Winter Skincare

Winter Skincare

by Stacey Lohmar

Start planning for the cold and dry winter months ahead.

We know the mantra – winter is coming – and with it, the cold temperatures, strong winds and dry air (especially here in Colorado).  These elements can wreak havoc on our skin health. By planning and transitioning our routines and products for winter skincare now, we set ourselves up for success all season long.

Winter conditions are far from ideal for our skin. Winter weather strips our skin of its natural oils and leaves it feeling more dry and sensitive. Planning ahead, it’s a good idea to start thinking about winter skincare now and changing up your routine a little bit to help offset these conditions to keep your skin hydrated, healthy and happy! 

Cleanser, a serum and a moisturizer

They’re the foundation for all good winter skincare routines and essential for maintaining healthy and balanced skin.

Using your exfoliating products 3-4 times a week is a great idea to help promote cellular turnover and stimulate collagen production. However, with winter on the way, you won’t need to exfoliate as much.

Some easy ways to succeed in keeping your skin hydrated during winter is to change some of your foundation products. You may need to look at your inventory and switch your cleanser to one that’s more creamy and gentle.

The Lemon cream cleanser from Boulder’s Sanitas Skincare is a great option – it has vitamin C, vitamin E and Jojoba oil. These ingredients are going to supplement the skin with omega fatty acids and help soften and rebalance moisture. They also contain antioxidants, which will help protect your skin from environmental damage.

You may also find that your favorite go-to serum isn’t cutting it in the winter. You may need to switch to a serum that’s calming and can help alleviate skin redness and irritation. Sanitas Skin Soothing Concentrate is a great option.

Or you may need a more targeted moisturizer for your nighttime routine – Topical C is a deep moisturizing reparative balm that nourishes dry skin. 

Adjusting winter skincare for skin-type

If you have naturally oily skin, it’s possible you may experience even more oil production during the winter. Use mild cleansers, and lightweight/oil free moistures. Layer these on with a hyaluronic and moisturizing mist for added hydration without clogging. 

But what if you have a dry/acne skin type or condition? This can be hard to wrap your head around using hydrating products, considering you may be scared your acne will get more inflamed.

When your skin is dry it can over-compensate and produce more sebum to help hydrate, sometimes producing so much that your skin will actually end up breaking out from the excess sebum and dead skin buildup.

Search out cleansers that are gentle but will still remove dirt, oil and bacteria and look for moisturizers that are oil-free and non-comedogenic. Make sure you’re not over doing your acne treatment products, since these will dry the skin out further. It’s the product’s job to do so, but limit how much you use during your winter routine. 

Quick winter skincare tips to keep your glow

• Avoid long hot showers. I know that’s hard, but they can dry your skin out even more.
• Try using a humidifier to keep the moisture in the air while at home.
• Use a hydrating mask 1-2 times a week.
• Protect your skin with a face mask or scarf when you’re outside, especially during really windy and cold days.
• Layer your skin care products. Lipids and ceramides help form the top layer of our epidermis, and hot water can remove them, allowing moisture to slip out. Layer multiple hydrating boosters instead of using just one thick moisturizer. Your skin will hold moisture better this way.

Don’t wait until winter – start now!

You can start making these winter skincare changes now so your skin can feel tip-top come January and February. And as always, wear your sunscreen! 

Even on cloudy and snowy days the sun’s rays are coming down into your skin and can cause damage.  At Grand’s MedSpa, we recommend Solar Block by Sanitas and the fantastic line of skincare products from Colorescience.

Looking for advice?

We have three very knowledgeable esthetician’s here at Grand Salon & MedSpa. If you don’t know which part of your routine to change or have questions on what products to add or take away, we’re happy to help!

Bring your products in and set up a consultation, we can go over what you’re currently using, what they offer for your skin and what you may need to change or add. Who doesn’t love to talk products?!

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For more information about winter skincare services offered at Grand Salon’s MedSpa, just drop us an email or give us a call – we’ll put you in touch with one of our estheticians or nurses for questions or any skin concerns. 

If you’d like to book an appointment, consider using our online booking system or reach out to our guest relations staff to work with your schedule.

(303) 572-1435 | info@grand-salon.com | @grandsalondenver

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Stacey Lohmar| Esthetician. Specialties: chemical peels, dermaplaning, laser hair removal, serum-infused facials

Educated at the Denver School of Botanical and Medical Aesthetics, Stacey has a wealth of knowledge on all things skin and how to improve it. Originally from Illinois, she relocated to Denver in 2012 and has pioneered our skincare program at Grand. Stacey loves continuing her education on the latest techniques and products, and was recently featured in 5280 Magazine’s story, “19 Spa Experiences to Help You Relax this Winter.” Follow @skinbystacey