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You should switch-up your winter morning skincare routine but there is an exception
Now that the weather is beginning to cool down and leaves are turning shades of orange and brown, your morning skincare routine is in desperate need of a shakeup.
Through the combined power of the internet and scientific research, beauty enthusiasts now know the general dos and don’ts of skincare.
Though some already understand that our skin requires extra hydration when entering the spring months, they might not know that fall and winter also require some extra attention.
Alongside the skincare switch up, it’s also vitally important to take care of your overall health, as countless factors are known to age your skin. The same could also be said of diet, and while Mediterranean foods are great for skin health, the same could not be said for some of America’s favorite fast food brands.
To craft the perfect winter morning routine, The Focus spoke to Natasha Dauncey, the owner and founder of the skin barrier-enhancing brand Apothaka.
Cleansing is always the most important winter skincare step
Cleansing is the act of removing irritants, makeup, dirt, and grime from your skin before reapplying your skincare. It should be done in both the morning and evening, but experts do warn against using makeup wipes for your cleansing.
Instead, Natasha Dauncey recommended using a “gentle but effective cleanser” that isn’t going to strip your skin of its natural oils and protections. With so many variations out there, from foaming to jelly cleansers, you can find one that perfectly matches your morning skincare needs.
“Some people find it helpful to switch from a more clarifying gel cleanser in summer to a cream-based cleanser in colder weather, as this is less ‘stripping’ for the skin,” she added.
Providing you’re not using a facemask with harsh ingredients like an exfoliating or clarifying mask, you could opt for an at-home spa treatment following your cleanse. It need not be expensive, either, as there is a range of DIY facemasks that use household ingredients.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
During the colder months of the year, Natasha said that transepidermal water loss (TEWL) could increase dramatically, often resulting in tight, flaky, rough, or red skin. As such, it’s important to always prioritize hydration in your winter morning skincare routine.
In particular, the expert urged skincare enthusiasts to get products containing niacinamide (vitamin B3) and ceramides.
“Niacinamide strengthens barrier function over time, resulting in better water retaining abilities of the skin through increased ceramide production (amongst a multitude of other benefits),” she told us. “Ceramides are key components of your skins natural lipid mix that help to form a protective layer, thereby helping to reduce TEWL.”
Keeping with the hydration, The Focus’ own Kieran Galpin had great results while using the viral snail slime solution.
Picking the perfect moisturizer for your winter skincare routine
As temperatures begin to drop, its necessary to switch up the products we use in each routine step much like the switch we see between our winter and summer wardrobes.
For this reason, Natasha suggested switching out your lightweight moisturizer for one that packs more of a hydration punch. Often, this means seeking out products containing more occlusive ingredients such as dimethicone, shea butter, cocoa butter, beeswax, and Petrolatum.
For the fancy readers out there, Natasha said: “In some cases, it might be enough to add a couple of drops of face oil alongside your moisturizer to your routine.
“The addition of oil will give a bit of extra nourishment and emollience without feeling heavy or greasy (though generally aren’t considered as occlusive as ingredients like dimethicone or mineral oil).”
Sun protection is not just for summer
Despite popular opinion, sun protection should be worn year-round to better shield you from the harmful effects of UV rays. Just one example could be the dual-purpose moisturizer and SPF from Garnier that has been making waves online.
Though skincare products and makeup containing SPF are great, it’s crucial to double down on your sun protection with a dedicated product that targets UVA and UVB. For UVB, you’re going to look for the SPF number on the packaging, while for UVA, you want something with “broad spectrum protection.
“The amount of UVA protection in a sunscreen is proportional to the SPF level, so I recommend a minimum of SPF30 with good UVA protection,” Natasha explained.
“This might sound a lot when its gray and miserable outside, but most people dont apply the right amount of sunscreen, so its a safer option than relying on a low SPF product.”
Just remember to put the SPF on easily forgettable areas like the eyelids, scalp, and hairline.
Consider reducing your active ingredients for fall and winter
Because our skin barrier is already gasping for hydration from the TEWL increase, we don’t want to further irritate the delicate balance. For this reason, you might consider reducing the amount of “active” ingredients in your winter morning skincare routine.
“You may need to reduce the use of actives / exfoliating products if theyre part of your routine: retinoids, AHAs, vitamin C, etc are great anti-aging ingredients but they can cause irritation if used too much, or if your skin barrier is already disrupted from colder weather,” Vanessa said.
With this in mind, perhaps reduce the use of active ingredients or kick them out of your routine completely until the weather picks up once again.
Finally, if you find yourself with irritated and inflamed skin, dramatically reduce your skincare routine to its bare bones. This should give your skin a chance to heal itself.
