Skincare essentials for the cold winter months are a combination of deep moisturizing, exfoliating, and conditioning products. Finding products to hydrate skin during the dry air of winter is essential to avoid flakiness, rough texture, itchiness, irritation, and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Here are essentials to take care of your skin during the winter:
Hydrate with Deeply Nourishing Products
Drop a bath bomb or bath salts packed with nourishing oils and skin-loving ingredients into your next bath. Epsom salt softens dry and rough skin and exfoliates dead skin cells. Baking soda detoxifies and cleanses skin and works to purify your body and boost immunity. Coconut oil is famous for its ability to moisturize skin deeply. This versatile oil helps nourish every skin type and works best for sensitive skin. It is important to moisturize skin immediately after washing to lock in hydration, especially in the dry winter months.
For a deeply nourishing moisturizer without fillers, try a lotion bar. This bar is made with a blend of sweet almond oil, cocoa butter, beeswax, and organic rose petals. Lotion bars soften on contact with warm, dry skin. You gently massage onto your skin and the oils and butters nourish your skin and provide an amazing self-care experience. They are deeply nourishing for extra dry patches like elbows, knees, and hands. Packaged in a tin make this a great product for on-the-go and travel.
Balms are another product that is great for winter when our skin is extra dry. Counter+ Lotus Glow Cleansing Balm is an ultimate multi-tasker product that can be used in place of a moisturizer, over a detox face mask, to tame hair flyways, and to soothe and heal dry patches.
For a daily moisturizer that works wonders on all skin types, then you need to try the Mighty Plump Ceramide Water Cream. This lightweight, water-based cream is formulated with two forms of hyaluronic acid and ceramides, delivering deep hydration while protecting your skin’s natural barrier.
Bakuchiol is a plant-based retinol alternative shown to provide skin-care results that are comparable to retinol without harmful side effects such as skin irritation and increased sun sensitivity. Countertime Tetrapeptide Supreme Cream is a thick, hydrating, anti-aging night cream. This cream helps increase skin elasticity, minimizes the appearance of lines, and boosts visible firmness.
For an extra boost of hydration, add facial oils to your winter skincare routine. Oils provide a blend of antioxidants, omegas, and vitamins for the skin. All Bright Brightening Facial Oil includes omega-rich marula oil for intense hydration and antioxidant vitamin C to brighten and revitalize skin. You can use it alone or add it to your morning or night cream to quickly absorb into your skin and provide lasting moisture.
Use Cleansing Oil
Cleansing with oils removes makeup and cleanses skin without stripping skin. Oils penetrate deep into pores to dissolve grime and build up. Countertime Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil is made with vitamin E, fatty acids, and a combination of plant-based retinol alternatives bakuchiol and swiss-alpine rose, the formula maintains the skin’s moisture barrier.
This cleansing oil from Primally Pure for normal skin is another great option. Made with a blend of jojoba, castor, avocado, and pomegranate seed oils, along with gentle essential oils and vitamin E, this formula will leave your skin clean and balanced. Primally Pure also makes cleansing oils specifically formulated for dry or oily skin types.
Exfoliate to Glow
Exfoliating is another important step in any skincare routine. For young or mature skin, exfoliation provides amazing benefits: removes dead skin cells, stimulates new cell growth, and promotes healthier and glowing skin. By incorporating exfoliation into your skincare routine, you will unclog pores, even your skin tone, and help your other skincare products penetrate and absorb more deeply into your skin.
There are several exfoliation products available to brighten your skin:
With glycolic, malic, and botanically derived lactic acid, the formula in Counter+ Overnight Resurfacing Peel clears away dull surface cells, while arginine and essential fatty acids help soothe and hydrate skin. Leave on this exfoliating peel overnight and you will see an improvement in skin texture.
Using a daily toner is not always necessary. But, if you are looking to tone skin while providing extra vitamins, antioxidants, and a blend of chemical exfoliators, All Bright Triple Acid AHA Toner improves skin brightness, helps minimize pores, and resurfaces skin with 8% AHA and 5% phytic acid.
For a little extra Sunday self-care experience for winter skin, use an exfoliating mask. This Reflect Effect AHA Smoothing Facial Mask includes both chemical and physical exfoliants, like AHA glycolic acid and bamboo particles, to improve skin texture and tone, boost radiance and exfoliate the skin. You leave this mask on for 10 minutes and you’ll have an ultra-soft and smooth complexion.
Boost the Brightness
An antioxidant that supports natural cell turnover, minimizes fine lines and wrinkles, and improves radiance, is Vitamin C. Research shows that vitamin C is one of the most powerful antioxidants in the skin, and has been shown to protect against photoaging, ultraviolet-induced immunosuppression, and photocarcinogenesis. Vitamin C is a powerhouse to help plump up collagen and is one of the most essential products to add to your skincare routine.
All Bright C Serum is a highly rated and ultra-potent 10% blend of two forms of vitamin C, turmeric, and camu camu instantly brightens skin and helps even skin tone.
Condition Lips
Hyaluronic acid has become a buzzword in the beauty industry for several years and is expected to grow because of the proven advantages to using it. Hyaluronic acid is found in natural skin. However, it diminishes with age, so adding it to skin care products helps to keep skin hydrated, reduces the appearance of wrinkles, and smooths the skin and lips. While using products with hyaluronic acid is especially important in dry winter months, this ingredient can provide benefits year-round. Hyaluronic acid works great as a lip conditioning product by filling in dry spots and cracks on the lip surface and adding in moisture. Clean Swipe Hyaluronic Lip Balm is a new elevated lip balm with hyaluronic acid, jojoba seed, and avocado seed oils, plus a blend of mango and murumuru seed butters. This nourishing formula provides the conditioning and hydration your lips need for winter.
Taking care of your skin is one of the most important investments you can make in your self-care journey. Using products formulated with clean, high-performing, and nourishing ingredients will help keep the skin barrier balanced and healthy all winter long.
Hydrate from Within
In addition to my skincare routine, I’ve incorporated Pique’s Radiant Skin Duo to enhance hydration, repair damage, detoxify, and brighten my skin from within.
BT Fountain offers a hydrating and rejuvenating beauty elixir with clinically proven ceramides that safeguard your skin barrier and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Its electrolytes and minerals facilitate better water absorption by your body, ensuring your skin stays moisturized. Notably, it strikes a balance in sweetness, making it one of the few electrolyte drinks I can tolerate.
Sun Goddess Matcha, an organic ceremonial grade matcha, undergoes extended shading for increased chlorophyll and antioxidants. Both ingredients are potent skin enhancers, promoting firmness, brightness, and clarity. Thanks to its theanine content, I experience sustained energy levels without the usual caffeine crashes or anxiety.
What essentials are you incorporating into your winter skincare routine?
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