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Reset and Revive Dry and Dehydrated Skin this Winter in Chicago


A woman touching her dry skin

Winter is unapologetically upon us. It’s absolutely frigid outside and with it brings a whole new set of challenges for your skin, especially in the city of Chicago! Dehydration, dullness, and dryness seem to team up against us as the cold weather wreaks havoc on our complexions. But fear not! I’ve got the ultimate guide to restoring your glow and keeping your skin healthy through the harsh winter months. I’m covering everything from understanding how your skin barrier works to hydrating must-haves, and why you STILL need to be wearing sunscreen in the Chicago winter months….let’s dive into it. 


Let’s start with the basics. What’s the skin barrier, and why you should care:


Your skin barrier is the protective shield that keeps moisture in and harmful irritants out. Think of it as your skin’s frontline defense system. When it’s intact, your skin feels soft, smooth, and healthy. But when it’s impaired, thanks to factors like cold weather, harsh products, or UV damage, you’ll notice signs of dehydration, redness, sensitivity, and even breakouts.


Most new clients coming for treatments in the winter struggle with sensitized and extremely dry skin, and that’s due to an impaired skincare barrier. It can feel like everything is irritating your skin. ☹️ This is why rebuilding your skin’s moisture barrier should be your #1 priority when it comes to treating your skin. The good news? With the right products and a little TLC, your skin can bounce back pretty quickly.


Barrier repair 101: Your winter skincare must-haves

If your skin feels tight, flaky, or looks dull, it’s time to level up your routine with these essentials:


  1. Barrier-supporting ingredients

Look for moisturizers packed with fatty acids, ceramides, cholesterol, and lipids. These powerhouse ingredients help rebuild and strengthen your skin barrier, locking in moisture and keeping irritants at bay. A good moisturizer will protect your skin but won’t do the heavy lifting for hydration… more on that next.


  1. Hydrating serums

Hydrating serums are the unsung heroes of your winter routine. These lightweight formulas penetrate deeper than moisturizers, replenishing water in your skin and helping balance oil production.


Bonus: Serums that boost hyaluronic acid (HA) production help your skin retain its own moisture, giving you a glow that lasts all day.


Some of our favorite hydrating serums:


  1. SPF, SPF, SPF!

Yes, even in winter! UV rays don’t take a vacation when the temperatures drop. Though the UV ray index may be significantly lower in the winter months, other factors such as the sun reflecting off of snow, UVA rays (the kind that speeds up the aging process, triggers hyperpigmentation, and mutates your skin cells leading to diseases like skin cancer) penetrate through the windows of your home or office, and pollutants emitting free radicals that attack your skin cells causing them to die, are all factors that leave your skin vulnerable. My favorite SPF products are from the brand Colorescience for their award-winning, 100% mineral formulas.


Pro tip: Invest in a quality Vitamin C serum for your skincare routine. Why Vitamin C? Because it’s an antioxidant and antioxidants offer themselves up as a first line of defense against free radical damage. Pair it with a quality sunscreen and your skin will be set up for success! But remember, not all Vitamin C’s are created equal. Professional grade brands offer better results due to their commitment to proper formulation and clinical trials than a Vitamin C found at a drug store, Ulta, or Sephora (really any that are not backed by clinical research!). Our crown jewel at SkinQ is none other than iS Clinical Pro-Heal Serum Advance+.


Dry vs. dehydrated skin: What’s the difference?

Dry skin: Lacks oil. Solution? A barrier-focused moisturizer to replenish your skin’s natural oils.


Dehydrated skin: Lacks water. Solution? A hydrating serum to address water loss and restore balance.


Here’s the trick: Most of us need both a hydrating serum and a barrier-supporting moisturizer in winter. Serums hydrate from within, while moisturizers seal in that hydration and protect your skin from the elements.


Why a Hydrafacial at SkinQ is the best reset for winter skin

If your skin continues to feels rough, look dull, or seem like nothing is working, it’s time for a professional reset. Hydrafacial is a game-changer for dry, dehydrated, congested, and acne-prone skin because it uses vortex-fusion technology to help suck up dirt, debris, pollutants, and congestion from the skin, leaving you free from blackheads/whiteheads, and your skin texture and tone more defined. Think of it as the ultimate reset button, giving your skin the exfoliation, hydration, and nourishment it craves.


Here’s what to expect from a Hydrafacial treatment: 


Step 1: During this step, your provider will gently exfoliate by using a method called “hydradermabrasion." Hydradermabrasion helps to slug off the top epidermal layer of dead skin cells that sit on the skin while infusing your skin with an ingredient called “glucosamine” to soften sebum allowing for better extractions, aids in hyaluronic acid synthesis to deeply hydrate the skin, lightens existing hyperpigmentation and acts as a tyrosinase inhibitor to stop melanin production so that new hyperpigmentation can’t form.


Step 2: After the hydradermabrasion step you can expect to experience a light chemical peel designed to eat away at whatever dead skin cell buildup is left over from hydradermabrasion. Chemical peels help to address pigmentation, dullness, active non-inflamed acne, and dehydration. The standard Glysal Prep Peel used primarily in treatment is a Glycolic/Salicylic acid blend that works to decongest the skin and smooth fine lines and wrinkles.


Step 3: Extraction time! Now that your skin is prepped and ready to go you’ll experience painless and productive extractions. Who doesn’t want to experience painless extractions and kiss those blackheads goodbye? The extraction solution contains Willow Bark Extract works alongside the peeling solution to promote clarity in the skin. 


Step 4: LED light therapy. Experience the powerful benefits of Red and Blue light therapy to help tone down inflammation and sensitivity in the skin. Red light is the deepest penetrating light that has the ability to stimulate collagen and elastin production making it wonderful for age prevention and thickening the stratum corneum to help repair the skin barrier. Blue light helps to kill the P. Acnes bacteria that’s responsible for acne. 


Step 5: It’s hydration time! During this last step, your provider will infuse your skin with a blend of peptides designed to keep your elastin fibers strong to avoid skin sagging and different weights of hyaluronic acid molecules to be able to penetrate all layers of the skin for optimal hydration and skin plumping benefits. 


Winter doesn’t have to mean struggling with dull and dehydrated skin. By focusing on repairing your moisture barrier, hydrating effectively, and protecting your skin from UV damage, you can keep your complexion glowing all season long. And remember: skincare is 80% at-home and 20% in-treatment, so book that Hydrafacial with us at our SkinQ Andersonville location to keep your skin happy and healthy!


Let’s face the cold weather head-on, with radiant skin to show for it!


Xoxo,


Hannah, Quality Manager & Licensed Esthetician

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