How to winterize your skin
Change up your skin care routine to prepare for winter
It’s the Friday before the August 1 holiday so of course I wanted to talk to you about how to winterize your skin. Seriously, I think it’s best to prepare for winter in advance!
The cold months affect all skin types, but dry skin in particular will be affected by the harsh weather and the drop in temperatures, causing the skin to lose all moisture and hydration, which is not ideal as it’s already lacking moisture! Oily skin may prefer the winter months as the summer months tend to make the shine more prominent.
So I thought I’d give you some tips to help your skin get through the winter!
Exfoliation
I know I seem to be talking about exfoliation all the time, but this is really the one step in your skincare routine that will really change the look of your skin. Especially in the cold months, when your skin is dry, more and more flaky patches will form on your face.
I don’t want to get too scientific, but our skin has a cycle where we shed dead skin cells over the course of 30 days, yes similar to a snake, albeit a lot less dramatic! During the cold months, you’ll find that your skin can’t shed these cells as effectively, so they build up, which can lead to breakouts, blemishes and dry patches. You’ll also notice that your skin looks a little dull and pale.
All of this can be addressed with a facial peel to remove the remaining cells that make your skin appear grey and dull. Procoal’s Exfoliating Face Scrub contains detoxifying charcoal and a powerful yet gentle pumice stone to remove all of the buildup without stripping away water and oil.
Hydrate
Here’s another tip I keep talking about… drinking enough water throughout the day should be your top priority. It supports your brain function and has countless benefits for your vital organs. Water is good for your skin, too, but there’s a small downside. Your skin is your largest organ, but you’ll notice that it’s always the last sign that it’s hydrated enough.
If you imagine a fountain with all of your organs waiting to take a sip, you’ll notice that your skin is at the back of the line. Sure, she’s the largest and can easily squeeze to the front, but she’ll be waiting for her turn, which sometimes causes her to run out of water.
Then you need to help it restore the plumpness and moisture to your skin with a product that’s super hydrating and packed with a powerful blend of ingredients. Acids like AHAs, Vitamin C, and others are always good for the skin because they moisturize the skin and smooth out fine lines that are more common in the winter.
PROTECT
I know it seems strange to talk about SPF in the winter, but using SPF every day in the winter is still important, even crucial, to protect your skin from premature aging. The sun’s rays that damage the skin are present all year round. UVB, also known as burning rays, are more noticeable in the hotter months, while UVA, also known as aging rays, can penetrate clouds, water, and even glass. You need to avoid these rays in the winter. You can opt for a facial SPF or a moisturizer with built-in sun protection.
DON’T FORGET YOUR LIPS
Wind, rain, snow, and freezing temperatures can cause chapped lips, which can be very uncomfortable. It’s best to remember to use a sugar scrub and a hydrating lip balm to keep your lips looking and feeling their best.
WEEKLY MASK
One of the easiest ways to keep your skin hydrated throughout the winter is to use a mask once a week. This can be any formula that works best for your skin type.
Marine Moisture is our most hydrating mask, with a powerful blend of ingredients that transforms the skin, restores balance, and gives it an all-over glow.
Fake it
If you find that even after all the love and attention, your skin still looks dull and even a little grey, you can always ‘fake it till you make it’ and beautify your skin with makeup. A cream foundation with light-reflecting particles gives skin a beautiful glow. Combine with highlighter and blush for a real pop of colour and a healthy look. The perfect disguise until spring arrives again!
So, these are some winter skin survival tips to help you deal with the harsh elements that wreak havoc on your face during the winter! For now, though, enjoy the rest of the day and the long, sunny weekend ahead. At least now you know you’re prepared because winter is coming…whether you like it or not.
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
