Resource Guide

Shield Your Skin: Winter Care Essentials

Resident Contributor

Hydrated, dewy, and glowing skin is the goal year-round. But when temperatures begin to drop and the harsh realities of winter weather are unavoidable, your skincare routine requires an extra boost of TLC to keep your skin happy and healthy. 

Implementing the proper skincare products, such as hydrating cleansers, intensive moisturizers, and innovative red light therapy, alongside beneficial supplements like Vida Glow collagen, is the ideal way to ensure your skin stays radiant and healthy throughout the harsh winter season.

Hydrating Cleanser

If you don’t change your skincare routine to fit the season, your skin may be missing out. The first step of any routine is the cleanser, and in summer, we tend to opt for a lighter formula to prevent our skin from feeling constricted and heavy in the hotter weather. However, the winter season requires a different formula that goes beyond simply removing impurities and helps to hydrate and protect the skin against harsh environmental elements. 

Foaming and salicylic acid-based cleansers are fantastic for cleansing the skin of dirt and oil, but they often contain sulfates, which tend to be more drying. Cleansing balms, creams, and oils that contain hyaluronic acid and glycerin can effectively clean your skin while keeping it hydrated without disrupting its natural barrier.

Serum with Antioxidants

Regardless of where you live in the world, winter weather exposes our skin to a range of harsh environmental conditions. Including a high-quality serum rich in antioxidants will help shield your skin from oxidative stress, facilitating a healthy and glowing complexion. 

Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that fights free radicals and promotes collagen synthesis, which is vital for skin elasticity. To get the most from your chosen serum, apply it under your moisturizer to allow the active ingredients to interact directly with the skin. 

Alternatively, you can opt for a hydrating serum to help top up moisture levels in your skin and ensure a smooth and plump appearance. Using a hydrating serum is particularly beneficial when prepping your face for makeup. Select an option with hyaluronic acid, which is well-known for its hydrating properties.

Intensive Moisturizers

Summer season is the ideal time for lightweight lotions and gentle products. However, when winter rolls around, switching to a heavier moisturizer may be the solution your skin is after. The harsh winter conditions require a more robust formula that can create the necessary barrier to protect your skin. 

The skin is a dynamic organ constantly exposed to external factors and conditions. Cold and dry air can easily strip the skin of its natural oils, leaving it feeling dry, irritated, flaky, and itchy. When selecting a winter moisturizer, look for ingredients like shea butter and ceramides, which will give your skin the support it needs. 

Shea butter is a luxurious emollient that both soothes and moisturizes, while ceramides, which are naturally occurring lipids, strengthen the skin barrier to lock in moisture and enhance your skin’s natural defenses. Select separate facial and body lotions to avoid unwanted clogged pores on delicate facial skin.

Weekly Face Masks

Once you have a sustainable basic skincare routine that you can maintain throughout winter, the best way to support skin hydration is to use a weekly skin booster. Incorporating a sheet or face mask into your routine once a week helps to keep your skin's moisture levels relatively high. 

If your skin feels partially tight or flaky, it is worthwhile using an overnight mask. It will work its magic while you get much-needed sleep. To avoid disrupting the natural balance of your skin health, it is best to limit your usage of these more intense formulas.

Protective Lip Balm

Winter winds and freezing temperatures can be unforgiving on delicate lips. Skip lip balms that only offer superficial benefits and instead select an option that offers SPF protection and moisturizing properties, forming the perfect shield against the weather. 

Like your skin, SPF in lip products protects the delicate skin from harsh sun damage, while natural oils and vitamin E are brilliant moisturizers that keep your lips smooth, plump, and healthy.

Red Light Therapy

It may feel like an unnecessary extravagance, but an easy way to elevate your winter skincare routine is to incorporate the transformative benefits of red light therapy. This revolutionary technology works from the inside out to enhance cellular function, stimulating the production of collagen and elastin. 

This process helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, supporting a rejuvenated and radiant complexion regardless of the weather outside. Incorporate red light therapy into your routine 2-3 times a week for noticeable results.

Sunscreen

Don't let the dreary winter weather fool you into believing that sunscreen is not a necessary component of your skincare routine. Your skin requires proper protection from harmful UV rays throughout the year, and on those rare sunny days, UV light can reflect off of snow and result in a harsh sunburn. 

To get the best coverage, opt for a sunscreen that offers cold-weather protection. This ensures your skin is shielded and protected despite the cold. Select a sunscreen that provides broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays, with additional moisture and nourishment to combat common winter dryness.

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