Even if you’ve perfected your skincare routine, you’ll need to switch a few things up as the weather cools down. The winter skincare tips below will help you personalize your skincare for the colder and drier months. In addition to the tips below, continue to test new products and aesthetic treatments to meet your current and evolving needs.
#1 Foundation
If you prefer a tinted moisturizer or powder foundation in the summer when it’s hotter outside, you may want to return to a more traditional foundation in the winter. A cream or liquid foundation can even out summer sunspots and other skin discoloration better than a tinted moisturizer.
- Select a foundation with UV protection or ensure you layer sunscreen on in your moisturizer, or with a dedicated sunscreen.
- Consider a formula that has hyaluronic acid for a youthful glow, or with other anti-aging ingredients.
- If you wear foundation year-round, you’ll likely need to transition to a shade or two lighter in the winter.
#2 Cream or Balm Cleanser
A foaming cleanser is gentle and refreshing when the weather is warm, and sufficient for removing light makeup. However, cream cleansers do a better job of dissolving thicker makeup and layered skincare products. They are also moisture-rich, which helps keep your skin hydrated in the colder and dryer winter months.
Consider PM Double Cleansing
Since you’re more likely to layer your products as part of your winter skincare routine, you may prefer to double cleanse in the evenings. This is achieved by massaging an organic olive oil, cleansing balm, or oil-based cleanser on your skin. Leave on for about 2 minutes to dissolve your makeup. Then rinse with warm water or a damp microfiber cloth. Next, cleanse with a gentle foaming cleanser followed by toner, serum, and an anti-aging PM moisturizer.
#3 Use Warm Water
As good as hot water feels when it’s cold out, it can dry out your skin and shock your hair. If you want to enjoy hot water on occasion, it isn’t likely to be of concern. However, daily hot water use can dry and damage your skin, leaving it more susceptible to irritation.
On days that you’re craving hotter water, use cooler water on your face and hair.
#4 Switch to Gentle Exfoliators
Consider swapping your granulated exfoliators for liquid exfoliators, or only using granulated exfoliators once a week. This includes face and body products formulated with lactic acid, glycolic acid, or other alpha hydroxy (AHA) acid exfoliators. These gently remove dead skin cells without being abrasive. If you continue using granulated exfoliators, scrub gently in warm or cool water.
If you prefer using a loofa, consider a softer and gentler silicone body brush and silicone facial cleansing brush. Again, scrub gently and consider using them in combination with a liquid exfoliator.
#5 Body Lotion
You should apply body lotion year-round, but it’s essential for your fall and winter skincare routine. Choose a fragrance-free (or essential oil-scented) lotion. Consider body butter such as mango butter or cocoa butter as these thicker formulas lock in moisture.
Apply your body lotion no more than 3 minutes after you dry off from your bath or shower. The longer you wait, the more moisture your skin will lose.
- Prioritize formulas with anti-aging ingredients.
- Add a few drops of your preferred body oil to your lotion to lock in moisture.
- Carry hand lotion with you in the winter to apply to your hands throughout the day.
- Wear lotion gloves a few nights a week for both a proactive or reactive approach to dry hands.
- If your skin is ultra dry, reapply body lotion before you go to bed.
Why Use Fragrance-Free Moisturizers?
While they may have fun packaging and a yummy aroma, synthetic lotions dry out your skin. If they also contain added dye, the dye may further dry out your skin. So, use these lotions more like perfume, but layer moisture-rich lotion on first.
Can Essential Oils Irritate Your Skin?
Yes. While far less likely to dry or irritate your skin, even skin-safe essential oils can be irritating for those with sensitive skin. So, find what works for you.
#6 Foot Lotion
Even if you don’t apply foot lotion year-round, you’ll need to apply it as part of your winter skincare routine. It’s ideal to apply your foot lotion after your shower, but this may not be an option. For example, if you’re wearing tights or thin socks, foot lotion may feel too greasy. If you’re wearing thick socks with tennis shoes or boots, apply lotion to your feet before you put your socks on.
Otherwise, apply a dedicated foot lotion at night before you go to bed, and cover your feet with socks. If your heels get thick, rough, and dry—schedule a spa pedicure. Or soak in a foot bath at home for at least 20 minutes and slough away skin with your preferred foot pumice. Then pat dry, apply foot lotion, and layer with socks. If your heels are cracked or ultra-dry, wear heel socks. This will promote rapid healing and hydration.
Why Use Foot Lotion Instead of Body Lotion?
The skin on your feet is thicker, so you will require a dedicated foot moisturizer. Most foot moisturizers are thick creams with oils and are formulated to heal and penetrate the thicker skin of your feet. Many are also formulated with foot-soothing essential oils.
