Hola amigitos! I'm back with some winter skincare tips that I shared recently on a morning show. Today seemed like the perfect day to write this blog because it's the coldest day of the year here in New York City. It's the type of cold that makes your throat dry just with one inhalation of the air outside. Do you know what I'm talking about?
Your face can take quite a beating in this weather. Here are my tips for the following skin issues that I think we can all relate to in the stark wintertime. And if you can't bother to read, no worries, just scroll for my video below which covers everything!
Dry Flaky Skin: What can you do?
I recommend investing in a good moisturizer that has ingredients known for infusing your skin with hydration. For example, I am a big fan of Cetaphil with Hyaluronic Acid. This is a newer range that Cetaphil came out with last year. The Hyaluronic Acid is the secret weapon as it both locks in moisture and plumps the skin. It comes in a Daytime Hydrating Lotion and Night Cream, along with an Eye Gel-Cream that I really like because it doesn't weigh down your eyes or get crusty in the corners when you wake up in the morning.
Hyaluronic Acid is a hydration savior because of it's ability to retain moisture. It holds six times its weight in water and can speed up wound healing and sensitivities (like wind burn!). You can find the Cetaphil with Hyaluronic Acid range at Target, Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid and Ulta.
Winter Acne: Stuck in Zits-ville?
I'm no dermatologist and acne can come in many forms and intensities, so it's always best to consult a doctor first...but what I do know is that winter acne is often a result of bacteria and oil building up under dry, dead skin. It happens to me every winter! The trick is to exfoliate when you wash your face. Get rid of that top layer of dry skin that's holding the rest of your skin back.
I also love a good retinol-based night cream, like Trifecting Night Cream 1.0 from ENVY Medical. It works really well in conjunction with weekly exfoliation and helps with skin cell renewal while you sleep.
Dull, Pale Complexion: How can you bronze up?
This one's easy! St. Tropez's Bronzing Water Mousse for body and Bronzing Water Face Mist are in my opinion the BEST affordable bronzing products as they result in a mess-free, buildable tan for any skintone. I love how they both go on, too. The body mousse you're going to want to apply with gloves but when you pump it out and apply to your skin, there is absolutely no streaking. The facial mist is BEYOND, as you don't need much more than a few spritzes and within 30 minutes you have a slightly darker share that brings out your fleshy tones (instead of unnatural orange-y tones). Both products work well when used together. It's pretty much impossible to go too dark with either. You can get both the body mousse and the facial mist at Sephora and Ulta.
Chapped, Cracked Lips & Dry Hands? DIY it!
You can moisturize all you want with lips and hands but I find an oil to be most effective when it comes to locking in the moisture. By now, most people have coconut oil in their pantries. Grab that or get some portable packets from Trader Joes: Organic Virgin Coconut Oil Packets (Cold Pressed & Unrefined). Throw them in your purse, car, backpack...whatever!
Coconut Oil traps moisture in, smoothes out skin and is actually known as a natural wrinkle treatment. Tear one of the packets open when you need it, apply to lips and use the rest on your hands and arms. Super easy, right?
Split, Lifeless Ends: How to repair your hair...
Again, I recommend oil for this issue because our hair strands are cuticles and also need that moisture locked in. The longer you let them go, the worse they're going to get and by that time you'll just need to get a hair cut. Save some money by investing in a $7 essential hair oil by Love Beauty and Planet made with natural ingredients.
Give it a pump or 2 in your hands, warm it up and then apply to your tresses by pressing in your hair instead of just smoothing over the top. By firmly pressing it into your hair and grabbing sections carefully to really distribute, you're working that oil in. Another tip is not to wash your hair so often in the winter becuase your natural oils will release and self-repair. If you think your hair is getting too oily, use dry shampoo or powder to perk it up.
I hope these tips help you out! Feel free to leave some of your own in the comments below and watch my TV segment! XO, Bianca Jade