Tips for Hydrating Winter Skin [Part II]: Serums & Moisturizers
Welcome to Part 2 of Tips for Hydrating Winter Skin. If you haven’t read Part 1 yet, hop on over to that post and meet me back here once you’re done reading.
In Part 1, I touched on some tips for choosing the perfect cleanser and toner for dry, winter skin. In this post, i’ll touch on serums and moisturizers.
Soooo let’s get to it! 😉
Tip 3: Hop on the Serum Train! Exfoliate & Hydrate
Serums were one of the products that I used to skip in my routine, but let me tell you…they work! Serums work well because they are highly concentrated, and they’re also thin in viscosity, which makes them easy to penetrate and absorb into the skin. Not to be dramatic or anything, but a good serum can change your life. They work well, and they work fast.
Like any other skin care product, it’s important to note that different serums do different things. For this particular topic (keeping skin moisturized), I would recommend having two types of serums in your collection:
Exfoliating Serum: Less humidity in the air leads to drier, more flaky skin. Exfoliating during the winter is extremely important, because it buffs away those dead skin cells. This makes skin appear less dull and refreshed. It also makes it easier for your hydrating serum and moisturizer to absorb into the skin, resulting in (you guessed it) more hydrated and moisturized skin! I like to reach for exfoliating serums that are packed with alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) which chemically exfoliate the skin, and can also help to reduce hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, enlarged pores, and acne. Don’t get too exfoliator happy though, because they can damage your skin barrier if you go too hard. I would recommend using an exfoliating serum 2-3x a week after toning. If you’re looking for a gentle exfoliator, I would recommend serums with lactic acid or mandelic acid. Make sure you follow-up with a hydrating serum and moisturizer!
Hydrating Serum: This one is more of a no-brainer. A hydrating serum will boost the hydration in your skin, and make your skin appear more dewy and plump. This type of serum can be applied twice a day after toning and before moisturizing. If you’re using an exfoliating serum, apply that first, and your hydrating serum after. When it comes to ingredients, I like to reach for serums that are rich in hyaluronic acid and/or niacinamide.
Recommended Exfoliating Serums for Dry, Winter Skin
Recommended Hydrating Serums for Dry, Winter Skin
Tip 4: Reach for a Thick, Rich Moisturizer
Moisturizers are one of my favorite types of products to talk about. I wrote an entire blog post on moisturizers last winter, and my tips in that post are the same as the tips I have to share today.
Harsh winds and dry air can easily dry out your skin, but the right moisturizer will serve as a warm winter coat, and keep your delicate skin protected. I love me some gel moisturizers, but I actually switch to thicker formulas during the winter because they provide more protection and moisture.
I love moisturizers that are formulated with ceramides and/or peptides as they both maintain the skin’s moisture barrier and deeply hydrate the skin, leaving it looking more radiant, plump, firm and most importantly, moisturized.
Below are some of my favorite winter moisturizers. If you’re looking for even more recommendations, feel free to check out last year’s post on winter moisturizers.
Recommended Moisturizers for Dry, Winter Skin
