Tips On How To Winterize Your Skin Care Routine
Winter is definitely on its way when we notice that the sun is setting earlier, temperature is decreasing rapidly, and chafing wind causes the air to dry quicker. All of the above are culprits to the dehydration of our skin. On top of that, the things we do to combat the cold such as cranking up the heat and taking long hot showers contribute to the drying of our skin. As we pull out our winter wardrobe, many of us tend to forget to winter-proof our skin-care routine as well. I get asked often about what my daily skin care routine is like, so I thought this would be the perfect place to share some of my personal tips and recommendations.
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Skin Care Tip #1: Switch from lighter to thicker skin care products
The lighter lotions and gel cleansers may be adequate for warmer days but our skin requires a richer and creamier moisturizer and cleanser during the winter months.
Cleanser: NuSkin Ageloc LumiSpa Treatment Cleanser for Dry Skin
Image courtesy of Nuskin
This NuSkin Ageloc LumiSpa Treatment Cleanser for Dry Skin is my all time favorite go to cleanser. The texture of the cleanser is creamy but light. It effectively deep clean pores and helps with skin renewal without drying, stripping, or irritating the skin. If smooth radiance skin is what you’re looking for, look no further.
Moisturizer: Medicube Triple Deep Erasing Cream For All Skin Type
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This Medicube Triple Deep Erasing Cream is packed with collagen, hyaluronic acid, and premium elastin from France that is clinically proven to soothe skin irritation, improve skin flaking, tighten pores and reduce the appearance of freckles and blemishes. On top of that, it helps diminish wrinkles and lift saggy skin for a more youthful appearance. It has the perfect consistency to give you a plump, supple, dewy look without the sticky greasy after feeling. I have been getting many compliments about the complexion of my skin ever since I started using this.
Body Oil: Kora Organics Noni Glow Body Oil
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Awarded the 2017 Allure Best of Beauty award, this luxurious yet lightweight Kora Organics Noni Glow Body Oil is all natural and organic cosmetic certified. A clean skincare product without any synthetic pesticide, herbicide, or toxic chemical so you can feel good using it on your body. Its non greasy, fast-absorbing formula helps reduce the appearance of stretch marks and skin imperfections while hydrating your skin. I usually apply this right after stepping out of the shower within the 3 minute window to get the most benefits.
Skin Care Tip #2: Exfoliate
You may question, wouldn't exfoliation cause your skin to dry up more? And the simple answer is not at all. Gentle exfoliation actually helps with the skin turnover cycle and allows your moisturizer to fully get deep down into your skin.
Makeup Remover: Neogen Real Fresh Cleansing Stick with Green Tea Extract and leaves
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I use this Neogen Real Fresh Cleansing Stick all the time, and would not travel without it. This cleanser is in a stick form so it will not leak or spill all over the place. It is a make-up remover, cleanser, soft exfoliate scrub all in one. Embedded with real crushed green tea leaves, this cleansing stick gently exfoliates your skin while removing makeup, dirt and other impurities off your face leaving your skin feeling fresh and moisturized. The only downside about this is that it is not tear-free, so if you happen to get it in your eyes, which I have a handful of times, it will sting quite a bit. So just be aware of that.
Dry Body Brush: Goop Beauty Dry Brush
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I’ve been dry brushing my entire body before going in the shower for almost a year now and I have seen huge improvements on my skin. There are so many benefits of dry brushing that can cover a whole other blog so I will just mention a few main ones here. It exfoliates to help remove dead skin cells and speed up the skin turnover cycle. It stimulates the lymphatic system which in turn helps with detoxification. In addition, it helps eliminate fluid retention, bloating, and minimize the appearance of cellulite. Above all, it improves blood circulation and helps your moisturizer absorb better into your skin.
