Winter brings with it so many great things (cozy sweaters, snow days, nights by the fire). These frigid temperatures also bring dry air that wreak havoc on our skin. The dry air and cold weather cause dryness, dullness, and irritation to our skin. Our skin loses its moisture when the air is less humid. Dry skin requires humectants and emollients that draw in and lock in moisture.
Here are 7 simple winter skincare tips to prepare your skin to handle Canada’s harsh winter weather.
1. Calming Cleanser
Cleansing is the first step to your daily and nightly skincare routine. It is important to find a cleanser that can remover makeup, dirt, and oils by does not strip away the much-needed moisture. I recommend Vivier’s Hexam Cleanser. It is a gentle cleanser that removes oil and impurities to clean and purify the skin.
2. Moisturizer
Winter calls for richer moisturizer formulas to lock in hydration to the skin. If you normally have dry skin, look for an intensely hydrating moisturizer in the form of a rich cream or lotion. It is important to find a moisturizer that contains both a humectant and an emollient. A humectant is found in lotions, shampoos and other beauty products used for skin and hair. It is known for its ability to retain moisture. A good humectant for the skin is hyaluronic acid. Another important component to a moisturizer is an emollient. An emollient provides a protective film to trap in moisture. My absolute favourite moisturizer is Grenzcine Face by Vivier. It combines Polyamine-DAB, Vitamin C and Activ8 Complex for a multi-layer and multi-function approach to aging skin.
3. Exfoliation
Exfoliation is extremely important during the cold winter season. Exfoliating the skin ensures that you are clearing away any dead skin cells that can flake off causing dry skin. In addition, an exfoliator can help your serum and moisturizer to really penetrate. During the winter season I personally use AHA/BHA exfoliating Cream by Vivier. It contains Alpha Hydroxy Acids which slough off dead cells on the surface of the skin, and Beta Hydroxy Acid which has antimicrobial properties and is an effective exfoliant. It also contains Vitamin C and E to reduce free radical damage and environmental stress on the skin and Peptides which are known for their cell communicating ability to help the skin repair itself.
4. Don’t Forget Your Lips
The skin on our lips is very thin and loses moisture easily, which can result in dry, chapped lips. A good lip balm is essential to rehydrate and protect the lips. Lip balms provide an added physical layer between your lips and the winter cold moisture-sucking air. A lip balm can also provide essential nutrient s to keep lips moisturized from the inside out. My personal favourite is SkinCeuticals Antioxidant Lip Repair. The key ingredients are Silymarin, Vitamin E, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Allantoin, and Hyaluronic Acid. Also, I always have on hand Dior Addict Lip Glow which I reapply frequently throughout the day.
5. Face Hydrating Mask
It is important to pick the right face mask during the winter months so that you are not using a face mask that is too harsh or drying. Look for a face mask that has moisturizing emollients with active hydrating ingredients like Vitamin E and ceramides. I love to use the Vivier Ultra Hydrating Mask once or twice a week in my nighttime routine. This face mask has all the ingredients I l listed above to make this face mask check all the boxes for your winter skincare routine.
6. Sunscreen
Your skin needs protection from the sun all year long. Skin damage happens from exposure to the sun even if it a cloudy day. Although the temperature outside could be frigid, there are still skin damaging UVA and UVB rays. Exposure to this radiation from the sun can cause skin cancer, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and aging skin. My new personal favourite is Vivier Sheer SPF 30 Mineral Tinted Sunscreen with Antioxidants. It is a broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen that provides a glow to my skin. It also has antioxidants/extracts that provide added hydration which we need during the winter months.
7. Humidifier
Nothing beats watching a movie in front of a wood burning fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate. Although cozy and comfy, a furnace or fireplace pulls moisture from the air. You can minimize the potential for dry skin by using a humidifier to add moisture into the air during the cold and drier months. I have the Canopy Humidifier in my bedroom, and I absolutely love it.