As the weather changes, so do our skincare needs. For me personally, I have to give my skin a lot of extra TLC in the winter. My skin gets dry, dehydrated, flakey, red, and just looks and feels worn out. I also have very sensitive skin, so I try to use products that are fragrance-free and do not contain essential oils, as I sometimes find these ingredients to be irritating. Although my theory is that if you spend more on skincare, you don't have to spend as much on makeup (I hardly ever wear makeup, see my 10-minute makeup routine here), I also try to find products at all price ranges. Just because a product is the most expensive, doesn't always mean it is the best, or the best for you.
Skincare has become very important to me over the last 5 years, and I am learning something new every day! Recently, I learned there is actually a difference between products advertised as "moisturizing" and "hydrating." I have been using the words interchangeably, but while they share the same end goal, they are not necessarily the same! Basically moisturizing products are typically oil-based and help keep water already existing in your body or skin trapped in the skin's surface. Hydrating products contain humectants (glycerin or hyaluronic acid) help increase the water content in your skin by drawing in moisture from the atmosphere. While both hydrating and moisturizing products are important for a routine, depending on your skin, you may only need one. If your skin is dry (flakey and peeling) you might stick just to moisturizers. If your skin is dehydrated (looks dull and tired) try a product more focused on hydration. My damaged winter skin needs both!
*This post contains my personal opinions about products I have purchased and used. I am not a skincare expert, I just buy and use a lot of products. This is not a sponsored post, however, this post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase. No pressure. It helps keep my blog running so it is much appreciated :) *
Let's begin with the first step of any good routine, washing your face! During these dryer months, I switched my everyday facewash from CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser to the CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser for Normal to Dry Skin. I love this facewash, and all CeraVe products, because of how simple the ingredients are. The Hydrating Facial Cleanser also contains Ceramides, (essentially the glue that holds our skin cells together, to keep our skin barrier intact and healthy) and Hyaluronic acid (one of those hydrators I mentioned earlier). This cleanser is perfect for everyday use because it easily removes dirt and makeup without stripping the skin's moisture barrier. My boyfriend also uses and loves it. His skin can get very oily and his pores get very clogged, but he says it works for him as well! If I do wear makeup I always remove it before cleansing with Neutrogena Makeup Remover Balm and my Makeup Eraser, and always was my face with COLD WATER.
For my body, I use Aveeno Fragrance Free Active Naturals Skin Relief Body Wash. It helps reduce those little red bumps you get from hot showers and cold weather. Then for body lotion CeraVe Unscented Daily Moisturizing Lotion. Both of these products are very soothing on winter skin and never feel greasy or like they leave any residue. I do feel that they both really help repair my skin as well, especially the CeraVe lotion. They are wonderful because Brandon can use them too since they are unscented and good for the majority of skin types!
I also still use the Peter Thomas Roth FIRMx Exfoliating Peel Gell, I just use it once a week instead of twice. This stuff can be addictive. All your dead skin balls up and comes right off your face exposing fresh, firm, perfect skin. There is just something about the feeling! However, like most exfoliators, it should not be used every day. Like I mentioned, once a week is enough for my skin.
Next, it's moisturizer (or hydrator?) time! If it's bedtime, I'm using the Cucumber Gel Mask from Peter Thomas Roth. I leave this mask on overnight for more intense hydration. This very gentle gel mask soothes and hydrates dry skin with botanical extracts of cucumber (for hydration), papaya (for softness), chamomile, and aloe (to soothe and help with redness). Oh my gosh, this stuff makes my skin look and feel AMAZING! I keep it in my fridge so when I apply it, it feels even more cool and calming. After a week of using it I noticed my skin started to look like it had life again! Glowing, firm, bouncy, and a more even completion.
During the day I use First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream or Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer, my favorite being the Ultra Repair Cream. The cream is formulated with colloidal oatmeal and can be used all over your body. I use it on my face and it really is super soothing. Although it is a heavy duty moisturizer, it doesn't feel that way. My skin soaks it up and it can be worn under makeup.
A few other products I got during this most recent beauty haul, that are worth an honorable mention, are from Youth to the People. First the Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask With Vitamin C. I wasn't sure about this product as I had never tried this brand before, but I really really wanted to see what it was all about. My first thought about this product was "wow this is such a beautiful color yellow, and it smells incredible like a fruit smoothie!" Then I thought, "Oh shit this smells really incredible. Things that smell this amazing usually make me break out, or worse." I tried it anyway because I couldn't find any fragrances in the ingredients on their website. I am not 100% sure, but the pleasant odor might just come from the other ingredients. The first night was great the product felt amazing on my skin. It is a very thick cream, but did seem to soak into my skin before I fell asleep though which is nice, and I woke up with my skin looking pretty normal. I used it a few more nights since then and really do enjoy it! It always leaves my skin very moisturized and it did look a bit brighter/less red the next day. I just prefer The Peter Thomas Roth overnight mask personally because I feel like it does more for my skin, but I will definitely keep using this, and definitely recommend trying it! I also like the Kale and Green Tea SuperFood Antioxidant Cleanser, but have only used it once so far. I will come back and update once I have formed an opinion :)
Finally, for the days my skin just needs a little extra boost, I use Korres Hydra Biome Probiotic Superpose Mask. You can use this as a leave-on mask, however, I usually leave it on for about 20 minutes then wash it off. That is really all you need with this mask because it delivers such incredible results in just one use. The real Greek yogurt in the formula helps rebalance your skin's natural protective layer, which is often broken down by stress, diet, and your environment. It also contains hyaluronic acid and collagen-boosting proteins. As soon as I get home from a winter hike, dog walk, or any time my face has been exposed to the cold or wind, I immediately wash my face and put this on. Right away I can feel it soothing my skin, and the redness and dry patches are noticeably improved. It literally starts to heal my skin right away! Maybe the best part is that Korres uses recycled packaging, and their containers and packaging can also be recycled!
Overall my biggest recommendation is to start storing some of your skincare, like the creams and gels, in the fridge! It just makes them feel so much more refreshing and luxurious. I think I have talked B into letting me get one of those tiny beauty product refrigerators for either the bedroom or bathroom. I'll let you know, fingers crossed!
Thank you for reading and I hope you find a product that you enjoy. You can follow me on Instagram @_sincerelylovely and shop all of these products and more of my favorites by following me on the Liketoknow.it app.
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