My Winter Skin Care Routine

Snow has finally covered the ground on campus, and I couldn’t be more excited–minus the effects that is has on my skin! Winter is my favorite season, but the toll it takes on my skin can be a lot! Having a skin care regimen is super important if you want your skin to stay healthy and moisturized throughout the changing, chilly seasons! Here are five tips on how I keep my skin as smooth as possible during Maine’s rough winters:

1. take warm showers. Not hot! When water gets too hot and steamy, essential oils from your skin get stripped away! My favorite thing to add to my showers is essential oils! The best way to do this is by adding some drops of essential oil in a mini spray bottle with water. There are so many different oils you can do this with depending on what your skin needs, but a little chart broken down by skin type can be seen here! My favorite is lavender since it has many calming benefits. I just spray this on the shower floor and walls and as the shower gets steamy, you can really start to smell it! 

2. take care of your face. Face first, body second. I typically use the four minute rule when it comes to moisturizing my face and body. The best time to moisturize is coming right out of the shower (within 4 minutes) so you can seal in the moisture that just entered your skin. I have severely dry skin (thank you eczema) so what I use after my shower is so so important. I recommend the Calm Collection by Arbonne. You can find it using my link here! Everything is natural and specifically formulated to help soothe and calm dry and red skin, which is a culprit for a lot of us once cold weather rolls in. A skin serum is essential to put on in the winter before lotion because it soaks deeper into your skin and creates a moisture barrier. I would then recommend and eye specific cream/gel because the eye area is the most sensitive skin we have. Lastly, you should use a face lotion to seal the deal.

3. moisturize your body. At night I use a cream because it is thicker than a lotion. In the morning, I use a light lotion that quickly absorbs into my skin! 

4. stay bundled. Once cool temps and wind come, it is time to bundle up! Even if you are tough about the cold, your skin won’t be. Cold air drys skin out faster, so try to cover your face with with a scarf, hood, and beanie when temps get too cold. 

5. keep a humidifier in your room. I’ve said this in multiple posts, and I will say it again! Cold air dries out your skin, so the cooler months make it even more important for you to use a humidifier in your room. Your skin will be a lot less dry if your room is kept at a good humidity level.