Winter Skincare On A Budget: Breaking Down What You Actually NEED
It is easy nowadays to be a product junkie. Social media and content creators are pushing you to BUY, BUY, BUY. Look at all these products that you “need.” The reality is that you do not need any of those things. Taking care of your skin is essential and can be as easy or as hard as you want it to be. You do not need hundreds of products to take care of your skin.
The most important thing to do is to assess your skin and see what it needs. After you have discovered your skin needs, you can use your skincare regimen as an action plan to treat those issues. During the winter months, the air becomes drier and causes your skin to do the same. It is especially important for people who suffer from dry skin to have the perfect routine. This article will highlight the most basic skincare regimen that could be customized to any skin type.
Morning Regimen for Winter Skincare:
Cleanser
No matter what your skin type is, it is imperative that you cleanse your skin every morning. The right cleanser regularly can tackle many skincare issues, like bumpy skin texture, acne, or dry skin. Cleansers are relatively easy to find. They should not make your skin feel squeaky clean, especially in the wintertime. This is how dry patches are formed on the skin.
Exfoliation
Exfoliation can help smooth out those dry patches and skin texture issues. Exfoliation works to slowly break down the top layer of your skin to reveal the newer and less damaged skin layer underneath. The top layer of your skin is just dead skin cells. You should not exfoliate more than three times a week. Too much of anything is not good. The key to exfoliation is to slowly break down the top layer, doing so too quickly can irritate your skin. A lot of people think of exfoliation as a hard scrub, but there are other ways to do so if you think those are not for you. Scrub exfoliants are called mechanical or physical exfoliants. There are also chemical exfoliants that are more varied: acids, retinol, and enzymes. It is best to conduct your own research for your skin type, so you can select what is best for you.
Toner
Afterward, you will need a toner to remove some of the excess dirt and dead skin cells, so they will not clog your pores, which can cause acne. Toner also works to balance the natural PH of your skin. Your skin naturally loses more PH the older you get. These levels are directly related to how your skin absorbs moisture. This is why toners are so important. The more balanced your skin PH is, the less dry your skin will get, which in turn can save you from a lot of pre-mature wrinkles in the future.
Moisturizer
Now all of these previous steps that you have taken will allow your skin to be more moisturized and prepared for the cold wintery weather. Moisturization is important in everyone’s skincare. It does not matter if your skin is oily, dry, or a combination.
Sunscreen
Sunscreen is still important in the winter because the sun is still out, and its rays can still be damaging to your skin.
Lip balm
Do I really need to explain? Your lips should always be a part of your skincare, and your lips deserve moisture. The cold weather can wreak havoc on your lips, making them dry and chapped. The easiest remedy for this is any lip balm of your choice to apply when necessary.
Night Regimen for Winter Skincare:
Cleanse (double- cleanse)
If you are a makeup wearer, it is crucial that you double cleanse. It is exactly what it sounds like. Cleanse your face twice to ensure that you have removed every ounce of makeup from your face. A very popular esthetician on the YouTube channel, Golden Rx, discusses another technique for ensuring clean skin is the 60-second rule. All it calls for is your usual cleanser and massaging the cleanser on your already wet face for 60 seconds.
Toner
Toner is an additional step to make sure that your skin is clean. When you have been running out all day in the polluted air and dirt, your skin needs to be clean. When you sleep, your skin is regenerating and caring for itself.
Your skin cannot repair itself properly when your face is not fully clean.
Masks
Masks can be customized to whatever your skincare needs are. There are thousands on the market, so there are definitely a few out there that can cater to your needs. If you have dry skin, pick one that mentions hydration. If you have acne-prone skin, pick up one that maybe has salicylic acid or mentions that it is for deep cleansing.
Spot treatment
Spot treatments are mainly for those you have problem skin, or that may suffer from blemishes. Spot treatments vary in ingredients, so like masks, you have to buy certain ones that will work best for your skin type.
Moisturizer/ Serum
Now here is the most important part of any winter skincare regimen, moisturizing. Moisturizer and serums can both be used for those that have very dry skin and need that added hydration to their skin. Nighttime is the time to layer on all the moisture you possibly can. As stated previously, your skin works to regenerate itself at night. While you are sleeping, your blood flow increases, which allows collagen to be produced and takes care of skin damages, like wrinkles, UV exposure damage, and age spots.
Eye cream
Your eye area is more at risk for looking aged if you do not take care of it. The skin around your eyes are very sensitive and could wrinkle easily over time. Keeping it moisturized is the key to looking awake. An eye cream can also reduce puffiness and minimize the appearance of dark circles.
