As the cold New York air settles in for the winter, many of us feel our skin begin to change. Your skin may start to feel drier or even more oily, and—despite your best efforts—it’s easy to feel like nothing is doing the trick. In most cases, however, maintaining healthy, hydrated skin even in the chilly winter months only requires a few expert adjustments to your regular skincare routine, which is why Tribeca Medspa’s Lead Medical Aesthetician, Allie Summers, shared how to maintain happy, healthy, and hydrated skin year-round.
Adjust Your Winter Skincare Routine for your Skin Type
For Oily Skin
Because your skin is trying to overcompensate for additional dryness, oily skin can become tighter and more oily in the winter This will leave your skin feeling dry and looking shiny—yet not in a dewy or hydrated way. If you have oily skin, Allie recommends layering oil-free serums and gels from thinnest to thickest.
“Hyaluronic Acid (HA) based hydrator is a must for your morning and night skin care routine,” states Allie. “I love SkinCeuticals Retexturing Activator; it’s a gentle and potent resurfacing serum with an HA base, so you can think of it like a glass of water for your skin that also has the extra power to refine your pores and skin tone and texture.”
If you struggle to balance oily skin, alternate between a decongesting, gel-based cleanser, such as SkinCeuticals LHA Cleansing Gel, and a gentle lathering cleanser that won’t strip the skin’s oils completely, like Obagi Gentle Cleanser. After layering oil-free serums designed to treat and correct, seal it all in by wearing a thin layer of a gel mask, like the SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Masque, as a moisturizer.
For Normal Skin/Combination Skin
“Even normal skin can feel drier with the colder weather,” Allie explains. “Use a cream cleanser, like SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser. And consider glycerin-rich hydrators, like SkinCeuticals Metacell B3, which attracts moisture from the air to your skin, reversing skin dehydration.”
For combination skin, it is challenging to find the right balance in your skincare routine, especially in the winter months. The cold air causes your skin to become overly dry and chapped or extra oily, depending on your unique situation.
The solution? Layer oil-free serums and gels, always incorporating a Hyaluronic Acid formula, like SkinCeuticals B5 Gel, morning and night under moisturizer. “Alternate between a gel and milky or oil cleanser, and avoid applying rich lotions and creams to your T-Zone if you’re prone to congestion,” says Allie. “Use these on your cheeks and neck—and your forehead—to feel comfortable and enjoy a better-balanced skin.”
When you use a retinol product, you may find it drying in winter months, Allie recommends reducing usage to 3 to 5 nightly applications each week or mix it with equal parts moisturizer to protect sensitive winter skin.
For Dry Skin
If your skin is dry, it can become tight, itchy, or even chapped as the air gets colder and the wind starts to blow. To make sure your dry skin stays moisturized through the winter, Allie recommends cream-based or milky cleansers, as the best options for dry skin. DNA Skin Institute Crème of Nectar or SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser are perfect as a moisture boost.
Be sure to layer corrective products as directed by your Medical Aesthetician, finishing with a lipid-based moisturizer, such as SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore.
For a little extra help, you can also apply a few drops of hyaluronic serum SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel before your moisturizer, though very dry skin should consider a more protective hydrator. To soothe dry or cracked lips Khus & Khus Rasa Restorative Potion is an excellent product.
Top Tips for Winter Skin Care
Your skin changes with every season, and your skincare routine must be adapted accordingly. To build your best winter skincare routine, start by looking at your cleanser. Especially during winter, exchange your cleanser for a gentler product that offers the right kind of hydration for your skin type. Take extra time to gently exfoliate your skin and remove dead skin cells that inhibit proper product absorption, and use SkinCeuticals Retexturing Activator to achieve powerful resurfacing results without added irritation or drying out your skin.
If you need some extra hydration, add a hyaluronic acid (HA) serum to your daily routine—use SkinCeuticals HA Intensifier—morning and night for a surge of moisture, and add a thin layer of SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Masque or Hydrating B5 Mask, as the final step in your skincare routine. If your lips are suffering from winter dryness , we highly recommend PCA Peptide Lip Therapy, proven to hydrate and approve the appearance of lips.
While winter weather might leave you tempted to skip the SPF, we always recommend that our clients apply sunscreen from our featured brands: Skinceuticals, PCA, and Obagi. UVA rays that contribute heavily to premature aging are present year-round and your skin needs to be well protected. Additionally, daily antioxidants protect your skin and we recommend using SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic under your daily SPF application.
Your skincare routine extends far beyond the products you apply to your skin—hydration matters too! “Always watch your water consumption,” recommends Allie. “Your skin is only as hydrated as the rest of you, so find ways to consume a gallon of water in a day. Remember that alcoholic and caffeinated beverages dehydrate you, so try to drink an extra glass of water for each glass of wine or cup of coffee you drink and add a slice of lemon for flavor and Vitamin C.”
Your monthly treatments with a trusted skin care professional will provide you and your skin years of beautiful reflections. Tribeca MedSpa combines the most experienced New York City medical aesthetics providers and the most innovative technologies to ensure that your unique skincare concerns and goals are all taken care of.
Amazing Skin for the Winter Months and Beyond
While you don’t have to completely overhaul your entire beauty arsenal for winter, changing out a few key products can make all the difference in your skin’s moisture and appearance. You should customize your skincare routine to ensure optimal skin health and appearance, to maintain a healthy luminosity, and to ensure that all of your products are working as well as they should—even during the harsh winter months.
With our personalized approach to your specific skin care concerns and needs, reserve your complimentary consultation today and together we will ensure your winter skin is protected, hydrated, healthy, and luminous.
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