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With the winter season comes many great things…family reunions, much needed rest, and warm foods. However, the cold, dry weather that sucks the moisture out of my skin is not one of them. Luckily, I found the cure for your dry skin woes. Whether you’re struggling with sensitivity or textured skin, these tips and products are here to get you through the winter season!
Sensitivity
Having sensitive skin that is prone to redness or itchiness is often a sign of a damaged skin barrier. The skin barrier is the outermost layer of the skin and helps to protect your skin from the environment. When the skin barrier is healthy, the skin is soft, supple, and appears hydrated. However, when the skin barrier is damaged, it causes the skin to appear dull and become irritated very easily. During the winter season, those with a damaged skin barrier may struggle with heightened skin sensitivity.
If you noticed that your skin is suffering from sensitivity, then here are some steps you can take to help build up a healthy skin barrier once again: Remove any harsh products from your skincare routine and replace them with products specifically made for sensitive skin. This includes products with harsh ingredients or irritants that can trigger itchiness or inflammation. Add products in your routine that are specifically created to help repair and protect the skin barrier. This includes products that include ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides, peptides, and fatty acids.
If you are on the lookout for some products to rescue your sensitive skin, here are some of my favorites:
- a new leaf cream cleanser – Good (skin) Days
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This gentle cleanser is perfect for sensitive skin. It washes away impurities while nourishing and protecting the skin through natural ingredients such as green tea, spinach, celery, and broccoli. This cleanser also works to reduce inflammation and calm redness.
- Ultra barrier repair cream – First Aid beauty
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This rich moisturizer contains soothing colloidal oatmeal, an ingredient that calms redness and soothes itchiness due to eczema. It is an ultra-hydrating cream that also includes shea butter, which helps to protect the skin barrier and moisturize the skin. (P.S. this moisturizer can be used all over the body – not just the face)
- Squalane oil – The Ordinary
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This product includes just one ingredient: 100% plant-derived squalane oil. The ingredient list may be small but this product is mighty. Squalane oil is a saturated fatty acid, and helps to fight off free radicals that damage the skin barrier. It also has anti-inflammatory benefits! Apply this product before your moisturizer to boost hydration and give your skin a healthy glow.
Textured Skin
Whether you’re suffering from those stubborn tiny bumps, flakiness, or rough skin I hear you. While textured skin is NORMAL, it can be worsened by the winter weather due to low humidity, cold air, and blasting heaters that dry out the skin. The most common cause of textured skin is the buildup of dead skin cells, which is likely to happen during the winter due to dryness. This results in the skin having an uneven appearance.
If you are struggling with ultra textured skin due to the winter weather, there are steps you can take to alleviate it. Gently exfoliating the skin two to three times per week will help to remove dead skin cells and prevent dead skin cells from building up. Adding products that are high in antioxidants or vitamin C will be helpful for uneven skin texture as they fight off free radicals that damage our skin throughout the day. Another common cause of uneven skin texture is sun damage. Applying SPF every day, and reapplying throughout the day, can help to prevent uneven skin texture and most importantly protect the skin from sun damage.
Here are some of my favorite products for textured skin:
- Silicone facial cleansing brush
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These silicone facial cleansing brushes from Amazon are an affordable and gentle way to exfoliate the skin without damaging it. They are perfect for sensitive skin and help to remove dead skin cells without being excessively harsh.
- resurfacing liquid 10% aha – First aid beauty
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This is another great option if you are looking for an exfoliant. This chemical exfoliant is more pricey but is a great product for exfoliating the skin gently. It helps to smooth uneven skin texture and uneven skin tone while also giving the skin a brighter appearance.
- Vitamin C serum – Cerave
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This product contains 10% pure vitamin C! It is packed with antioxidants that will help to create a more even skin tone while also brightening the skin. BONUS: This serum also contains hyaluronic acid and essential ceramides which help to hydrate the skin and repair the skin barrier to make the skin less prone to damage.
- sunscreen face lotion spf 50 – sun bum
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This sunscreen is affordable and gentle as it is fragrance-free and does not contain toxic ingredients, such as octinoxate and oxybenzone, which are found in most other sunscreens. It also contains vitamin E so it hydrates your skin while protecting it from the sun damage due to the high SPF!
Just like us, our skin responds to our constantly changing environment. While it may be frustrating to deal with skin issues due to the winter weather, remember that these struggles are normal – there are so many others struggling with the same thing. Our skin may seem trivial but skin insecurities are very real and can cause us to lose focus on the present moment. Just remember that you are not alone. Hopefully these tips and products can give you that extra confident boost you need to be present and make the most of this season!