Winter Skincare: Glow ALL Season

Fall is officially here which means wintry weather is upon us. It is time for cozy socks, pumpkin spice, and dry chapped skin. As the seasons change so does your skin. You might notice that your skin feels a bit drier and tighter during the colder seasons than it does in the summertime. Keeping all of this in mind, we are going to break down the ways to alter your skincare routine from summer to fall and the products that will help save your skin during the colder seasons.

With the colder weather here to stay, a number one priority is making sure the skin barrier is healthy and protected. With less humidity in the air your skin tends to get a bit more dehydrated and parched from its moisture. This is due to a process called trans epidermal water loss which means water is leaving your skin making it dry. To combat this, look for products that have great hydration and the ability to lock in moisture. These products are often a thicker cream or ointment texture. Your moisturizer is the last step in your skincare routine at night, so a moisturizer thicker in texture is going to act as a shield locking in all that hydration and keeping it from leaving the skin. Look for moisturizers filled with ingredients like peptides and ceramides, which help to protect the skin barrier and moisturize the skin during the colder months. Some of our favorite products to try are Farmacy’s Honey Halo Ultra-Hydrating Ceramide Moisturizer. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative, Cerave’s Moisturizing Cream is a great option. Both products have a thick texture and are filled with skin barrier-protecting ingredients.

Not only is a thicker moisturizer important for winter skincare, but ensuring you are using cleansers suited for the colder weather will help to protect your skin during the winter months. The cleansing stage can be the most skin damaging part of your routine. If you are using the wrong cleanser, you could be stripping your skin of important oils and nutrients the skin needs. For the fall time we want a cleanser that feels like a milky lotion. This will be a cleanser that is a bit thicker than usual and has more weight to it. The Skinfix barrier+ Foaming Cleansing Oil is a fitting example of a cleanser that effectively cleanses without stripping the skin. It is full of skin soothing and barrier protecting ingredients like lipids that will help replenish the skin’s moisture. Another more affordable option that can be found at the drugstore is the Vani Cream Unscented Gentle Facial Cleanser. These two cleansers are perfect for both cleaning and protecting your skin.

Serums, which offer treatment for specific skin conditions you might be experiencing, are a necessity in your winter skincare regimen. If you are someone who has drier skin in the fall and winter seasons, serums are a perfect way to give your skin that extra hydration it needs! When looking for serums, be on the lookout for products with ingredients like peptides, honey, and hyaluronic acid as these are perfect ways to add hydration into your routine. Two fitting recommendations are Farmacy’s Filling Good Hyaluronic Plumping Serum and Krave Beauty’s Great Barrier Relief serum. Both options are packed with barrier-protecting ingredients like tamanu oil. However, the Great Barrier Relief is the ideal serum for persons who have a dry or compromised skin barrier. The Filling Good Plumping Serum is that perfect hydration serum with a delightful honey scent that is ideal for the fall season.

While it's critical to incorporate the right serums into your routine, it's just as important to learn how your everyday skincare practice may be causing potential damage to your skin. Retinol and exfoliants are great for preventing acne and slowing down the signs of aging, but overuse of these products may irritate the skin. Even if the active ingredients serve to treat the skin, they can occasionally irritate it, especially if they are not used in the correct products or routine. The active ingredients help to treat the skin, they also sometimes cause irritation, especially when they are not paired with the right products or in the right routine. In the winter months when our skin is already experiencing increased dryness, irritation is the last thing it needs. There are a few strategies to lessen this annoyance. should either use the product less frequently or search for alternatives with a lower percentage of active components. Using retinol serum three to four days a week as opposed to five to seven. Limiting to one exfoliation day per week as opposed to two or three. This will help reduce the risk of irritation and allows us to use our hydrating products more often. If you decide to get a new product with a lower percentage of the active ingredients, look for a retinol product with less than 1% retinol in it. When choosing your exfoliator, it depends on what type you are using, but anything under 2% will still do the trick. Some great products to try are the Paula’s Choice RESIST Barrier Repair Moisturizer with 0.01% retinol in it and for your exfoliation step you can try the Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant or the Naturium Vegan Lactic Acid Emulsion. All the products stated provide effective results while also not damaging the skin barrier.

Contrary to widespread belief, you should still be wearing sunscreen during the colder months. The sun does not go away during the fall and winter months so wearing your sunscreen is a crucial step to help prevent future skin problems like skin cancer, aging, and sunspots. It may be tempting to skip sunscreen because it is not particularly warm outside, it is still crucial to always protect our skin. The Skin Cancer Foundation discovered that "Snow reflects up to 80 percent of the sun’s UV light, so the rays hit you twice, further increasing your risk of skin cancer and premature aging. When it comes to sunscreen, Korean sunscreens truly are the best (and they are cheap!). The Beauty of Joseon and Isntree sunscreens are perfect for anyone looking for great hydration without the typical sunscreen white cast or smell. They really get the job done.

The secrets to the perfect skincare routine do not stop at the products you are using but also include lifestyle changes you can make throughout your everyday routine. Adding a humidifier to your room can help replenish the hydration in your home. The added moisture to your room will be drawn into your skin leaving the skin more hydrated and plumper. Because of the humidity in the air during the summer, we often notice that our faces are a little more hydrated and glowing, so using a humidifier to simulate that is a fantastic idea. Another way is to avoid taking overly hot showers. While it seems like the best thing to do after being out in the cold all day, this can strip your skin leaving it drier. The hot water combined with the rubbing of your cleanser is the perfect combo for dry chapped skin. Instead, take a lukewarm shower, your skin will thank you. To lessen your possibility of losing that hydration, be sure to quickly begin your skincare routine after getting out of the shower.

Skincare can be tricky, especially within the winter months. Make sure you are following these steps and you will be glowing in no time!