What Experts Say About Your Winter Beauty Routine

& 7 Winter Skincare Tips

When you think of winter beauty, your mind likely goes to a serene landscape blanketed in dazzling white snow. Perhaps a cheerful town with bright, festive window displays, glowing with warmth and light. Your heart’s aglow, but what about your skin? No matter where you are in the world — snow or no — one thing that does not conjure an idyllic image of winter beauty? The dry, flaky skin that goes hand in cashmere glove with drier weather. Thankfully, there’s no need to steer clear of cheer, we’ve compiled a list of winter skincare tips from experts that will ensure your cheeks have a healthy glow (and are just the right amount of rosy). 

WHAT YOU SHOULD BE INCLUDING IN YOUR WINTER BEAUTY ROUTINE — FROM THE EXPERTS

Winter may be a lovely time of year filled with love, hope, and wonder. But it can also be a time for unwanted interlopers such as chapped lips and dry skin. Not to be dramatic, but the harsh weather can reak havoc on the delicate skin of your face, neck, and decolletage. 

There are a few things that you should be doing to switch up your winter beauty routine. The great news is that this doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to go out and replace all of your skincare products. In some cases, you can simply add a step or even mix in new ingredients with your existing products. 

WINTER SKINCARE TIPS — MUST-HAVES

• HYALURONIC ACID
  • What it is: Naturally occurring in the body — retains moisture. 
  • What it does: Holds up to 1,000 times more moisture than water. 
• VITAMIN C SERUM
  • What it is: Antioxidant, brightening, evens skin tone, reduces inflammation.
  • What it does: Encourages cell turnover as well as collagen production.
• HUMIDIFIER
  • What it is: Adds moisture to dry air.
  • What it does: Hydrates skin.
• LIPIDS
  • What they are: Organic compound that does not dissolve in water. 
  • What they do: Form a protective barrier on the skin, keeping harmful elements at bay, while locking in hydration. 
• ANTIOXIDANTS
  • What they are: Protect against free radicals.
  • What they do: Anti-aging, reduce inflammation.
• RETINOIDS: 
  • What they are: A class of chemicals that derive from vitamin A.
  • What they do: Reverse some of the damage of sun exposure. Lock in moisture.

WINTER SKINCARE TIPS —MUST NOT HAVES

• FRAGRANCE
  • What it is: Artificial scents added to soaps, lotions, and creams
  • What it does: Irritate skin and dry it out further
• MINERAL OILS
  • What they are: Fats of fossil origin.
  • What they do: Disrupt natural skin barrier, clog pores.

7 CHANGES TO YOUR WINTER SKINCARE ROUTINE

#1 Use a Mild Exfoliant  

Remove dry and dead skin cells — but do so gently. This gets your skin ready to accept serums and moisturizers. 

#2 Wear Sunscreen 

You may not be seeing the sun as often this time of year, but the delicate skin of your face is still exposed to its harmful rays. Wear at least 30 SPF and don’t forget about your lips! 

#3 Mix and Layer Serums 

When adding serums to your winter skincare routine, go for ones with vitamin C or hyaluronic acid. You can either add directly to clean skin, or you can mix in a few drops to your favorite face cream. Do this before bed or twice daily. 

#4 Avoid Prolonged Exposure to Hot Water

This next winter beauty tip will keep you out of hot water. After a day on the slopes, or running errands in the cold, there’s almost nothing more enticing than the prospect of a hot bath scented with your favorite oils. Alas, experts agree that hot water can strip your skin of moisture and disrupt its natural protective barrier. Bummer. 

Instead, opt for warm water and keep it quick if you can. 

#5 Don’t Neglect your Neck

When applying serums and moisturizers as part of your winter beauty routine, don’t forget to apply to your decolletage and neck, always working in an upward motion. 

#6 Lips Need Love Too

Lips don’t contain oil glands, which means you need to seal in moisture while protecting against the elements. Apply a soothing balm several times daily, especially at night! Don’t forget to exfoliate but no more than twice a week. 

#7 Utilize a Humidifier

During the winter humidity levels in the air drop drastically. If you live in a cold-weather climate, indoor heat can exacerbate the dryness further. Investing in a humidifier, particularly where you sleep, can help balance the scales. 

Bonus Tip! Stay Hydrated

Hydrated insides mean hydrated skin, though we don’t often think of it that way. Try to drink around one glass of water an hour — more if you’re engaging in winter sports or exercise. 

The winter months can be a difficult time for many, being stuck indoors, not seeing as much of our friend, the sun, and not being able to do many of the things that we enjoy. This is why, not only should you make it a point to eat well, pamper yourself and also your skin. Your winter beauty routine is all about self-care. Seek and luxuriate in the little things, and follow these winter skincare tips. 

Here are some of the best products out there to include in your winter skincare routine:

What’s your best winter skincare tip?

Tell me about your winter skincare routine in the comments. 

 

Leigh Smith is the founder of Leigh Smith Copy. She is a lover of all things beautiful, including our mother earth and the perfect coffee mug.

Leigh writes beauty & lifestyle with an affinity for conscious brands.

She currently lives in Ohio by way of Florida, Vermont, California (twice!), and Kentucky.

You can find her on the trails of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Or you check out her work at leighsmithcopy.com. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

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