Ack, winter is coming. I know it, you know it, and unless we fly south for the winter, there is no avoiding it. Though, I love many things about winter: skiing, warm fires, hot chocolate, snow – all of which can wreak havoc on our skin.

Until recently, I always accepted the fact that my skin would be dry, cracked and red for much of the winter. It’s just the way it is. However, last year something changed.

I started changing my skin routine early and incorporated a few products to prep, and you know what?   My skin ISN’T red all winter anymore- and rarely do I get the dry patches. How? Let me tell you…..

1) It’s all about the oil.

Incorporate a face oil in your skincare routine, especially at night. I spend about 4-5 weekends each winter (and summer) in Lake Tahoe where the winter air and high altitude ensure your skin is extra dry. I mean, uncomfortable. Since I started using an oil (and bumping up the amount a little bit when I travel there), it’s been completely different. Test these out before buying – most stores will give you a sample to try for a few days so you know if you like the scent and consistency. If you buy online and don’t like it for your face…well, now you have a new body oil to use. 🙂

Here are 4 I recommend trying.  1) SkinOwl MaquiBerry, 2) Art Naturals 100% Organic Rosehip Oil, 3) Uma Oils. These are a bit pricey but smell amazing and there are several different varieties to choose from. I like the Deeply Clarifying and Ultimate Brightening, and 4) Honua Skincare’s Olena (turmeric) oil. The smell is a bit turmeric-y but that goes away and this is a really wonderful oil. And no, it does not turn your skin yellow like turmeric/curry!  All of these are really effective at combatting the effects of winter skin.

2) Grab a gentle cleanser.

Let’s clear one thing up right here – Gentle does not mean ineffective. Oil and milk-based cleansers can be very effective. You just have to find the right ones. If you have really dry skin, I suggest trying an oil-based cleanser, especially in the winter.

A few favorites: 1) Bottega Organica’s cleansing face oil has thyme and lemon in it. It is awesome to use in the winter. Unless you hate lemon…then it is probably not for you, 2) Burt’s Bees Intense Hydration Cream Cleanser, 3) Mun’s Akwi Cleanser is a combination oil/milk cleanser that dissolves makeup and grime on face to leave your face silky smooth, 4) Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm is the ultimate winter cleanser. It’s thick, warming and dissolves makeup and impurities. It’s really pricey though – over $100 for the standard size. However, if you stop into SpaceNK, they will give you samples of it to try it out. If you are in the UK or Europe, you can get it much cheaper than that. It’s pricey but I love it. And here is a link to buy a sample of it, 5) Block Island Organics Purifying Cleanser. If you don’t think milk/oil based cleansers will work for you but you want something gentle, give this one a try. It won’t strip your skin but cleans very well. My entire family uses this on a regular basis.

3) Sheet Masks.

When it comes to Sheet Masks, I am not that particular as there are so many great ones out there. These have been a staple in Korean Beauty for years so there are lots of great options at all price points. Here are a few of my favorites at low price points: Dermal Korea and Nature Republic.  However, I recently tried a few masks from Dr. Jart+ and was really impressed.  They are a bit more pricey but the results are a little more apparently, in my case.   That said, the inexpensive ones are still good.

4) Moisture Stick.

Such a random product but now I love it for winter. I even put one in each of my kids backpacks at school in case they need some lotion during the day. Just dab it on where your skin is a little dry (cheeks, hands) and voila! I’ve only used the ones by Deep Steep and love them.

5) Sunscreen.

Are you surprised to see sunscreen on my list of winter must-haves? If so, then you need to click here! 

Sunscreen is a requirement.  Every. Single. Day. But your winter suncare routine might be different because our skin needs more moisture and just slapping on the same sunscreen we use in the summer…may not be best.

Sunscreen is very important in winter as well, especially to protect against UVA rays which are out literally anytime there is sunlight.

Some sunscreen is really drying, especially those heavy in zinc. I love zinc, but I need my zinc-based sunscreens to have a bit more cream to them in the winter. Here are my favorites: 1) Suntegrity 5 in 1 (for face).  This is one of my all-time favorite products. I often have a bulk of samples so if you want to try, shoot me a note and if I have some, I’ll drop them in the mail to you. 2) Josh Rosebrook Nutrient Day Cream SPF30. He also has a tinted version but I haven’t tried it so can’t say how amazing it is,  3) Block Island Organics Natural Face Moisturizer SPF30 – this has zinc and a moisturizer so it isn’t drying. This is great for drier skin and it does soak in though it might be too heavy for oily skin, 4) Beauty by Earth Mineral Sunscreen. This is not a moisturizer but the sunscreen isn’t drying at all. They also make a tinted moisturizer…but I haven’t used it so am not sure how it is.  It has a great scent – mildly fruity and tropical but not overwhelming. My 6-year old decided she needed it at school so that’s where it went. 🙂

6) Body Oils!

Most of the above refer to face but you can apply them to the rest of your body as well. Adding a body oil to your post-shower and pre-bedtime routines is a great way to keep your skin from resembling that of a reptile. Here are my 3 favorites: 1) Osmia Body Oils – any of these are really beautiful. My favorite is the Water version as it has a blend of vetiver, ginger lily and juniper.  I am sort of obsessed with vetiver despite not knowing what it was about 4 months ago. (Side note: its a type of grass, kind of like lemongrass but has a scent like patchouli with lemon). 2) Beauty Aura 100% pure avocado oil. I put this on my kids after every bath. It’s also really reasonably priced at ~$11 for a huge bottle that lasts months even with daily usage. 3) Sativa by Native Atlas. This one is a bit harder to find – I think you have to order from their website, but it is really beautiful with scents of cedar and grapefruit (sounds odd but it really works). With a few easy (and nice) changes, you can have soft skin all winter long…..

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For more wellness topics, here are some other posts I think you would enjoy!

xoxo,