Cooler nights, the heater coming on, a few windy days. Your skin feels it before you do.
Dry air pulls water out of the skin faster, and the barrier that keeps moisture in starts to wear down. By the time skin feels tight or looks flaky, it's been losing ground for weeks.
Late fall is the best time to adjust your routine, before dryness sets in. You don't need to start over. A few small changes in how you cleanse, layer and protect make a big difference.
Cleanse more gently
Foaming cleansers that feel great in August can leave skin tight in November. Look for something creamier that cleans without stripping, and turn the water down. A hot rinse feels good on a cold morning, but it washes away the natural oils your skin is trying to hold on to. Lukewarm is plenty. Pat your face dry with a soft towel instead of rubbing.
If your skin feels tight right after washing, that's a sign your cleanser is too strong for this time of year. Our Creamy Facial Cleanser is a light gel with vitamins A and E plus chamomile, cucumber and rosehip. At night, a cleansing oil like our Sunflower & Olive Cleansing Oil melts off makeup and sunscreen first, so you don't have to scrub.
Layer hydration on damp skin
Timing matters more than most people think. Skin starts losing water within a minute or two of washing, so apply your serum while your face is still slightly damp. A hydrating serum pulls water into the skin, and the cream on top keeps it there. One without the other only does half the job.
Hyaluronic acid is the ingredient to look for. Our Hydration Serum with Peptides pairs it with peptides that soften the look of fine lines, so it works year round.
Look after your skin barrier
Your skin barrier is built largely from ceramides, the lipids that hold skin cells together and keep moisture from escaping. When the barrier is worn down, you'll notice it: products sting that never used to, skin looks red or dull, and rough patches show up around the nose and cheeks.
If that sounds familiar, ease up on strong exfoliants and retinoids for a while. Every other night is often enough in winter. Then give the barrier what it's made of. The Exosome Ceramide Serum restores three skin-identical ceramides, with squalane to help lock in moisture.
Go richer at night
Night is when skin does most of its repair, and it's also when it loses the most water, especially with the heat running. That makes bedtime the right moment for your most nourishing cream. If the lightweight lotion you used all summer is gone by morning, it's time to switch.
The Exosome Moisturizing Cream with Copper Peptides is a good fit for most skin, with ceramides and squalane for the barrier. If your skin turns red easily, the Calming Moisture Cream is made for that.
Keep wearing sunscreen
Shorter days don't mean less UVA. It comes through clouds and car windows all year, and it's behind most of the dark spots and fine lines people notice in spring. If you're headed to the mountains, snow reflects UV back up at your face, so you're getting it from both directions. Don't forget your neck and the backs of your hands.
A mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide is gentle on dry winter skin. Ours comes with a sheer tint, plus aloe and hyaluronate so it never feels drying.
Beyond the basics
Little habits that help
Add moisture to the air
Heaters dry out a room fast. A humidifier in the bedroom helps more than most people expect, and you'll often notice the difference in your skin within a week.
Keep showers short
Long, hot showers are hard to resist in winter, but they dry out skin from head to toe. Keep them warm rather than hot, and moisturize within a few minutes of stepping out.
Exfoliate gently, once a week
Dry skin builds up flaky, dull cells that keep serums and creams from sinking in. Skip harsh scrubs and use a fruit enzyme mask like our Pineapple & Papaya Mask once or twice a week.
Don't forget your lips
Lips have no oil glands, so they're the first to crack. Keep something hydrating on them through the day and before bed. Our Lip Hydration Gel is a favorite for this.
Putting it together
A simple winter routine
Here's what that looks like day to day.
Morning
Protect
Evening
RepairMelt off makeup
Sunflower & Olive Cleansing OilDissolves makeup and sunscreen first, so you never have to scrub.
Mask Once or twice a week
Pineapple & Papaya MaskClears away dull, flaky cells so everything after it sinks in. Rinse, then continue.
Get a professional opinion
Everyone's skin handles winter differently. A licensed esthetician can look at your skin, adjust your routine and recommend a seasonal treatment, like a pumpkin facial in the fall or a gentle mandelic peel to brighten dull winter skin.
Find a Lucrรจce Professional