In the beauty world, season change means skincare change. When winter brings relentless cold outside and dry heat inside, your skin & hair often suffer from dehydration. Consequently, this can lead to premature aging of the skin and brittle hair. Learn how to combat the harsh elements of winter by keeping your skin and hair hydrated, nourished and fresh with this winter beauty routine.
Skincare
Winter takes a toll on the skin, so it’s important to give it the TLC it needs to stay healthy through the season. It is the body’s largest organ, after all! Read on to see what you can do to keep your skin looking and feeling its best.
exfoliate
Exfoliating removes dead skin cells that sits on the skin’s surface that can clog pores, and make the face look dull and sallow. There are a few different ways to exfoliate, from full body scrubs to methods and procedures specific to the face.
Exfoliation- You can make your own exfoliant using oil (olive, coconut, avocado, etc.) + an exfoliant (sugar, oatmeal, sea salt, honey, etc.). This can be used all over the body for a skin refresher and brightener. You can also use The Jojoba Company Bead & Bamboo Facial Exfoliant for a daily facial cleanser and exfoliator.
Microdermabrasion- this procedure is noninvasive. It uses a unique wand that is passed over your skin. Tiny crystals are blown against your skin, abrading the top layer of the skin. The used crystals and dead cells from your skin are simultaneously vacuumed away to a sealed container.
Dermaplaning- a method of exfoliation that uses a blade to gently remove the top layer of dead skin on your face. Along with skin, it removes peach fuzz and facial hair to make your face super smooth. This gives a more intense exfoliation than a facial scrub, so you’ll want to do it less frequently— no sooner than 27 days, to be exact; that’s how long it takes the skin cells to fully regenerate again.
Facial Peel- Like exfoliating, facial peels will remove old, dead skin that makes your face look dull and sallow. A “Superficial” or “Lunchtime” Peel can be a good option for winter. Alpha-Hydroxy acid or another mild acid is used to penetrate only the outer layer of skin to gently exfoliate it. The treatment is used to improve the appearance of mild skin discoloration as well as to refresh the face, neck, chest, or hands.
Talking to your dermatologist about your skin is always the best practice if you have any concerns or questions about facial peels. They will let you know if a peel is necessary and which one would best fit your needs.
moisturize
It’s important to replace the moisture lost in the skin due to cold and dry winter air. You can do this by using:
- Face moisturizer
- Intense night cream
- Face masks
- Switching to hydrating makeup products
Look for products with a high/concentrated amount of hyaluronic acid— sounds scary, right? It’s not! Hyaluronic acid gives the skin the ability to retain moisture; so not only are you replacing water you’ve lost, you’re preventing the water loss from happening in the first place.
1. Face moisturizer
A daily face moisturizer like the Hymed Hylunia Reconstructive Cream is the perfect gentle option that will give you intense hydration without feeling greasy or heavy on the skin. You can apply this daily (morning and evening), to keep your skin looking it’s best.
2. Night cream
For the ultimate hydration, use an intense overnight cream like the Intense Overnight Renewal Cream by The Jojoba Company. This cream feels heavier than a normal moisturizer, but it’s also more nourishing. Leave it on your face & neck overnight and you’ll wake up to a baby soft face.
Remember to bring your face products down your neck in an upward motion, so it can receive all the benefits it needs to keep it younger, firmer and more radiant.
3. Sheet Masks
Give yourself an at-home spa experience with a sheet mask to make yourself feel luxurious and refreshed. The Dermal Korea Collagen Essence Full Face Facial Masks are a super affordable option. They come in an assorted pack of 16 so you can try a number of different masks such as rose, wine, grapefruit, aloe and pearl, among others. These masks contain vitamin E and collagen which keeps your skin smoother and younger looking. If you need more convincing, celebrity Chrissy Teigen uses them, so you know they’re good!
4. Hydrating Makeup
Switching out powder foundations for liquid formulas will give that added moisture to the skin. Choose luminous and dewy foundations over matte finish formulas. If you struggle with oily skin, use a face primer that combats oil, or pair it with some powder to finish off the look.
Remember to use SPF, even in the winter! Snow can reflect almost 90% of the UV rays and too prolonged exposure can cause sunburn, wrinkling, sun spots, premature aging and skin cancer.
Haircare
Just like skin, your hair loses moisture and can get brittle if it isn’t nurtured throughout winter. You can replace the oils in your hair by using things like:
- Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner
- Hair masks
- Hair oils
1. Hydrating Hair Care
Shampoos & conditioners are not all created equal. Look for ones that say hydrating & moisturizing, or ones that have oils in them like the OGX Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner. The fatty acids will keep your hair soft, silky, and will give that extra boost your dry hair needs in winter.
2. Hair Mask
Hair masks can also replenish and restore dry hair. You can make your own, like this DIY Pumpkin Hair Mask, which will moisturize, sooth, repair, protect, stimulate hair growth, and prevent UV damage. There are also hair masks like the Living Proof Restore Mask if you’re looking for something you can use longterm.
3. Hair Oils
Hair oils can be applied to the hair not only as heat protectants from styling tools, but can help nourish dry and damaged hair. The L’Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil is the perfect option— not only is it affordable, but it smells great, it’s lightweight so it doesn’t weight your hair down, and it’s great for all hair types.
Adding these products into your beauty routine, along with following these tips on keeping skin and hair hydrated, will keep you looking your best this winter.
For more tips, check out our post on The Ultimate Guide to Skincare, and Clean Up Your Skin Routine.
Photos: Kristen Love
