A Facialist’s Top Tips On Saving Every Skin Type From This Dreaded, Cold Winter
Updated: Jan. 31, 2018
Whether it’s dullness, acne, or dark spots, winter is not making it better. But with tips from a pro all skin types can survive cold-weather woes.
Winter, why you so mean right to our face?!
Winter has settled in and chances are your skin knows it. Exposure to chilly temps, followed by the necessity that is dry indoor heating, can rattle any type of dermis. Besides being super pampering, a professional facial can help address specific concerns to set skin on track. The signature Caudalie Grand Facial, available at the Miraj Hammam Spa by Caudalie in Toronto, is designed to be fully customized and leaves skin 100 per cent aglow. And, TBH, it’s worth it to be lavished in misty layers of the iconic Beauty Elixir alone. No time? No problem! At home, it’s easy to be your own skin pro.
“Try to have the least amount of skin showing in the winter to avoid harsh winds, especially if you live in the city where pollution does a number on your skin,” says Kassie Whitteker, the location’s spa treatment supervisor, “And always wear SPF, even in the winter. There are still UV rays, they just aren’t as strong.”
It’s also important to get a healthy amount of sleep and H20.
“Drink a lot of water. The dryness of winter absorbs the moisture from the skin, so do your best to hydrate from the inside out,” she says.
Drink this many glasses of water and you will burn 490 calories.
Winter skin solution: For dehydrated skin
Skin feeling tight lately? You’re likely suffering dehydration, and not alone because it can strike any skin type. Even oily skin is susceptible to the parched experience.
To treat this issue, Whitteker focuses on the beginning of a skincare routine.
“The first step is changing up the cleanser to a milk or oil product to help hydrate the skin while giving a soft cleanse,” she says. It also pays to dabble in a moisturizing treatment.
Using a hydrating mask once or twice per week is great for winter maintenance, says Whitteker, who calls upon Caudalie Moisture Mask to relieve skin tightness and redness.
“For a drier skin type you can also sleep with it on overnight to help deeply nourish the skin. It has an ingredient in it called vinolevure, which holds 100 times its weight in water, and helps to repair and strengthen the top layer of the skin.”
Winter skin solution: For dry skin
If you think the cold weather has it out for your dry skin, you’re not wrong. The season is notorious for snatching all traces of moisture, leaving a rough texture and selfie-ruining flakes behind. To equip dry skin for success, treat your winter skincare like a winter wardrobe.
“It is a great idea to layer and add a couple of extra steps to your regime, this will help counteract the effects of winter,” says Whitteker.
First, commit to using a gentle exfoliant or buffing cream two to three times a week to slough off dead skin cells. Next, invest in a serum.
“Winter is an ideal time to add this into the routine for added hydration. Serums penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin and treat from the inside out.”
It’s also smart to switch to a heavier moisturizer, but we’re here for this genius beauty pro hack: “Before bed, add a couple of drops of face oil in there for an additional boost,” she says.
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Winter skin solution: For dull skin
If you long to reclaim your shine, there’s one thing you need to do: Exfoliate.
“Exfoliating helps to slough off dead skins cells that cause a dull complexion. It also allows for the skin to fully absorb serums and moisturizers,” says Whitteker.
Her go-to ingredient, glycolic acid, belongs to the alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) family, and can be found in daily use products as well as weekly treatments, like peels.
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Winter skin solution: For rosacea-prone skin
A rosy winter-induced flush this is not. Classified as a chronic skin condition, rosacea most commonly appears as persistent and visible redness on the cheeks, nose, chin and forehead, and can include bumps and enlarged blood vessels that alter skin’s texture. And moving between cold and hot weather extremes can trigger a flare up.
To manage throughout the season, Whitteker strongly advises sticking to the use of any doctor prescribed creams. “Avoid being outside for long periods of time, and if you are outside make sure your face is covered with a scarf or face mask,” she says.
And sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but limiting alcoholic drinks, hot beverages and minimizing stress can also help, she says.
Does your face go red when you exercise? You just might have this skin condition.
Winter skin solution: For sensitive skin
Is winter pestering your sensitive skin? Rather than go on the offensive with a complicated skincare routine take an alternate route and go back to basics.
“Use lightweight and simple hydrating products,” says Whitteker, who suggests Caudalie’s Vinosource line. “It uses grapeseed polyphenols to help protect the skin, but also hydrates with grape water. And the Moisturizing Sorbet has chamomile to help soothe as well.”
Winter skin solution: For hyperpigmentation
There’s no such thing as an off season but, against the backdrop of dreary winter weather, you can get the upper hand on dark spots.
“Now is a great time to do more extensive procedures since there is less chance of sun damage to your skin,” says Whitteker, “Laser treatments, chemical peels and microdermabrasion are a smart idea if you are looking for the best results.”
And don’t forget to pair the daily use of SPF with melanin-busting ingredients. Derived from the brightening power of grapevine sap, Caudalie Radiance Complexion Correcting Serum is Whitteker’s standby.
“It’s 62 times more effective than vitamin C for lightening pigmentation and will also help to hydrate skin,” she says.
Winter skin solution: For oily skin
A healthy sheen in the dead of winter doesn’t mean you’re immune to seasonal dermal distress.
“Oily skin still needs hydration contrary to what some may think,” says Whitteker, “One of the worst things you can do for an oily or acneic skin in the winter is skip hydration.”
Get comfy using a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer twice daily. In the morning it will help to protect skin from outside aggressors, while at night is aids in skin healing, she says.
Winter skin solution: For acne breakouts
The bad news: Winter lends no helping hand to anyone dealing with acne.
“When skin is dryer, it sometimes produces oil to counteract the dryness, thus producing breakouts. And when the natural barrier of the skin is disrupted (from cold air and wind) it gives bacteria an opportunity to get into the skin,” says Whitteker.
The good news is that you can take pro-active steps to minimize breakouts.
On the 24/7 front, use an oil-free moisturizer to maintain nourished skin. And be prepared to deal with blemishes when they appear – but approach them gently.
She recommends Caudalie Purifying Mask to treat breakouts with bentonite white clay, by absorbing oils, and with zinc to reduce redness. “The nice thing about this mask is it also has grapeseed oil in it to help hydrate the skin at the same time,” she says.
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Winter skin solution: For uneven skin texture
If the texture of your complexion goes off-course from November to March becoming ingredient savvy can help. A widely used chemical exfoliator called glycolic acid is one of Whitteker’s faves, namely for its transformative effect.
“It gives the skin a deep exfoliation to help brighten, lighten and even the skin tone. It also helps remove the top layer of the skin which gives the skin a fresh and smooth feel,” she says. Think less fine grit sandpaper, more luxurious satin.
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