“Nothing burns like the cold.”
– George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
The “Game of Thrones” quote felt appropriate, because, whether we want to admit it or not, the wind and cold and dry heat that come with winter can be brutal on the skin. Dryness and irritation – those are not pleasant things to talk about, let alone deal with. While I’ve never been one with a twenty plus step skincare routine, I have fallen victim to the endless advertising of “miracle” products and the issues that they create. Though I’ve gone through periods of what, to me, felt like perfect skin days, I’ve always had more acne prone skin. That, paired with the hormones that us lucky ladies have to maneuver, can be a bear to tame, but with trial and error, research, and a diligent routine, I’ve been able to find what works for me. The overwhelming takeaway? Less truly equals more, especially in the winter.
1. a gentle cleanser
Selecting the right cleanser has always been a bit of a challenge for me. Throughout my teen and college years, I (like so many of us) was under the impression that, since my skin was more acne-prone, I needed a stronger, more abrasive cleanser. I thought that by scrubbing away at my skin, I could somehow erase every imperfection. In hindsight, I see how misguided that thinking was. For far too long, I clung to this belief, only to discover that those harsh cleansers—and my overzealous use of them—were actually exacerbating the problem. It wasn’t until I shifted my approach and began treating my skin with the gentleness it deserved, choosing a mild, non-comedogenic cleanser, that I finally began to see real improvement. Today, I focus on products with gentle, non-comedogenic ingredients, religiously running each product through this pore-clogging check before I make the purchase.
2. toning pads
When it comes to toning pads, I truly have only one recommendation: Barefaced. I can’t count the number of toning pads I’ve tried and discarded over the years, whether due to unpleasant scents, harshness, or that dreaded sticky residue they often left behind. Clearasil, my eighteen year old self is looking right at you. Barefaced Toning Pads are beyond. They are so gentle, and like any toning pad, designed to refresh and balance the skin. Infused with soothing ingredients, these pre-soaked pads help to tone, hydrate, and refine the complexion while removing any remaining impurities after cleansing. After about four weeks of using these, I noticed how soft and clear my skin looked, which means less makeup, which means clearer skin, and thank God for that. I use these morning and night and do one of my beloved Dr. Denis Gross peels on Sunday nights post dermaplaning and that combination has made such a difference in my skin’s clarity and texture.
3. glycolic acid toner
Glowy skin game changer. Youth in a bottle. A girl’s best friend. If I run out of this, my heart starts to race, that’s how good it is, especially in the colder months. I’m not sure what the magic is in this bright blue bottle, but let me tell you, it is just that – magic. More often than not I’ll cleanse, toning pad, swipe some of this on, top with some moisturizer and call it a day. Coming from a girl who had a death grip on liquid foundation in her twenties, that should say a whole lot.
4. barrier building moisturizer
When taking inventory and checking all of my existing skincare and makeup products for pore clogging ingredients, I found that my moisturizers and foundations were the biggest offenders and a huge part of my problem. It took me quite some time to land on a moisturizer that passed the checklist, mostly because I kept looking at the trendy, most expensive looking options thinking that they were the way to go when, shockingly, the one that I found to be the best option was $16 and right in Michael’s bathroom drawer. Honestly, I should have known. The man has perfect skin.
5. undereye balm
The most delicate skin we have certainly needs some love and attention. No one, and I mean no one, deserves to have cakey, dry undereyes. If I’m being honest, undereye cream is my least favorite skincare product to shop for. Everything just feels so misleading and over-advertised that I end up getting frustrated, which is not good since when it comes to any type of aging that’s where I feel like I’m going to show it most. The blessing and curse of a smile filled life, I guess. I stumbled upon this balm in a hurry one day and it’s been my go-to ever since. It’s nourishing, lightweight, and leaves your undereyes looking, and feeling, firm and well rested.
6. lip mask
As a lipstick girl, there is nothing more important than soft, hydrated lips. We all know what havoc the winter can wreak on our lips, but with this lip mask it’s a total nonissue. This night treatment lip mask is a blend of botanical extracts and oils that moisturizes overnight, for supple and hydrated lips by morning. Not only that, but it also smells divine. P.S. I also think it looks really pretty as a lip balm.
7. body
When it comes to winter beauty basics, I’d be remiss not to mention body care. As basic as it sounds, I rely on only three products year round. Exfoliating shower gloves, a glycerin body wash, and a light moisturizer. In keeping my routine minimal, I’ve found consistency, and with consistency comes results.
