Winter Skin Saviors

Winter is, undoubtedly, one of our skin's worst enemies. The cold weather can do a lot of damage on its own, and even more if you don't do anything about it.

I live in Canada, and as you may know, our winters can get pretty intense. I have noticed the effect on my skin and have tried to help it for years now. I used to pack on as much moisturizer as I could, and that definitely didn't work.

After studying and working in the beauty industry, I have learned a lot on how to correctly help my skin. Good products are important, but the key to keeping healthy skin during the winter months is the routine you have. Combine them both and you might be very happy with the results.

Here are a few tips you might want to keep in mind for the next few months.

1: Cleanse your skin.

Whether you wear makeup on a daily basis or not, your skin still needs to be cleansed. Makeup gets into your pores and mixes up with all the dirt and impurities that come from the outside, your hands touching your face, and many other sources. So clean your face.

My favourite cleanser has to be the "Truth Cleansing Foam" from Ole Henriksen. Available at Sephora, this cleanser is filled with amazing ingredients. The African red tea is full of antioxidants which help keeping your skin looking young by acting as a barrier against free radicals. It also has vitamin C to give you some glow, camomile extract to keep your skin soft, and a lot of fruit oils to protect the surface of your skin.

I use it with my Foreo Luna Mini 2, which is a small silicone device that helps with the cleansing process. It vibrates, so it helps to get all the gunk out of your skin; plus, it gently exfoliates at the same time, so bye bye, dead skin cells.

2: Exfoliate. Please.

Dry and cold weather means dry skin. Dry skin means dead skin. Dead skin means ew. You should exfoliate at least once per week. Ideally, twice. You do have to make sure you get the right kind of exfoliant for your type of skin. Sensitive skins will appreciate a more fine-grained exfoliant, and oily skins will love a more rough approach.

My all time fave has to be another Ole Henriksen product. The "Transforming Walnut Scrub" not only smells amazing, but it leaves my skin feeling so soft, it's incredible. The walnut powder inside really grabs onto that dead skin and takes it away, leaving soft and bright skin underneath. It's also mixed with ginseng extract, which helps purify at the same time.

3. Invest in a serum.

I used to think that serums were only for older people that want to fight their wrinkles, and boy, was I wrong. There are so many serums available and each and every single one targets something different. For winter, hydration boosting serums are the key. Think of it this way: Your skin is like a piece of paper, and your moisturizer is the ink of a pen. When you write onto that piece of paper, it works. But it JUST works. Now, add water onto that paper. What happens? The ink travels with the water. That's your serum. It helps boost the effects of the creams you apply next because it acts as a conductor.

The "Rose Deep Hydration Face Serum" from Fresh does just that. It's full of Hyaluronic Acid, which you could compare to a water bomb in your skin. Plus, the rosewater does miracles to soothe and nourish the skin. This product is a little on the pricier side, but it's so worth it.

4. Moisturize!

I guess I shouldn't need to put this point in, but it's a small reminder to keep moisturizing. And by that, I mean both your face and your body! Your body is exposed to the cold weather almost as much as your face is, so give it a bit of love too.

5. Put on a mask once in a while.

Whether it's a hydrating mask or a purifying one (or any other kind actually), you should treat yourself to a mask at least once a week, or even twice. It doesn't matter if it's a cream, sheet, or clay mask. Take a few minutes out of your busy day and focus on yourself.

My ultimate fave is another Fresh product. The "Umbrian Clay Pore Purifying" mask is a multi-use miracle mask. Not only is it a quick mask (only 5 minutes!!), but you can also use it as a spot treatment, and even as a deep cleanser! It leaves my face feeling so fresh and so clean, and definitely gets rids of little bumps along the way!

Five steps to keep healthy skin during the cold months. Pretty easy, right?