My philosophy on makeup and beauty in general has always been less is more. I’d like to pretend that’s only because I don’t like the feeling of heavy make up on my skin, but it may also have to do with the fact that I’m hopeless at applying makeup. A few years ago I took an online quiz to test my knowledge and overall know how on make up and my results were basically “You are such an idiot about make up that you shouldn’t even be allowed to buy it.” Undeterred, I’ve dabbled in experimenting with an assortment of products and techniques that go for the no-make up look (and feel,) but ultimately have come to the conclusion that the best formula for good make up and a fresh face is a stellar skin routine. If your skin is out of sorts whatever make up you try applying on top just won’t look good. And of course, once you finally assemble your perfect skincare routine, the seasons change and you’re back at square one. Recently finding myself in this predicament, I’m sharing my winter skincare essentials that have rejuvinated and brightened the desert that was my face.
Whilst chasing two toddlers around and being entirely caught up in the activities and excitement of the holidays, it wasn’t until my face started to look and feel like dragon skin that I realized I had neglected to amp up my daily skincare routine. While this season is arguably the most wonderful time of the year, the cooler temps and blustery days wreak havoc on the skin. The best way to nourish your skin and keep the scales at bay is a consistent routine of gentle cleansing, moisturizing, moisturizing, and more moisturizing. Here is a roundup of fantastic winter skincare products that work miracles without putting a dent in your budget.
Micellar Cleansing Water– I came across micellar water while reading an article on French women’s skincare routines and have been using it day and night for the past year. Micellar water is a major heavy hitter in the skincare department, and if you haven’t used it before please try it out. A jack-of-all-trades, this product removes makeup, cleanses, and moisturizes the skin. While micellar water can be used as a sole cleanser, I use it as a would a toner giving my face and neck a good wipe to remove oils and make up before washing with a simple milk cleanser. The micellar water lifts so much more dirt, oil, and make up than any traditional cleanser ever could and has been essential for me in getting my face good and clean.- Vitamin E Overnight Serum-In-Oil– I’m in my mid-twenties, and will need to start using a retinol night serum soon, but as a anti-aging product novice this product has been my foray into night serums. Put a few drops in the palm of your hand, rub together to warm, and then gently massage onto your face and neck. Applied after cleansing, this non-greasy serum has a very light fragrance and seeps into the skin giving it a good dose of moisture before applying your night cream.
- Positively Radiant Night Cream– This is a new find for me and is hands down the best night cream I have ever used. For being such an intensive moisturizer it’s very lightweight and non-greasy on the face. At a price point much more attractive than many other top rated night creams, this one really holds its own. I recently had a couple of bad dry patches on my face and within 48 hours of using this cream the dryness was completely gone and my skin has never felt more moisturized.
- Very Emollient Mineral Sunscreen– It is SO important to wear a daily moisturizer with SPF. I had an episode with skin cancer a couple of years ago so wearing SPF on my face is a must for me that I’m very diligent about. I had found a great product over the summer that I was really happy with, but once the temperatures dropped and the wind started up I needed a much more heavy duty moisturizer. Like I do when any problem arises in my life, I went straight to Pinterest in search of answers and came across this product from Alba Botanica in a list of much more expensive daily SPF moisturizers. It was so inexpensive I figured it was worth giving it a shot, and after using it for a couple of weeks now I see why it made the dermatologist’s recommendations list. The consistency of this moisturizer is similar to what a SPF 70 sunscreen looks and feels like, but once blended in the cream is very lightweight on the face and gives a good dewey look.
- Renewing Eye Cream– In the same boat as the anti-aging products, I’m new to the eye cream spectrum as well. I really like Weleda products a lot and have been extremely happy with this eye cream so far. It’s a very light and luscious cream with an elegant fragrance. The tube is quite small but you only need the smallest of dollops per use so one tube will last quite a while.