Winter Skincare

With winter right around the corner, we all need to reconsider our skincare routines. I have for you, five different categories into which your skin could fit and specific things that you can do to keep your skin healthy and looking great during this upcoming season.

Dry Skin

For all my ladies with dry skin, I know you are dreading this time of year. Now while you are beautiful as you are, crusty skin can really drag down your confidence. Here are some tips I have for you to make this season a little more manageable.

• MOISTURIZE! MOISTURIZE! MOISTURIZE!

Studies show that moisturizer applied three times a day daily for nine days will help regenerate the skin barrier function. So keep that face moisturized ladies!

• Don’t over exfoliate:

Over exfoliation can tear away your skin’s protective barrier, and in these harsh winter months, you don’t want to strip your skin of its natural oils.

• Give your body some love!

Your face isn’t the only place that can get dry skin during this season. An unscented body lotion can keep your skin glowing even in this icy weather.

Recommended Products:

Pond’s Dry Skin Cream- $6.88

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream- $32.00

Unscented Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion for Dry Skin- $8.69

Garnier Skin Active Moisture Bomb Sheet Mask- $3.99

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Cleansing Gel- $7.79

Sensitive Skin

To all my girls with sensitive skin, I know skin care in general can seem like a full-time job. During the winter season, it’s important to keep your face and body moisturized. When trying to do this, many don’t know the first place to look, especially when you have sensitive skin. Here are some tips and tricks to help you through the frost:

• Cut out the fragrance.

People with sensitive skin tend to react to scents or fragrances that contain harsh chemicals added to make the product smell nice. In the long run, this does more damage than good. Go for more all-natural products and make sure to read the ingredients list before taking the products home. Or, skip buying a product altogether and do a little DIY.

This “recipe” can be altered for proportions that work for you, so feel free to customize it for your needs. Even better, it requires only two ingredients that you most likely already possess.

• 3 parts coconut oil
• 1-part light brown sugar

Mix, and apply to your face as you would a face scrub. Rinse with warm water. Add more coconut water if you have dryer skin and more brown sugar if you have oilier skin.

Coconut oil has lots of benefits for your skin. It contains healthy fats which will soften your skin which you can use in place of a moisturizer if you’re unsure of which one to buy. It is naturally anti-bacterial and anti-fungal and is composed of fatty acids and vitamin E. And it’s all-natural, so you don’t have to worry about your skin freaking out at any chemicals.

• Turn down the heat.

Just as chemicals can harm your face, so can scorching water. Go for a lukewarm or even a cold shower. If this is a big no no for you, then switch to washing your face with cold water when you get out of the shower. You’ll see what a difference this makes. This trick won’t just help your face, it’s better for your hair follicles as well.

• Calm it with the products.

Ever heard of the phrase, “less is better”? In this case, LESS IS BETTER! Try and stick to a simple three step facial regimen. Wash. Tone. Moisturize. Stick to a routine and you’ll see a difference in your skin.

Recommended Products:

Cetaphil Dry Sensitive Daily Advance Ultra Hydrating Lotion- $11.22

Kiel’s Since 1851 Ultra Face Cream- $30

Raw Sugar Sensitive Skin Body Lotion- $9.99

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser- $8.99

St. Ives Gentle Smoothing Oatmeal Scrub & Mask- $4.59

Acne Prone Skin

I say moisturize A LOT in this blog. And I do emphasize the importance of keeping your skin moisturized in the winter, but my girls with acne are probably looking at me like I have three heads…keep reading.

• Don’t OVER-moisturize.

Yes, I know. I just explained the importance of moisturizing like thirty times, but there is such thing as over moisturizing. Some moisturizers can clog your pores and make you break out. Especially ones containing fragrances. View my product recommendations for sensitive skin to find some moisturizers that may work for you.

• Change it up!

Another possibility could be to switch out your moisturizer with a tea tree facial oil, or simply add it into your routine. Tea tree oils contain antiseptic properties that calm irritated and acne prone skin. The oil aspect of it will keep those possible dry flakes away.

• Go natural!

Girls, you don’t need makeup to cover that or those zits, everyone gets them! You are beautiful just the way you are and you should love your skin as is. And if someone has the time in their life to make fun of your acne, then they’re clearly battling some inner self-consciousness and aim to take it out on other people so they feel better about themselves. Do you, you’re beautiful.

Recommended Products:

Aveeno Clear Complexion Blemish Treatment Daily Moisturizer-$13.99

Mario Badescu Acne Facial Cleanser- $15.00

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Facial Treatment- $7.99

MY BEAUTY SPOT Hemp Seed & Tea Tree Facial Oil Therapy- $7.99

Neutrogena Body Clear Acne Body Scrub With Salicylic Acid- $6.49

Oily Skin

For all my oily girls out there, put your hands in the air! The audacity some girls have complaining about their “T”-zones being oily is excruciating. They don’t know the struggle until their whole face is drowning in oil year-round. Here are some tips to help you out during winter time.

• Moisturizer?!?

I know even the thought of adding more to your face can be scary, but you can’t go through winter without moisturizing included in your routine. A Silicic Acid moisturizer is the way to go. Think of it as whistling while you work. The silicic acid is a deep cleaning astringent that will attack your acne and get rid of oil while the moisturizer keeps your skin hydrated.

• Get rid of blackheads.

Pore strips can seem like magic, especially for people with clogged pores due to oily skin. They are 100% worth a small investment.

• Skip the oil-absorbing paper…

As advertised and branded by the queen herself, Rhianna, oil-absorbing paper is expensive and unnecessary. A simple piece of toilet paper or tissue does the same job. Blotting your face throughout the day prevents from the oil getting out of hand and won’t strip your face in the blistering cold weather.

Recommended Products:

Clean&Clear Dual Action Moisturizer- $4.97

Kate Somerville Oil Free Moisturizer- $65

Biore Nose + Face Deep Cleansing Pore Strips- 24 count – $13.99

Mario Badescu Special Mask for Oily Skin- $18

CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin- $10.49

Combo Skin

For my girls with combo skin, you’re probably just as confused about your skin as your skin is confused about itself. I’m here to help make your life a little easier with these tips to add in your winter skin care routine.

• Focus in sections.

When applying products, your whole face as one will not agree. Use my diagram as an example of where to apply products.

• Mix & Match:

To get your skin under control during these months, try pulling products from my dry and oily skin recommendations. Combo skin is all about finding what works best for certain sections of your face.

• Homemade masks are the way 2 go!

I find these are the best because you know what’s going into them. Try this one at home to help calm and soothe your face for a soft touch glow.

• ¾ cup oatmeal oats
• 1 egg
• 2/3 cup hot water
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ½ banana

Mix oatmeal and hot water into bowl and let sit for two minutes. Mix in honey and egg. Mash in banana. Apply to face. (I recommend laying down, so it doesn’t slide and drip off of your face) Wait 15 minutes. Wash off with warm water.

Recommended Products:

St. Ives Collagen Elastin Paraben free and Non Comedogenic, Face Moisturizer for Dry Skin- $5.94

Tatcha The Water Cream- $68.00

Dove Body Polish Macadamia & Rice Milk- $5.99

Origins Original Skin Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay- $26.00

To all my beautiful ladies, I hope you found a tip or trick that will benefit you this season. Thank you for reading, best of wishes for you all.