and simple. Not only does it create a barrier against the cold wind outside and dry air inside, they’ll save your lips if they’re already chapped!
Other Winter Lip Balms:
5. A Soothing & Hydrating Mask
Not only do masks make me feel fancy (you know like you’re having an at home spa day), chances are your skin is slightly stressed out and needs a little vacation too. My go to mask in the winter is Peter Thomas Roth’s Cucumber Gel Mask. Sometimes I’ll even put it on during the day when I’m working (don’t worry, I have an office at home). It’s super refreshing, cooling, moisturizing and calming, which is perfect for dry, irritated skin. It’s super gentle and is full of cucumber, papaya, chamomile, pineapple, sugar make, orange, lemon and aloe. The cucumber extract helps nourish, hydrate, soothe, calm and de-puff your skin; papaya extract is rich in vitamins and a natural enzyme that helps soften skin; chamomile extract helps soothe skin; and pineapple extract contains a natural enzyme that softens skin. Pro tip: throw it into the refrigerator before using it and it will work wonders!
Other Moisturizing Masks:
6. A Gentle, At Home Face Peel
I don’t know about you, but my skin gets a lot duller looking in the winter. My skin gets really dry, which means it looks less glowy and radiant. All that dryness also results in buildup of dead cells on the surface of the skin. Meaning it looks extra dull. To fight this, I like using Dr. Dennis Gross’s Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel. Depending on how my skin is feeling, I usually use them twice a week. It’s a two-step process that comes in these easy to pack towelettes (kind of like wet naps). You get two pads that you massage on your clean, dry skin. They definitely help balance my skin and I’ve seen an improvement in my skin tone/hyper-pigmentaiton.
Other Easy Peels
7. Hook Up That Humidifier
Ok, I know this sounds totally extra. But a humidifier is a major game changer. Central Heat and even space heaters blast hot, dry air. Humidifiers add more moisture to the air, which keeps your skin from drying out! Science is so cool, right? One of the coolest humidifiers I’ve found actually works with a water bottle! The Stadler Form Emma Personal Ultrasonic Humidifier emits a cool mist using a removable water bottle! It’s super small and easy to throw into your suitcase too. I recommend setting one up by your desk, bed & even in a hotel room. All you need to do is find a vending machine and buy a bottle of water!
Other Home Humidifiers:
8. Boost Your Skin With An Oil
Beware: not all oils are created equally. Don’t just slap on some coconut oil and call it a day. A lot of oils can actually congest your skin. I always try to stick with jojoba or organ oils. They not only help smooth your skin, but act as a barrier. I have been using Josie Maran’s 100% Pure Argan Oil and love it. Argan Oil is called the “Moroccan Miracle Moisturizer” because it’s great for all skin types. It’s packed full of vitamin E and essential fatty acids, which help keep your skin and hair smooth and soft. You can also use it to help soften your cuticles, treat split ends & remove makeup! A little goes a long way too, I’ve had the same bottle for over a year!
Other Awesome Oils
9. Get A Sleeping Pack
No… not a sleeping bag! A sleeping pack is a face mask you sleep in! They’re kind of like the next level of masking. If your skin is feeling extra dry and tired, give it a little TLC and use a sleeping pack instead of moisturizer. They give your skin an extra boost of healing and hydration. I realize it sounds like a total pain in the butt, but it’s totally worth it. I love all of Fresh’s masks, especially their Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask!
Other Sleep Masks:
10. My All Time Favorite Beauty Product
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I’m singing it from the roof tops. Pimple stickers are the GREATEST invention ever. I’m not f’ing around. I use these things religiously. I’m so obsessed with them, that I’ve even converted friends, family, girls and guys to use them. If you feel a pimple coming on, put a sticker on. I wear them to bed and wake up and most of the time the pimple is gone. If it’s a more aggressive pimple, you’ll wake up and the sticker will have basically extracted it for you absorbed the nastiness. If you’re like me and pick at your skin, it will also heal an irritated pimple. They’re basically just clear little, pimple sized silicone bandaids. You can even wear them during the day, most people don’t even notice when I have one on. They absorb oil and pus (eww gross I know) without drying out your skin. They’ve helped me to stop messing with my skin and prevented a lot of scarring.
Other Pimple Cures:
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