The humidifier is on, you’ve turned down the heat and you’re drinking more water so why is your skin still so dry?
Winter weather can take a toll on all skin types and easily lead to dry winter skin on your face and body. While little changes in your environment can help, your skin will likely need more moisture, more often, than in summer. But that doesn’t mean you need to change your entire skin care routine. Sometimes it just takes a few simple tweaks to your routine to give your skin the extra protection and nourishment it needs to prevent or comfort dry winter skin.
With so many products available, it can be difficult to know what skin care products to swap or add. Read on to see our top skin care essentials and favorite swaps to keep your skin soft and supple all winter long.
WINTER SKIN CARE ESSENTIAL #1: USE A RICHER MOISTURIZER, MORE OFTEN
Drinking extra water is a good start, but it’s likely not enough to keep your skin hydrated and glowing. If you don’t currently use a face cream, now is a good time to start. Look for one rich in anti-oxidants, vitamins and essential fatty acids like Light or Rich Face Cream which will give skin the long lasting moisture it needs while protecting your skin from dehydration. If you prefer a lighter lotion try Inner Light Facial Moisturizer with moisturizing hyaluronic acid which is capable of holding up to 1,000 times its own weight in water, making it an optimal hydrator for all skin types.
If you have sensitive skin…try Pure Face Cream or a soothing balm like Pitta Face Balm, which is formulated to hydrate and soothe your skin while reducing sensitivity.
If you have oily skin … try a lightweight face oil like Beauty Sleep Elixir, Love Your Face Serum or Elderberry & Chia Seed Beauty Serum to help balance and replenish your skin without leaving skin feeling weighed down or oily.
WINTER SKIN CARE ESSENTIAL #2: LAYER YOUR MOISTURIZER WITH A FACE OIL OR SERUM
If your skin is dry, one moisturizer might not be enough. Instead of switching your moisturizer, try using a hydrating face oil or serum as the base layer. Face oils are amazing moisturizers and the extra nourishment leaves skin looking and feeling instantly better.
With face oils for every skin type and concern, it can be hard to pick a perfect match. These are a just a few of our favorites.
If your skin is extra dry…try a hydrating serum like Heliophilia Glow & Fix Serum, which contains moisturizing squalane.
If you have sensitive skin… try Raspberry & Pomegranate Beauty Serum. For skin that is prone to sensitivity, redness, rosacea or sun-damage, Pitta Face Elixir is a potent elixir that calms and soothes reactive skin.
If you have mature skin…try Nocturnalist Night Repair serum helps hydrate and smooth skin whilst you sleep, or Olena Beauty Oil to brighten dull skin.
WINTER SKIN CARE ESSENTIAL #3: TRY A CLEANSING BALM, OIL OR CREAM CLEANSER
Swap your regular cleanser for a gentle, hydrating formula. Cleansing oils and balms are a great option for all skin types, and no, they won’t make your skin oily.
If you wear makeup…try the Mokosh Organic Makeup Remover & Cleansing Oil or Cleanse My Face Purifying Oil Cleanser which remove stubborn makeup while also helping restore the skin’s barrier and balance sebum making it ideal for all skin types. Prefer a cream, try Pa’Akai Cleansing Cream which uses Hawaiian Botanical to keep skin clear and clean.
If you have dull skin…try the Pomegranate Glow Enzyme Cleanser or the Strange Bird Beauty Inner Clarity Daily Facial Cleanser, which gently exfoliates and boosts radiance while gently hydrating.
If you have sensitive skin…try the Pitta Deep Cleansing Balm, which removes makeup and impurities while soothing skin.
WINTER SKIN CARE ESSENTIAL #4: EXFOLIATE – GENTLY
Ideally you’re exfoliating all year round. It’s one of the simplest ways to get an even skin tone – hence a brighter appearance. In winter your skin becomes drier and exfoliating helps slough off dry dead skin cells so your moisturizers can absorb better. But be careful not to overdo it.
For all skin types ...try Hawaiian Beauty Water or the Facial Cleanser, Exfoliator and Mask
If you have sensitive skin…try the Pure Polish Daily Exfoliating Cleanser. It's exceptionally gentle and non-abrasive and leves skin feeling incredibly soft and radiant.
If you have uneven skin tone…try Complexion Polish. This one is a little stronger than the other choices on the list but is excellent if you want to even out your skin tone and lighten the appearance of sunspots and pigmentation.
WINTER SKIN CARE ESSENTIAL #5: PROTECT THE DELICATE SKIN UNDER YOUR EYES
Dry skin makes dark circles and under eye wrinkles look worse, which is why adding an eye cream to nourish and protect the very delicate skin under your eyes is so important in the winter. According to Black Chicken Remedies, the skin under your eyes is thinner (it can be up to 10 times thinner than the skin on the rest of your face). It shows signs of aging more quickly and it’s much more delicate and vulnerable than the rest of your face.
For puffiness and dark circles… try an eye cream with coffee bean extracts (or try a hydrating eye mask for a quick fix).
For fine lines & wrinkles… try ICU Intensive Eye Care for fine lines or a firming eye cream to tackle more advanced signs of aging.
Do I really need an eye cream? Unless your experiencing loss of firmness, fine lines or dark circles, you might not need a specialized eye cream. Be sure to use a well-formulated serum like Raspberry & Pomegranate Beauty Serum which is essential oil free and safe for the delicate skin under your eyes.
WINTER SKIN CARE ESSENTIAL #6: PROTECT YOUR HANDS WITH HAND CREAM OR BALM
Winter weather and frequent hand washing can easily dry out your hands. Keeping hands moisturized helps prevent moisture loss and chapping. Use your hand lotion regularly to prevent dry hands, and consider using moisturizing hand sanitizer.
For dry, chapped hands…reach for a healing balm like Balm Of Ages if hands are severely dry or chapped. And, don't forget to massage a bit of moisturizer into cuticles to prevent dryness and cracking.
WINTER SKIN CARE ESSENTIAL #7: MOISTURIZE YOUR LEGS TO KEEP THEM SILKY SMOOTH
Hot baths or showers, cold dry air and shaving can leave legs dry, rough and flaky. Use a dry brush regularly to exfoliate your skin helping it stay soft, smooth and healthy looking. Apply a nourishing body oil or cream to damp skin immediately after bathing to help lock in hydration and prevent dryness. We love award winning Sesame & Frankincense Body Oil and Love Your Body Oil, which combine mood enhancing scents (from pure essential oils) and lightweight textures with serious skin benefits. For something richer Frankincense & Orange Body Cream that has the added benefit of nutrient rich unrefined organic shea butter to protect against the ravages of cold winds and dry inside air.
WINTER SKIN CARE ESSENTIAL #8: APPLY LIP BALM FREQUENTLY
The sensitive skin on your lips is particularly vulnerable to icy winds and drying heat. Smooth on a hydrating lip balm to keep your lips smooth and protected, whatever the weather.
WINTER SKIN CARE ESSENTIAL #9: HYDRATING FACE MASK
While this might not be essential, if your skin is feeling stressed a hydrating face mask or sheet mask that will give your skin an instant burst of moisture.
For dull skin… Try the Honey Hydration Mask or Moana Face Mask which brightens while they hydrates.
For sensitive skin... Try the Rose Renewal Anti-Redness Face Mask providing instant soothing relief to sensitive or reactive skin