Protect your skin from the cold and dry Chicago winter. Discover moisturizers, sun protection tricks, & pampering tips for radiant skin all winter long.
Chicago winters are notorious for their harshness, and while the city's snowy landscapes can be beautiful, the frigid temperatures can definitely make your skin look, well, not so beautiful - and we just can’t have that!
Decoding Winter Dryness: Hydrate, Protect, Glow – Ultimate Winter Skincare Tips
As the cold winter months approach, it's very important to change your skincare routine to protect your skin from the cold and dry winter. In this guide, we'll explore effective skincare tips to keep your skin healthy, hydrated during our long Windy City winters.
1. Hydration is key 🔑
Chicago's winter air is often dry, and indoor heating can exacerbate this. To combat moisture loss, invest in a high-quality moisturizer and apply it liberally. If your face is feeling sensitive (think redness and wind burn type of irritation) because of the cold, I highly recommend using Sheald Recovery Balm. This thick moisturizer calms distressed skin and helps strengthen your moisture-barrier.
Another hydrating product, and my personal favorite, is Reparative Moisture Emulsion. My tag line for the moisturizer is: “It’s the best moisturizer on the planet.” And in short, here’s why: It has advanced ingredients that protect your skin from environmental stressors, it contains growth factors that improve the appearance of your skin's firmness, and every skin type can use it because it moisturizes without causing breakouts.
It’s also a smart idea to start incorporating products with ingredients like hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid (also known as HA) is a miracle worker for almost every skin type. It holds 1,000 times its weight in water, seals moisture to the surface of the skin, and builds hydration from the inside of the skin. Some of my favorite products include Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum and Hydra-Cool Serum. Also, here’s your daily reminder to drink more water!
2. Give your skin a cozy cleansing hug this winter
Opt for a gentle, hydrating cleanser to avoid stripping your skin of its natural oils. Harsh cleansers can lead to dryness and irritation, so as the days become cooler, choose prod ucts that nourish and cleanse simultaneously. Creamy Cleanser is a client favorite (and it smells gorgeous). I’ve also been loving iS Clinical’s Warming Honey Cleanser. This luxuriously thick cleanser not only deep cleanses without stripping the skin, but it also acts as an enzymatic exfoliant because it contains papaya enzymes. When washing your face with this cleanser, leave it on for 3-5 minutes and then rinse. The papaya works its magic by gently exfoliating and leaves your skin with a beautiful glow.
3. Layer up with sunscreen
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, SPF is your BFF! Sunscreen isn't just for summer. The Chicago winter sun can still cause skin damage even on the cloudiest of days. Make sure you apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30, especially on exposed areas like your face, neck and hands. Eclipse SPF 50+ PerfecTint Beige is my personal favorite.
4. Break out the humidifier
Combat the dry indoor air by using a humidifier. This helps maintain the moisture balance in your skin, preventing it from becoming excessively dry and itchy. It will also help to prevent your hair from getting staticy. I HATE staticy hair! Just make sure you’re cleaning your humidifier regularly because they can get pretty gnarly.
5. Exfoliate your skin wisely
While exfoliation is crucial for removing dead skin cells, overdoing it in winter can lead to increased sensitivity and dryness. Choose a gentle exfoliant and limit use to once or twice a week to maintain a healthy skin barrier. I recommend Daily Exfoliant because it exfoliates without striping your skin barrier. This product is so gentle, you can use it daily, if you’d like. Another great option for gentle exfoliation is Dr. Dennis Gross’ Alpha Beta Ultra Gentle Peel Pads. This product is great for anyone with sensitive and dry skin. It revives your skin without irritation, refines the pores, smoothes texture, and helps with fine lines and wrinkles.
6. Lip care
I, personally, deal with dehydrated lips, especially during the colder months. It’s pretty much the worst. I’ve tried just about every type of lip treatment on the market, to no avail. Until, drumroll…in walks Sorella’s Avocado Oil Lip Hydrator, and now my dry, chapped lips have been rescued. Not kidding, I have one of these lip balms at arms length at all times.
7. Focus on nighttime repair
Consider adding a richer, more emollient night cream to your skincare routine during the winter months. This provides your skin with extra hydration and nourishment as it repairs itself overnight. Try Youth Intensive Cremè.
Our Chicago winter skincare tips can help you take good care of your skin this winter
We all know that Chicago winters are loong, but with a little extra TLC and implementing these tips into your daily routine, you and your skin will beat the winter blues, and you’ll be ahead of the game going into the spring season. For an extra boost, you can schedule a facial at SkinQ this season!
Peace, love & hydration,
Emily