Cold weather skincare: what do you need?

• October 24, 2021

Ahhh cool weather, it’s so romantic. Sitting around a fire, walking under the snow, singing in the rain- BUT what do they all have in common? Your poor dry itchy skin ❄️❄️

As the temperature drops and so does the humidity, it’s time to switch up your skin routine and make sure you protect your precious glowing complexion.

We asked Dr. Costi for some advice and here are 5 of his expert tips to save your skin from the cold weather.

 

1. It starts with your diet

Let’s go back to basics, as with everything related to skin. Skin health is related to your gut health, so if your gut is happy, you’ll see soft and clear skin. Add healthy fats to your diet like walnuts, olive oil and avocado, while drinking lots of water.

Also remember that alcohol and caffeine are diuretics, so they might be causing you dehydration.

 

2. Scrub and clean

It’s no use adding creams and serums on top of a layer of dry dead skin! What to do? A gentle scrub will remove that top layer of skin to allow your moisturizers to get to work.

Choose a gentle product with glycolic acid or lactic acid for light exfoliation. And if your skin can’t handle any chemical exfoliation, then just gently use a washcloth with lukewarm water to wash and clean your face.

If you’re using a retinol product, make sure it’s not causing you extra dryness in winter, as it causes the skin to peel. You can start using it 3 to 4 times a week instead of every day.

 

3. Add an antioxidant

A product Dr. Costi truly favors? Serums (of course after SPF).

A vitamin C serum is perfect for year-round usage as it will help prevent the damage from free-radicals like UV rays, pollution and stress- which all cause the breakdown of collagen and premature wrinkles!

So before applying your favorite sunscreen, don’t forget to protect with a layer of serum, any day of the year.

 

4. Swap your cream

Dry skin = a good moisturizer. There’s no discussion here that you need a good hydrating moisturizer, and you need to find the best one for your needs, with the best ingredients.

Look for a cream (not a gel or lotion) that contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which will help restore your skin’s moisture barrier.

Use it twice a day- morning and night.

 

5. Perfect your night routine

Redness? Eczema? These only get worse in winter, but the way to prevent them is with a good skincare routine.

To protect from the cold, create a protective layer that will help your skin heal during the night. How?

Once you apply your serum and cream, apply a layer of face oil over them, OR a layer of Vaseline (read our blog about slugging). The oil will help seal in all your products, giving your skin an extra-hand to combat dry skin. Avoid your eye area, but do slather it over your lips. Then with that bit of extra product on your hands, cover your cuticles and make your hands extra soft.

Apply it at least 1 hour before hitting your satin pillow, giving it time to seep into your skin for that extra moisture that’s oh-so good.

A final tip from Dr. Costi?

Remember to avoid hot showers, even though they might be tempting. They wreak havoc on your delicate skin and cause irritation.

Also avoid clay masks and charcoal, as they may overly dry your skin.

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So beauties, what do you say? Are your ready for winter? Only 2 months until the end of the year!

Stay hydrated, stay happy!