From Dry to Dewy: Adjusting Your Skincare for Winter Weather
With January underway, it’s time to revamp your skincare routine. This isn’t about an entire overhaul or an expensive shopping spree—just a few simple (and intentional!) swaps. Fortunately, you don’t need a plethora of products to nourish and protect your skin. Below, you’ll find a few of my favorite hydrating products. These are some of the best skincare products for sensitive skin. For intimate care, a moisturizing vaginal barrier cream can restore the skin’s natural barrier, and relieve dryness and itchiness. When possible, it’s ideal to choose organic, non-toxic, and clean beauty. These brands don’t use synthetic chemicals, fragrances, and a slew of unwanted ingredients.
How Often Should You Change Your Skincare Products?
Modifying your skincare routine is like eating with the seasons. As dynamic beings, it’s only natural that what we put on our skin ebbs and flows. Among other things, the same concept applies to exercise and our supplement regimen.
As a general rule, you should replace your moisturizer and sunscreen (which you should be wearing year-round) twice a year: once from winter to spring, and once from summer to fall. Reason being, this is when hydration levels and sun exposure change. Think of it this way—if you tweak your wardrobe each season, this essentially coincides with when you should modify your skincare products.
Otherwise, consider adjusting your products when they no longer seem to work. Similar to doing the same exercise routine over and over, it’s possible that your face actually gets used to products. In turn, rendering them ineffective after a certain period of time. This is why a seasonal change is helpful. If a product isn’t working as intended (give it a month), offer it to a family member or friend.
The Benefits of Switching to Clean Skincare
Unfortunately, the FDA allows chemicals known to cause cancer (like parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, and lead) to be added to products we use on ourselves—and in our homes. There are a variety of reasons to switch to clean, non-toxic skincare products:
- They’re better for the environment (no synthetic chemicals, etc.)
- They’re safer for your skin + body
- They’re made without endocrine-disrupting ingredients
- They’re gentler on sensitive skin
- They’re packed with beneficial botanicals and antioxidants
Vegan vs. Cruelty-free Cosmetics—What’s the Difference?
Whether you’ve embraced a vegan lifestyle or are simply looking for plant-based, cruelty-free skincare products, it’s never been easier to incorporate vegan makeup. In fact, more and more beauty brands are jumping on the bandwagon, as consumers are becoming more knowledgeable and passionate about the ingredients in their beauty routines.
From Sephora to Pacifica to Glossier, popular retailers are selling products created with the consumer, the planet, and the animals in mind. You can read more about vegan makeup on my SharedPlanet feature, here. SharedPlanet is another health-forward brand. Not only are the SharedPlanet formulas vegan, but they are made without harsh chemicals, animal testing, or child labor. Many other emerging brands in the industry are also pledging to meet the same standards.
10 Hydrating Products for Sensitive (and Dry!) Winter Skin
Living in Colorado, I’m quick to reach for nourishing face oils, moisturizing body lotion, and hydrating lip balm. After all, our climate is very dry. Year-round, hydration is key. Below are my top five clean products for sensitive skin in the spring. Best of all, they’re all under $50.
True Botanicals Nourishing Cleanser
A non-drying, balancing and hydrating facial cleanser that goes to work on congested skin. Sloughs away dead skin cells and leaves skin clean and hydrated. Naturally scented with helichrysum, lavender, and carrot seed to invigorate the senses. This cleanser does an incredible job of removing makeup/sunscreen and mitigating clogged pores/acne.
Evolve Beauty Rose Quartz Facial Polish
This is one of the best exfoliants I’ve ever tried. It buffs skin and unclogs pores. Packed with natural ingredients, this gentle exfoliator is made with organic rosehip oil (which helps fight signs of aging) and organic hibiscus extract (which helps prevent breakouts by breaking down and clearing dead skin cells). This gentle face scrub is great for all skin types and leaves your skin feeling nourished, clear and smooth. My other go-to exfoliant? OSEA’s Seaglow Resurfacing Scrub.
Naturium Multi-Peptide Rich Cream
I haven’t come across a Naturium product I don’t love. Including this cream. This next-gen cream is formulated with marine-based polysaccharides, hyaluronic acid and phytonutrients to provide skin with a burst of beneficial hydration.
Biossance Squalane + OMeGA REPAIR CREAM
Another deeply rich and decadent moisturizing repair cream. This has the good fats (lipids) your skin needs to deeply moisturize without leaving your skin feeling greasy. This moisturizing face repair cream is formulated with lipids that mimic and support skin’s natural moisture barrier: squalane, omega fatty acids, ceramides and plant sterols help nourish, plump, hydrate and feed your skin.
