Winter Skincare

With the changing of the seasons come many things that need minor adjustments.  The sweaters get pulled forward in the closets. The garden beds get covered with leaves to insulate what’s beneath through the cold months. Our alcohol intake increases with the amount of holiday gatherings and sometimes painful get-togethers we endure in the name of the season. (Oh, just us? Cool.) 

The colder months during the year bring with them the elements; drier air, the constant vacillation from hot to cold to hot to freezing again as we make our way through our days in our cars, our homes, the outdoors, etc. The rain, the wind, the office parties.  These harsh environments wreak havoc on our bodies.  The endless parade of holiday food and drink, the stress, and the elements are all working together in harmony to make you look as tired as you feel.

Bearing all that in mind, we wanted to address some switch ups to your personal skincare routine that can help.  Bringing awareness to your own body and its needs during a busy time of year can be a centering experience; a moment to pause and remind yourself that you can and will make it through another winter, and can be glowing whilst you do it.  Now, we aren’t scientists or estheticians, so take our advice with that in mind. With any of the info we gather and share, make adjustments based on your needs! Allergies, preferences, etc are important ways to check in with yourself and make your routines more enjoyable.

Firstly, a reminder to continue applying sunscreen DAILY.  It should always be one of the first things you put on your skin in the morning, regardless of how much time you’ll actually be spending outside. This is continually important in the winter because there are still UV rays that cause damage to your skin.  Protecting it should always be a top priority, and not just for cosmetic reasons.  If you don’t already, definitely look into a daily sunscreen application on your face, neck, and upper chest area.  If you already do so-kudos- now keep it up.  Even though we can’t really see the sun, it can still “see” us.  

A big winter switch you can and should pay attention to is moisture!  This is twofold: keep what you have already and add more than you would in the spring and summer. With less humidity outdoors and drier air indoors, monitoring the humidity in your environment, as well as the moisture content inside your body will help your skin look and feel better.  

Obviously stay hydrated, but beyond that, consider running a humidifier in your home.  This will add moisture to the air that will be absorbed through your skin.  A plus: certain houseplants also love the added atmospheric hydration. As tempting as it may be, keep your showers shorter and not as hot; exposing your body to the hot water for longer periods of time in the winter can lead to loss of moisture in your skin. This is especially important if you have any kind of skin sensitivities like psoriasis or rosacea.

Switching up some of your products in the colder months is a good idea for your skin, also.  Consider moisturizers that are oil based, as they help with moisture retention.  Definitely make sure you are patting your skin dry after a shower, and applying lotion to damp skin. That will also help with absorbency.  If you struggle with dry hands, lips, elbows, etc., apply a heavier night lotion before bed.  This will help prevent cracking and protect your weather weary skin. Switch your cleanser and body wash to something that is gentler, with more hydrating qualities than you would use during the spring or summer.  Helping your skin maintain its protective barrier will help it hold moisture more effectively.

In the shop, we have lots of things that can help with keeping you glowy throughout the winter months.  We have ingredients to make your own, if you like.  Coconut oil, shea butter, mango butter, cocoa butter, almond oil, argan oil, and castor oil all have a myriad of usages and benefits for your skin and your hair--moisture chief among them.  For those that want something interactive but still homemade, we have our body butter kits.  There’s also a divine facial oil and a facial wash from our friends over at Verdant Wild that can help loads with gentle cleansing and moisturizing.  The Enrich cream is also a top notch option for deep moisturizing and makes a beautiful gift.  

Please don’t hesitate to ask us questions about how we’ve constructed our personal routines, either.  We actually use the stuff we’re selling, and we’re happy to talk to you about the how’s, why’s, what’s, and all of that.  Stay hydrated, stay moisturized, and take care of that beautiful skin y’all.