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Women Are Swapping Their Boring Water For This Ice Pop Electrolyte Mix!
As a skincare girlie, I take my seasonal reset seriously.
In colder temps, skin tends to be particularly needy. The combination of cold air, indoor heating, and lower humidity levels strips moisture, compromises your barrier, and leaves you with that tight, dull feeling that no amount of splashing your face with water can fix.
What we both probably need is a change in products. Think richer creams, barrier repair ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin, and (of course) sunscreen. UV rays don’t take the winter off, you know!
If that sounds like a lot of products, it doesn’t have to be. I love a good 10- or 12-step skincare process when I have the time, but I totally respect most people are not here for that. So, here are three straightforward picks that cover all the bases: sun protection, hydration, and barrier support.
Keep scrolling for the essentials your skin needs once the temps start to drop!
EltaMD UV Daily Hydration+ Tinted Face Sunscreen SPF 50 ($47)
If you’re going to wear one product every day, make it this one.
EltaMD is a brand dermatologists have been recommending forever, and this particular sunscreen is a great winter pick because it’s not just protecting your skin—it’s actively hydrating it, too. The formula is packed with 25% more hyaluronic acid than EltaMD’s classic UV Daily, clinically proven to improve visible dryness by 75% and skin plumpness by 19%.
It’s SPF 50, broad spectrum, and protects against five environmental stressors including UV, blue light, and smog. I personally appreciate that the tinted formula means no white cast, so it works just as well as a standalone as it does under makeup. Basically, it’s doing a lot, and you barely have to think about it!
SimplyVital Face Moisturizer Retinol Collagen Hyaluronic Acid Cream ($23.97)
Wintertime calls for a richer, more substantial moisturizer. I like this one from SimplyVital because it’s packed with the winter skincare trifecta: retinol to encourage skin renewal and a smoother appearance, hyaluronic acid to lock in hydration, and collagen to support a visibly firmer texture. Together, they’re doing the kind of deep, nourishing work that a lightweight summer moisturizer just can’t.
Not only is this a great cold weather moisturizer, but the retinol and collagen also make it a solid anti-aging play. Just remember that since it does contain retinol, your skin may be more sensitive to sun during the day. That’s one more reason the EltaMD sunscreen above should be a non-negotiable part of your routine.
Hempz Sweet Pineapple & Honey Melon Moisturizing Body Lotion ($18.97)
Skincare isn’t just for your face, and winter will remind you of that pretty quickly if you forget.
When cold air and indoor heating are wreaking havoc on your skin, try this Hempz body lotion for the everyday hydration your legs and arms are craving. It’s enriched with nourishing butters and plant collagen to repair your skin’s moisture barrier and keep things soft and supple, without the heavy, greasy feeling that makes some body lotions such a commitment to put on. And, in the middle of winter, the sweet pineapple and honey melon scent is a nice bonus (like a little tropical vacation for your senses).
To sum up, winter skin doesn’t have to be a whole thing. With the right three products, you’ve got sun protection, deep hydration, and barrier support covered, which is really all your skin is really asking for when temps drop. Don’t forget to do a little seasonal swap before the cold really sets in!
