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I want you to take a second and imagine that *awesome* feeling when you apply your favorite foundation, but it refuses to blend because your skin is flaking off…That’s the best right? Wrong. So so wrong.
When we spend our hard earned money on beauty products, we want them to actually look good. Or better yet, we would love our skin to look great without makeup and not like a scaley mess. What a concept!
So before the winter air comes in and sucks the soul from our skin, it’s time to armor up. Here are my non-negotiable skincare steps to save your face in the months leading up to winter!
HOW TO GET GLOWY SKIN IN THE WINTER
1) Get a Humidifier.
This may sound random, but trust me, there’a reason it’s a staple for so many models with the “glow from within” we all want. A humidifier is good for your skin year round, but especially in the months where the dry air wants to suck moisture from wherever it can find it – aka your skin. The humidifier counteracts the dryness in the air so we don’t get any of that!
It also helps promote good sleep, which is good for your skin anyway. All the glowy skin benefits!
2) Swap out your super purifying products for more gentle and hydrating ones.
This Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm is my current, and might be my all-time, favorite Cleansing Balm. The scent is luxurious and it melts on your skin like butter. Your skin will be makeup-free and cleansed but still feel plump and smooth. If you double cleanse, follow up with a more hydrating cleanser like this one from Glossier.
3) Exfoliate 2-3 Times a Week.
In order to keep our skin as smooth as possible, we have to make sure we’re getting rid of the dead skin that will inevitably build up on the driest places on our face. Don’t overdo it though because it will strip your skin if you exfoliate too much.
If you prefer a chemical exfoliant I’d recommend the Dr. Dennis Gross Daily Peel Pads. There’s a reason these have a cult following!
For a physical exfoliant I’ve been loving the Glow Recipe Hyaluronic Clay Pore-Tight Facial Mask. You only need to leave it on for a couple of minutes, and the texture is really nice. It’s grainy but not sharp. The Hyaluronic Clay keeps it hydrated as well, which is great because we’ll take all we can get!
4) Switch to more hydrating serums.
Instead of a daily retinol, try using it 2-3 times a week and substitute in hydrating serums like THIS ONE that hydrates, plumps, and protects your skin barrier. Or try these DEW DROPS infused with Niacinamide that soothes skin and brightens dullness.
5) Swap out your Night Cream with a richer and more nourishing one.
You can keep your moisturizer on the lighter side in the morning since you’ll add makeup, but load up on all the glazed donut goodness before bed!
If you’re willing to splurge, the La Mer Crème de la Mer or Soft Cream are both incredible (there is a 0.5oz option if you want to test the waters before fully investing). I would only use the Crème for hella dry skin because it is so thick, but at night it would be so luxurious. The Soft Cream is a little lighter but just as nourishing! The First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream is a great budget friendly option with great results as well!
6) Add an oil after your moisturizer.
My oily skin friends, hear me out. Oily skin doesn’t necessarily mean to stay away from oil. Actually, excess oil can be a symptom of your skin overcompensating for being dehydrated. Sometimes, I like to apply the oil and take a rose quartz roller to massage it into the skin.
You don’t have to spend a ton of money on an oil, just something that will lock in the moisture overnight. This Charlotte Tilbury one is my favorite right now, but I’ve heard great reviews about this Youth To The People Hydrating Oil and the Josie Maran Argan Oil. I love that many of these oils have a 0.5oz size so you can try it out first without as big of a commitment!
7) Use a super nourishing eye cream.
No one likes the look of crepey eyes, especially when you layer concealer on top of it. We don’t need to see that.
I am actually obsessed with this Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with avocado. I’ve never had an eye cream that was so nourishing, but didn’t feel too tacky. This is a thick cream, but melts into your skin so nicely, instantly hydrating and smoothing the area. It works to use under makeup or layered on even thicker for nighttime. I can’t rave about it enough!
8. Exfoliate & Nourish your lips like crazy.
I think our lips might get the shortest end of the stick when it comes to winter dryness. I don’t know about you, but it seems like if my lips get chapped once, they’re donezo for the whole season. And the vicious chapstick cycle is the biggest deception of the century. We are having NONE of that this year!
Just like we exfoliate our face twice a week, we need to exfoliate our lips! I love the Lip Scrub from Jaclyn Hill and you can get it in a duo with her Lip Treatment which I love too! If you’re willing to splurge, I have a new holy grail lip product: the U Beauty Plasma Lip Compound. Everything from the applicator, to the feel, to the long term benefits is just…right.
If you want to take it a step further, the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is my go-to while I sleep! It’s the ultimate overnight nourishment.
9. Hydrate From Within.
This is the ultimate tip if you’re wondering how to get glowy skin in the winter. I know it’s the most basic tip I could have put in here, but yes, drink your dang water people. So much of how our skin reacts comes from what’s going on inside our body. We can layer on as many products as we want to, but if we are dehydrated on the inside, it won’t matter.
Everyone says it for a reason. So just do it! Consider this peer pressure to drink your water.
I hope these tips were helpful! Feel free to leave any tips that you have in the comments below!
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