Winter Beauty 101: Protect Your Face!
It happens every year in autumn. First comes the chilling breezes on otherwise sunny days. Then comes the change in time, giving us less hours of sunlight. After which comes an indefinite point where the temperature doesn’t rise above extremely cold. All these signs point to winter being just a moment away. Anticipating the season, we scurry to get enough sweaters, underclothes for layering, tights, boots and coats. And if we’re smart, we also start making some significant changes to our beauty routines.
On the first day below 40 degrees, I came home to wash my face and saw my first sighting of flaking skin for the season. I have a simple but effective skin care regimen for warmer weather that helps me balance my naturally oily skin so that my skin remains clear, without drying it out completely. But when that cold, frosty air hits me, my skin goes crazy. Here’s why.
According to studies done on the effect of chilling temperatures on the skin of northern earth dwellers, dermatitis and deficiency in the skin's natural moisturising factor are particularly common during cold seasons. The dry air and lack of humidity only adds to the detrimental effect winter can have on our faces. The Science Daily journal also contains this quote from Nina Goad of the British Association of Dermatologists, “In the winter, rapidly changing temperatures, from heated indoors to cold outdoors environments, can affect the capillaries, and prolonged exposure to wet weather can strip the skin's barrier function.”
So it’s not just by chance that we see a marked change in our skin during the change of season. To combat these factors - dry air, lack of humidity, and rapidly changing temperatures- that strip our skin’s barrier function and moisture, we need to use products that will restore these missing elements to our faces and bring back the lively glow the sun once gave us. Here’s how.
CLEANSING
Image Source: Fresh’s Instagram
Perhaps during the sweaty, humid months of summer, we used a strong cleanser full of pore cleansing ingredients and perhaps even oil-free. Some days I would use an especially strong charcoal mask to really get in there and get the gunk out of there. Although we still want to cleanse our skin, it goes without saying that a drying cleanser will only do more harm than good during this season. Put that cleanser to the side and try one of these gentle cleansers. If your skin is naturally dry, you may even want to try a cleanser with moisture restoring ingredients.
Kiehl’s Dermatologist Solutions Centella Sensitive Facial Cleanser, $29, Kiehl’s
Kiehl’s Cucumber Herbal Conditioning Cleanser (for dry skin), $24, Kiehl’s
Origin’s Clean Energy Gentle Cleansing Oil, $31, Origins
MakeUp-BreakUp Cool Cleansing Oil, $32, Boscia
TONING
Toner is a product whose purpose is often muddled in and overlooked in the skincare routine. Some like to use toning as an extra step in cleansing, by using one with an astringent or a similar product. Others like to use it to restore and add certain vitamins or ingredients to their skin before sealing in moisture. I’ve tried all types and have experienced varying, positive results for the most part. Here we will focus on toners that are gentle, and designed to restore glow and retain moisture.
Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic, $15, Pixi
Heritage Store Rose Petals Rosewater, $11, Target
Murad Hydrating Toner, $34, Murad
Original Skin Essence Lotion, $31, Origins
MOISTURIZING
Moisturizing is one of my favorite parts of a skin care routine. After getting in there and kick out the bad stuff that has landed on my face, and restoring a bit of good things, now is the time to give myself a massage and feel my skin come alive again. For winter, the instinct is definitely to add the glunkiest and clunkiest substance all over so as to avoid looking ashy or getting whipped by the wind on an especially freezing day. But the best product will not only protect, but also soak into your skin as opposed to sit on top of it.
Source: Kiehl's Instagram
Vitamin C Glow Boosting Moisturizer, $18, Body Shop
Estee Lauder Daywear Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant 24H-Moisture Creme SPF 15 , $54 Macy’s
It Cosmetics Confidence-in-a-Cream Hydrating Moisturizer, $48, Beautylish
ANEW Ultimate Day Performance Cream, $42, Avon
NIGHT CARE
At night before bed is when I really like to get busy and do most of my hard work on my skin. While we sleep, our body is healing and restoring herself, hence the best time to layer on the good stuff and let it go to work. Here are a couple great overnight products that I have tried and found great results, and a couple that I’m eyeing.
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Oil, $49, Kiehl’s
L'Oreal Age Perfect Night Cream, $18, L’Oreal
Ole Henriksen Good Night Glow Sleeping Cream, $55, Ole Henriksen
GlamGlow Thirsty Mud, $59, GlamGlow
Of course there are myriads of other skin products like masks, serums and essences that can also help to protect our skin and restore her summertime splendor even in winter, but that would be a whole book. Hopefully some of the advice and products suggested here can help you as they’ve helped me. As a small word of caution: before trying any new facial product, test it on a small patch of skin to ensure you aren’t allergic to any of the ingredients.
