Our fellow Canadians who live in colder climes will no doubt call us West Coasters wusses when they read this. During the winter months, they apparently have to baste themselves in blubber every morning, and yet they still end up with their faces peeling off, Patrick Bateman-style. But even our relatively mild Vancouver winters are bad for skin. Constant nostril-blowing means noses are red-raw and Bozo-ish, while central heating pulls the moisture from our exterior so it looks parched and flaky.
Light summer moisturizers often fail to keep skin feeling soft and comfortable when the mercury dips, so in winter, you may need to customize your entire regime. First, get a gentle cleanser that doesn’t strip moisture from the skin, and an exfoliant that’ll scuff away flakiness. Find a serum with humectants that draws moisture into the skin (such as hyaluronic acid) and a moisturizer with ingredients like shea butter, oils and ceramides that keep the skin’s barrier layer intact, so water can’t evaporate from it.
Here’s what we’ll be using during the dark months ahead.
Best cleanse
We’re not big fans of foaming cleansers – they’re often too harsh, especially for drier skin. We prefer a balm or cream, our favourite being Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. It doesn’t have pretty packaging, but it’s fragrance-free, non-drying and suitable even for very sensitive or eczematous skin. $17.99 at drugstores and pharmacies
Scrub up
Our current exfoliant of choice is an ultrasonic cleansing device, not a scrub or peel. The Foreo Luna 2 is made from kind-to-skin silicone and has no brush-heads to replace. We use it nightly on damp skin with Cetaphil, but any cleanser will do – it just needs something to give it a little ‘slip’. It’s certainly possible to overdo things, though, so if you notice your skin getting red or sore, dial back usage to a couple of times a week. The device is available on its own, or as part of a set with a non-rechargeable mini Luna Play (for gym or travel) and cleansers. $229 at Sephora.ca
Moisture maker
Hyaluronic acid and glycerin are the gold-standard ingredients for pulling moisture into the skin, and are present in most hydrating serums and creams. For serum, we like Bioderma Hydrabio Serum ($35 at drugstores, including Shoppers Drug Mart and London Drugs), which is light enough for oily-but-dry skin and also has ingredients that stimulate skin to retain water. If you have a real skin S.O.S., there’s Lierac Hydragenist Extreme Moisturizing Rescue Balm Oxygenating Replumping ($70 at select Shoppers Drug Mart and Murale.ca), a rich cream for extremely dry complexions. It deeply moisturizes without feeling greasy, and can be used on thirsty skin as a mask twice a week.
Oil chic
Facial oils are brilliant for strengthening your skin’s moisture barrier, so all the water you’ve trapped with your hyaluronic acid doesn’t evaporate. Many great oils are too greasy for daytime, but not Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil ($49 at Sephora.ca and Shoppers Drug Mart). We apply it either under moisturizer or mixed with foundation to add luminosity.