Skin Care Tip #3: Sunscreen
Many people may forget to wear sunscreen during the winter times because they assume there is less sun. And less sun means less UV rays? Wrong. UV radiation can be just as high on a cold day as it is on a hot one. And we are at as much risk of getting sun damage during the cold season than in a warm one. If you know me, you will know that my freckles are my biggest nemesis, hence it is a MUST for me to always have my sunscreen on before heading out.
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Sunscreen: I have been using Thinksport’s sunscreen ever since I have kids. Thinksport SPF 50 Clear Zinc Sunscreen is vegan, PABA-Free, BPA-Free, cruelty free and harmful chemical free. It is water and sweat resistant for up to 80 minutes and is one of the few reef friendly sunscreens that is considered to be reef safe by Hawaii. I can attest to that because I have brought them to my Hawaii excursions many times and have been checked and approved by their local tour guides without fail.
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Sunscreen Spray: Another sunscreen that I like very much is the 100% Organic Coola SPF 50 Classic Sunscreen spray. I have tried other sunscreen spray but it often leaves white streaks and residues everywhere. But this one comes out totally clear. I love to use it after putting on my makeup and for when I need to reapply my sunscreen. I prefer fragrance free but it does come in other more exotic and tropical scents such as Pina Colada, Tropical Coconut, and Peach Blossom.
Skin Care Tip #4: Lip and Hand Care (Especially Before Bed)
If I forget to put on my lip balm and hand cream before going to bed for just one night, I would wake up the next morning with chapped lips and flaky dry hands right away. And like I mentioned earlier, during the winter season it is crucial to go for a thicker moisturizer than a lighter lotion.
Image courtesy of theklog.co
Lip Balm: I have been using the Mamonde Lip Sleeping Mask for many years now. The reason why I like this lip balm so much is because the scent is light and not overpowering. It leaves my lips feeling silky and smooth without the stickiness of other glosses. However, I am saddened by the fact that they no longer have it in the US anymore. I still have quite a bit left to go but I am already on a quest to find another lip balm that is of my liking and I will update you all when I do find one. To be continued…
(If you have one that you love and would highly recommend me to try it out. Leave me a comment. I would love to hear from you.)
For other Kbeauty skincare products, you might want to checkout www.sokoglam.com. If you enter this referral code, you will get $20 off your first order of $50. Happy Shopping!
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Hand Cream: You may be surprised by my hand cream of choice. This has been a staple for me and my family for many years. It is nothing fancy. You can get it in any drugstore or even Costco. It is no other than the Cerave Moisturizing Cream. I use it mostly for my hands but I will occasionally use it on my legs and body too when they feel really dry. It is developed with dermatologists and accepted by the National Eczema Association. It is recommended by my kids' allergist and pediatrician. For times when your hands are extremely dry, try to slather this moisturizer generously on your hands and then wear a pair of nitrile/cotton gloves on through the night. You will wake up with soft and supple hands the next day.
Skin Care Tip #5: Stay Hydrated
Hydration, hydration, hydration is the key to healthy skin. Not only should we focus on what we put on our skin externally, but also pay attention to stay hydrated internally. Nourishing ourselves with water and high water content nutritional foods will give us the healthy glow that we so desire. I always start my day with a cup of warm water and end it with another cup just before bed. Water is my favorite source of drink and you will find me constantly drinking water throughout the day. I often remind my students to bring a cup/bottle of warm water to my face yoga classes. There are so many health benefits in doing so, it helps relieve nasal congestion, improves digestion, boosts metabolism and blood circulations and the list goes on and on. Zucchinis, carrots, oranges, apples, broccoli, cucumbers, lettuces are some great examples of high water content foods you can find in the fall. Other foods high in antioxidants (e.g. pumpkins, butternut squash, blueberries, kale, tomatoes, beets, spinach, and dark chocolate) and omega-3 fatty acids (e.g.salmon, avocados, eggs, and brussels sprouts) helps support the production of healthy cell and protect our skin from environmental and free radical damages.
Try out these tips and let me know what you think!
“Wow” Yourself!