Farmacy Green Defense Sunscreen
An invisible broad-spectrum SPF 30 mineral sunscreen that is never greasy and works great under makeup. This daily skin shield also helps guard against environmental factors associated with aging skin. I put this on every morning (after washing my face with water and spraying on a toner). It doesn’t leave my skin feeling oily and doesn’t leave a white film.
Farmacy Honey GRAIL OIL
A light yet powerful oil to replenish dry, distressed skin with lasting hydration to help visibly plump skin and improve the look of fine lines. For normal to dry skin. Again, with year-round dryness, I love how moisturizing this is.
True Botanicals Rewew Pure radiance oil
Other than Farmacy’s Honey Grail Oil, this is face oil from True Botanics is a must-have. I use it alone (but you can totally pair it with foundation). Lightweight yet moisturizing, it doesn’t cause breakouts and feels incredible on the skin.
EVA NAturals Vitamin c Face serum
A little bit of this serum goes a long way! I’ve tried a variety of Vitamin C serums (unfortunately, many have lead to breakouts), but this one is consistently the best one I use. It has a slightly milky appearance, and it goes on very velvety and smooth. There is a bit of a tingle when it goes on because of the acid, but it feels very fresh and refreshing. I use it 3-4x per week.
DIME BEAUTY LIP BALM
A clean, vegan, anti-aging moisturizing lip balm that hydrates like no one’s business. It has a luxurious glide and no waxy feel. This is my holy grail lip balm.
Eminence Strawberry Rhubarb MASque
This is the only masque I use (1-2x per week). Recommended by my esthetician, it penetrates deep into pores to remove impurities and give skin a fresh glow. It contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate skin, while vitamin C evens skin tone.
What Is the Best Diet for Healthy Skin?
Skincare products aside, the foundation of healthy skin starts from within. A nutrient-rich diet can significantly impact your skin’s appearance and resilience. While no single “magic food” will guarantee perfect skin, focusing on specific nutrients and food groups can help you maintain a glowing, healthy complexion.
Key Nutrients for Skin Health
- Antioxidants: Found in colorful fruits and vegetables like berries, spinach, and sweet potatoes, antioxidants fight free radicals that damage skin cells.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Found in fatty fish (like salmon), walnuts, flaxseeds, and chia seeds, omega-3s help reduce inflammation and keep the skin hydrated.
- Vitamin C: Critical for collagen production, vitamin C-rich foods like citrus fruits, bell peppers, and kiwis can improve skin elasticity and brightness.
- Zinc: This mineral aids in skin repair and combats acne. Foods like pumpkin seeds, chickpeas, and oysters are excellent sources.
- Vitamin E: Found in almonds, sunflower seeds, and avocados, vitamin E helps protect the skin from sun damage and promotes healing.
- Water: Hydration is key for plump, dewy skin. Incorporate water-rich foods like cucumbers, melons, and celery alongside drinking plenty of water.
What Are Skin-Friendly Foods?
- Leafy Greens: Packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- Nuts and Seeds: A great source of healthy fats and skin-protecting nutrients.
- Whole Grains: Provide fiber to support gut health, which is closely linked to skin health.
- Probiotic Foods: Yogurt, kefir, and fermented foods like sauerkraut help maintain a healthy gut microbiome, which can reduce inflammation and skin conditions like acne.
- Green Tea: Rich in polyphenols, green tea helps reduce redness and protect against UV damage.
On the flip side, try to minimize excess sugar (this leads to glycation, which damages collagen and elastin), ultra-processed foods (these are often high in trans fats and low in nutrients), as well as alcohol (can dehydrate skin and contribute to redness or puffiness).
Your Skin-Boosting Meal Plan
Fueling your skin starts on your plate! A balanced, skin-boosting meal plan focuses on nutrient-dense foods that hydrate, repair, and protect your skin from the inside out. From antioxidant-rich berries to omega-3-packed salmon, these meals are designed to support a healthy, glowing complexion.
- Breakfast: Organic Greek yogurt topped with frozen wild berries, chia seeds, cinnamon, and a spoonful of almond butter. For more protein, add a scoop of chocolate protein powder to your Greek yogurt.
- Matcha Latte: Add a scoop of colostrum and collagen to your morning matcha latte for an extra boost of skin goodness.
- Lunch: Smoked salmon on a bed of spinach with avocado, walnuts, roasted chickpeas, pickled red onions, and a lemon vinaigrette.
- Snack: 1-2 hard-boiled eggs, a handful of almonds, and an orange.
- Dinner: Macro bowl with roasted sweet potatoes, grass-fed ground beef, roasted tomatoes, sautéed leafy greens, and crumbled goat cheese.
- Dessert: Dark chocolate (70% or higher) and a mug of bone broth.
