Whether winter for you means frigid temperatures or mild cool evenings, it still affects your skin and its needs.

Winds pick up, humidity drops, and sunlight hours diminish to name a few. All of these things can depress cellular function and turnover, which in turn can leave skin dry, dull or lifeless. Not to worry! These four simple tips will restore your complexion to its healthiest radiance even in the harshest of winters!
 

• USE A GENTLE(R) CLEANSER.
  Those of you with drier skin types probably already use a gentle cleanser, but in winter, make the switch even if your skin is oily or combination. A cream formula that rinses clean will still cleanse without residue, but it will remove less of your skin’s natural oils than harsher options – providing natural protection that is essential against winter’s drying elements.
  Our pick: Rehydrating Neroli Cleansing Milk

 

• OPT FOR A SCRUB_FREE EXFOLIANT.
  Skin needs to be exfoliated year-round to keep it looking and functioning its best, but different seasons call for different types of exfoliants. In winter, the physical action of a scrub is often too aggressive for skin with seasonal dryness and sensitivity. In this case, a chemical-based exfoliator with AHAs or glycolic acid works best as it avoids friction or irritation that can be caused by scrubs. These work gently overnight to rid surface cells and boost skin turnover, and the best options also include soothing or moisturizing botanicals to offset any potential drying effects.
  Our pick: Correcting Intensive Renewal Glycolic 15

 

• ADD A HYDRATING SERUM TO YOUR ROUTINE
  It bears repeating that hydration and moisture are two different skin needs. While moisturizing focuses on skin’s moisture barrier and retention, hydration deals with water content in the skin. The holy grail for hydration for any skin type – and especially in winter when hydration is sapped from them equally – remains hyaluronic acid serum. Look for one with sodium hyaluronate, a derivative of hyaluronic acid at the ideal molecular size for skin penetration. This weightless ingredient binds more than 1,000 times its weight in water to the skin, making it ideal to layer under any moisturizer day or night.
  Our pick: Correcting Hyaluronic Serum

 

• STEP UP YOUR OVERNIGHT MOISTURIZING GAME
  Our skin – and bodies in general – does its best self-restoration overnight, when energy can be dedicated to it rather than spread across the conscious activities of daily life. This is the ideal time to infuse extra moisturization into skin cells, which in turn fortifies the skin barrier and allows skin to protect itself better by day. This is especially important during dry winter months when all complexions – including oilier skin types – can absorb more moisture overnight. So if you use a night cream, blend it with facial oil to increase moisturization; and if you don’t use a night cream, start. You will awaken to a softer, suppler and better protected complexion every winter morning!
  Our picks: Organic Rehydrating Neroli Facial Oil, Correcting Rescue Crème

 
Wishing you wellness, The SkincareButik Team.

 
Credit: Kerstin Florian.