#7 Lip Balm
Even if you wear lipstick, you must apply lip balm in the winter months. Everyone has their preference, so determine what works for your winter skincare routine. Some like to apply their lip balm 20 minutes or so before their lipstick. In addition to providing a protective layer, your lip balm can help your lipstick stay put. However, you may prefer to apply balm over your lipstick. If you like a high-gloss shine, you could apply petroleum jelly or oil-based lip product over matte lipstick.
- In the winter (or year-round) consider lipsticks with moisturizing ingredients.
- Year-round use a lipstick with anti-aging ingredients.
- When your lips are ultra-dry or cracked, skip lipstick for a few days, applying balm throughout the day.
- Apply an overnight lip moisture mask as a proactive or reactive approach to dry lips.
Drink More Water
Cold dry weather and wind exposure can chap and crack your lips, but your lips could be chapped as a sign of dehydration. Many of us are more mindful of drinking hydrating fluids during the hot Arizona summers. So, sometimes we drink less water than our body requires in the winter.
Maybe drink a couple of cups of herbal tea per day for warmth, flavor, and antioxidants. Some herbal teas have caffeine, so be mindful not to drink caffeine too late in the day.
#8 Humidify
If you follow the tips above, but your skin is still dry, use a humidifier in your bedroom overnight. If your office is extremely dry, consider a small desktop humidifier.
While effective at adding humidity to the air, you must use humidifiers as directed. At the top of this list is changing the filter and cleaning and sanitizing as directed. If humidifiers aren’t properly cleaned, they will grow mold—releasing mold spores into your air. This is unhealthy for everyone, but of particular concern if you or anyone in your home or office has respiratory conditions.
#9 Cream Facial Moisturizer
In the summer you may switch to a lighter gel or thinner facial moisturizer during the day and continue using a thicker moisturizer at night. Thinner and lighter daytime formulas aren’t enough to stave off dry skin or provide a protective barrier against the cold. So, be proactive, returning to a thicker daytime cream as part of your winter skincare routine.
Just like your body lotion, you should apply your facial products no more than 3 minutes after your shower or washing your face. For your face, always apply toner and serum before your facial moisturizer. Maybe dry your body and apply your body lotion, while letting your face air dry so that you don’t miss the 3-minute window.
By the time you’re done applying lotion to your body, your face will be dry and ready for toner. Apply serum no more than 1 minute after your toner, then continue layering.
#10 Layer to Protect Your Skin
Not sure how to layer your products to create the ultimate winter skincare routine? The tips below will help you create a protective skin barrier that locks in moisture and promotes anti-aging. Don’t forget your neck and décolletage when applying serum and facial creams, or use products designed specifically for the neck and décolletage.
AM winter skincare routine:
- Cleanse with a cream or oil-based cleanser.
- Apply toner to restore or maintain pH balance.
- Wait 1 minute and apply an antioxidant-rich eye and face serum. Or apply an AM eye mask.
- Wait 1 minute and apply a light oil layer or mix a few drops of oil into your facial moisturizer.
- Wait 1 minute and apply your daily moisturizer and eye cream.
- If your moisturizer or makeup doesn’t have UV protection, apply UV protection.
- Apply your foundation, powder, and other makeup.
PM winter skincare routine:
- Cleanse with a cream or oil-based cleanser or oil cleanse as directed in step #2.
- Exfoliate 1 to 3 days a week with a gentle exfoliator and apply a deep cleansing clay mask 1 to 2 days a week.
- Apply toner to restore or maintain pH balance.
- Wait 1 minute and apply an antioxidant-rich PM eye and face serum. Or use a facial sheet mask or an eye mask.
- Wait 1 minute and apply a light oil layer or mix a few drops of oil into your facial moisturizer.
- Wait 1 minute and apply a PM face and eye cream or an overnight face mask.
- Consider sleeping on a silky or satin pillowcase, as they reduce friction and help maintain moisture on your skin and face.
#11 Repair Summer Sun Damage
Valley Medical Weight Loss and Med Spa offers a variety of minimally invasive skincare treatments to repair summer sun damage and rejuvenate your skin.
- If you’ve developed sunspots or hyperpigmentation, we may suggest a Lumecca IPL Photofacial or other skin tone-evening treatments.
- If you’ve noticed an increase in fine lines or wrinkles, we may suggest a Forma Facial or other treatments to lift, firm, and smooth your skin.
- If you don’t see any visible signs of damage, but know you didn’t apply enough sunscreen this summer, we can suggest proactive anti-aging treatments for the face and body!
Reach out today to schedule a free consultation to determine how to restore and rejuvenate your skin!
