Our friends from colder Canadian climes will no doubt call us west-coast wusses when they read this. They apparently have to baste themselves in blubber every morning, and still end up with their faces peeling off, Patrick Bateman style. But even our relatively mild winters are bad for skin. Constant nose-blowing means noses are red-raw and Bozo-ish, and central heating pulls the moisture out of skin so it looks parched and flaky. Light summer moisturizers often fail to keep skin feeling soft and comfortable, so in winter, you may need to swap 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 draw 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 as the temperature drops.
Oil chic: Facial oils are brilliant for strengthening your skin’s moisture barrier so all the water that 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.
For three more products, check out our slideshow here. —Aileen Lalor
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