Achieve Radiant Winter Skin: A Guide to Cold Weather Skincare
As the winter chill sets in, so does the battle against dry, lackluster skin! Understanding the impact of dry winter air on your skin is crucial for creating an effective skincare routine that keeps your complexion glowing all season long. Who doesn’t want that?!
Understanding Winter Skin
Dry winter air can wreak havoc on your skin, sapping moisture and leaving it feeling tight, flaky, and dull. The cold air outside combined with indoor heating systems can strip the skin of its natural oils, leading to dehydration and compromised barrier function. This can result in increased sensitivity, redness, and even exacerbate conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
Why is Taking Care of Your Skin Important?
Taking care of your skin isn't just about maintaining a youthful appearance (though that might be an added perk!); it's essential for your overall health and well-being. Your skin is the body's largest organ and serves as a protective barrier against environmental aggressors. By nourishing and hydrating your skin, you can strengthen its barrier function, prevent moisture loss, and defend against free radical damage.
3 Tips for Creating a Winter Skincare Routine:
Change your cleanser. Not all cleansers are created equal!
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Yes, this means drinking water but also to hydrate your skin topically.
Incorporate a face oil into your routine.
In the video below, I address these three tips and share the products that I recommend using when winter dryness hits, why use them, and how to add them to your skincare routine.
Recommended products from the video: Kiwi Cream Bar, Four O’Clock Flower Hydrator, Starchild Barrier Restoration Cream, Overnight Cellular Repair Complex, Wine Oil
Winter Skincare Dos and Don'ts
Dos:
Do use sunscreen even though it’s winter! For face products with SPF I’m totally obsessed with ARCONA’s Sunsations Nearly Invisible SPF 30 Dry Mineral Powder and Supergoop’s Unseen Sunscreen (this is THE BEST sunscreen for a dry and non-oily finish). Also, don’t forget about your lips! Check out Supergoop’s Lip Screen Shine and Balm.
Do use a gentle cleanser that won't strip your skin of its natural oils. (See my video for recommendations!)
Do incorporate a hydrating serum or facial oil into your routine to boost moisture levels. (See video!)
Don'ts:
Don't take overly hot showers or baths, as they can further dehydrate the skin.
Don't over-exfoliate or use harsh scrubs, as this can cause irritation and inflammation.
If you’re looking for a good exfoliator, try:
Any of the Gommage options from ARCONA: Golden Grain Gommage is ideal for a dryer skin type, Cranberry Gommage is perfect for someone who experiences oily or problematic skin and Brightening Gommage is incredible for increasing the skin’s glow.
Good exfoliators for the body:
Baja Zen Body Buff Scrub, the scents are literally intoxicating — Summer in a jar. Agent Nateur holi(wash) — this is both a body wash and a natural exfoliant. Leaves the skin hydrated and perfectly polished.
Don't forget to moisturize your body, not just your face, to combat dry, itchy skin all over.
Here are some of my favorites for hydrating the body:
Agent Nateur holi(body): not only helps to hydrate the skin but is also incredible for reducing the appearance of stretch marks, cellulite, scarring, and dull, uneven skin tone.
Goe Oil: this is a favorite of mine for extreme dryness. We’re talking cracked cuticles, heels, elbows, etc. It’s an intense oil that rubs in so smoothly and really helps to heal chapped skin.
Kai Body Glow: The lightest of the options but not to be forgotten about! A dry oil spray that acts both as a hydrator and a lightweight fragrance.
By understanding the effects of dry winter air on your skin and implementing a targeted skincare routine, you can keep your complexion radiant and healthy throughout the coldest months of the year. So bundle up, embrace the season, and let your skin glow!
Abby Weis, Esthetician
Abby is a licensed esthetician and has been providing facials at breathe yoga for over 20 years. She is the only person in the country who has been trained in the ARCONA Signature Contour Treatment outside of ARCONA's small team at their studio in Los Angeles. A true honor! If you live in the Rochester, NY area and would like to book a facial with Abby, you can do so here.
A little note about recommended products: All of these products I use and LOVE! These recommendations are not only my professional opinion but my personal favorites. In addition to being an esthetician, I am also the buyer for breathe yoga and breathe at home, which means I get to choose which products we carry. Everything you’ll see in our stores comes with my 100% backing and approval. We only carry products and brands that we use and we love!!
