Winter Skincare Tips
We are officially in the thick of the winter season here in Upstate New York, which means depressingly short days, perpetually cloudy skies, and the dreaded “winter skin.” Almost universally people’s skin becomes dry and dehydrated this time of year, and those who already struggle with an impaired barrier (which often shows up in the form of eczema, psoriasis, and skin sensitivity) have an even harder time trying to keep their skin happy.
Right now, it’s important to switch gears in your skincare regimen and focus on keeping the skin hydrated, using products that are restorative- that help rebuild rather than take away.
Cleanse with Oil
If you struggle to keep your skin hydrated and/or experience some kind of skin barrier dysfunction (eczema, psoriasis, etc.), I highly recommend incorporating oil cleansing into your routine. Oil cleansing is exactly what is sounds like- cleansing with an oil-based product instead of a gel or foaming cleanser.
Here is how to properly oil cleanse:
Portion out a 1-2 tsp amount of oil cleanser in the palm of your hands
Apply to your face, and then massage into the skin using circular motions for around 60 seconds. To make the experience even juicier, you can even incorporate facial massage movements
Wipe the cleanser off of your face using a warm, wet towel. I buy these eco-friendly cloths on Etsy for this purpose.
You can repeat these steps for a “double cleanse” if you wear a lot of makeup and/or you don’t feel like you were able to remove everything on the first try.
My all-time favorite oil cleanser is this one by Kari Gran, with this one by Green Envee as another beautiful option.
Use a Hydrosol
A hydrosol is essentially just a water-based product that helps both combat dryness in the skin and allows for optimal absorption of serums to be applied. After cleansing, spritz your face with a hydrosol like Kari Gran Rose Tonic, and then follow up with your serum(s). A couple serums I recommend this time of year to help restore your skin’s moisture levels are the Barrier Restore Serum by Marie Veronique and the Pro-Heal Serum Advance+ by iS Clinical.
It’s a great idea to keep a hydrosol in your purse or by your desk to spritz your face throughout the day.
Finish with an Occlusive Balm
To lock all the moisture and restorative ingredients you just applied to your face, finish your routine off with an occlusive balm. I created Golden Hour Glow to serve this purpose- it’s a jojoba oil and beeswax based balm filled with other beautifully restorative botanical ingredients like seabuckthorn oil, helichrysum, and carrot seed oil. A little bit goes a long way with these kinds of products. A dime size amount should be plenty, and you will feel it melt into your skin as it heats up with the warmth of body.
Invest in a Humidifier
The reason our skin gets so dry in the winter is because of something called transepidermal water loss (TEWL for short). When the air is dry, moisture gets pulled out of our skin. So no matter how many lotions, potions, and creams we’re applying to our face, when we’re constantly surrounded by dry air it’s very hard to keep that moisture where we want it- in the epidermis (aka your outer layer of skin). A good workaround to this frustrating phenomenon is investing in a humidifier and keeping it in the room(s) where you spend the most time (try keeping one in your office and one in your bedroom).
Increase Intake of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in foods like cold water fish, walnuts, flaxseeds, and chia seeds, and they are critical in helping build your skin’s natural barrier. There have been studies showing that supplementing with Omega-3’s improves skin barrier function and alleviates conditions like dry, irritated skin, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis. A small study showed that women who supplemented with half a teaspoon of flaxseed oil daily had a 39% increase in skin hydration after 12 weeks.
Their anti-inflammatory capabilities even make them extremely useful in fighting acne.