If you have sensitive or fussy skin, you know how hard it is to keep your skin happy, especially in the colder months. Once you get the hang of what your skin wants, the weather changes and you are back to square one, right? Well, at least that’s what I deal with here in New England, anyway. My skin has a tendency of getting over oily in the summer which causes unexpected breakouts. Then when the weather cools down, if I keep up with my same skin care routine, I end up with overly dry skin that breakouts because it’s irritated! It just can’t be pleased…
Now I try to stay one step ahead of the game by changing my beauty routine every 3 months. Starting in September, I’ve got to stop using my facial cleansers that have salicylic acid to avoid over drying my skin. I also have to start using a facial scrub at least once a week. Then I have to slowly wean off my summer moisturizers and into my Fall/winter moisturizers.
I put together my top picks for facial moisturizers, facial scrubs and lip balms to help keep your whole face feeling great, even when the weather gets colder.
Editor Picks Best Facial Moisturizers:
Perricone MD Intensive Moisture Therapy
I’m a huge fan of Perricone MD and this product is no exception… This intensive moisturizing cream is specially formulated with Phospholipids to help nourish and protect, all while helping to repair overly dry and fatigued skin. It enhances the appearance of facial contours and smooths out facial skin’s texture, delivering instantly visible changes like more radiant and healthy looking skin. Gentle enough for stressed skin that has undergone physical or environmental changes too. This is a must-have for your winter beauty routine.
Retails for $137.00 and is available for purchase at FragranceNet.com for $136.
Elysee Time Out™ RJJ Mineral Moisturizer
Accelerated skin aging as well as an increased sensitivity may be the visible warning signs of continually, stressed-out skin. What your poor skin needs is Elysee Time Out RJJ Mineral Moisturizer. It consistently helps to replenish skin with needed moisture by their unique “mineral electrolyte delivery system” that provides your skin with a fully-loaded supply of vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates and amino acids to help defend your delicate skin against environmental aggressors that cold weather can bring. I especially like this moisturizer because of the light, unobtrusive scent and light feeling on my skin.
Retails for $50 for a 1.7oz jar and can be purchased on elyseecosmetics.com or HSN.com
derma e Hyaluronic Acid Day Crème
This ultra-hydrating day crème thoroughly moisturizes and plumps skin to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Skin loses it’s plumpness over time and especially in the winter time when it’s dry inside from heaters, wood stoves and furnaces. This light-weight silky moisturizer feels great on skin, wears well under liquid and powder foundation and is 100% vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, mineral oil-free, lanolin-free, gluten free, and GMO-free. A great natural option for anyone seeking an excellent winter time day cream to seal in moisture.
Retails for $29.50 for 2oz and is available on amazon.com
Kate Somerville RetAsphere™ 2-in-1 Retinol Night Cream
The RetAsphere Smart Release™ Carrier System protects pure Retinol in a lipid shell that melts evenly into the skin, helping prevent irritation and dryness. By penetrating deep into the epidermis, this patented, time-release technology helps diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles, and leaves the skin looking and feeling smoother and firmer. Seaweed Extract, with bio-derived Hyaluronic Acid, locks in moisture for sustained hydration, keeping the complexion healthy. This is exactly what your skin needs to prepare it for winter!
Retails for $85.00 and is available for purchase at Sephora.com, Nordstrom.com and KateSomerville.com
I always exfoliate my skin once a week during the winter months. This helps keep skin clearer and more radiant by removing any dead or dry skin that didn’t manage to stay moisturized. It also helps makes the most out of your moisturizers by allowing them to soak deeper into the skin and be the most effective. You don’t want to exfoliate your face too often or you will irritate it, dry it out and can even cause a breakout. Instead, gently exfoliate skin once (maybe twice) a week, pat skin dry and immediately follow with one of the excellent moisturizers we recommended above.
Not all facial scrubs compare! Here are a few of my personal favorites that I recommend.
Editor Picks Best Facial Scrubs:
Contains these natural ingredients:
- 100% Natural Apricot Extract
- 100% Natural Exfoliants (corn kernel meal and walnut shell powder)
- 100% Natural Moisturizer (glycerin)
I love St Ives scrubs because they exfoliate to invigorate dull skin with Corn kernel meal – which is known to improve skin’s appearance, Walnut – which is known to naturally exfoliate the skin, Apricot extracts – which is known to replenish moisture to the skin.
I use it on a weekly basis during the colder months, to keep my skin smooth and radiant by removing dry and dead skin.
Retails for around $3.99 a tube and can be purchased a drugstores and most mass retailers like Target, Walgreens, Drugstore.com.
derma e Exfoliating Scrub With Fruit Enzymes and Dead Sea Salt
One of my favorites! This exfoliating scrub combines Fruit Enzymes and Dead Sea Salt to draw impurities out of the skin while smoothing away dull surface cells to reveal fresh, radiant skin. Fall and Winter weather can dry skin out so you may need to exfoliate more often. Be sure to follow up with a a toner and a great moisturizer (check out the list above).
Retails for $13.95 and is available at Amazon.com
Michael Todd Organics Jojoba Charcoal Scrub
This organic and unique facial scrub formulated with Jojoba Wax Beads and Activated Charcoal effectively and gently removes dead skin, impurities and toxins from the skin. Jojoba Wax Beads provide gentle exfoliation without leaving microlacerations on delicate and sensitive skin. The highly absorbent Activated Charcoal penetrates deep into your pores to draw out impurities that cause breakouts. The gentle formula is great for all skin types and it refines texture while encouraging skin renewal. It leaves your skin smooth, refreshed and ready for your favorite moisturizer! Best of all? It has organic ingredients.
Retails for $18 and is available for purchase at michaeltoddtrueorganics.com
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