5 Tips + Tricks for Beautiful Winter Skin.

I don’t know about you all, but right about now is when my skin starts to freak out. Maybe it’s all the travel (airplane travel is another big culprit) but the heat in my building is making my skin so, so dry.

Luckily, I’ve been living in New York City (heat-regulated) apartment with dry air for years and years (almost ten!) now so I’ve developed a cold-weather skin routine and  gotten pretty good at dry skin prevention, but man… it can get bad. Today, I’m sharing my five best tips for ensuring your skin stays smooth and beautiful all Fall/Winter long. Do these things and your skin will look beautiful all winter long.

ONE // Invest in a humidfier! The second the heat comes on, my humidifier comes out. It makes a huge difference… the heat can be so, so incredibly drying to the skin. I live in a tiny space so I’m always very careful about what I allow into my apartment… it’s a necessity! I had a janky old humidifier until recently… Dyson sent me their new one, and I absolutely love it. It’s sleek and beautifully designed (sorry but that’s important too), and the big difference between it and other humidifiers is that it won’t breed bacteria – it kills 99.9% of germs before they can hit the air. It’s also much quieter than my old one. If you aren’t using a humidifier (especially if you live in an apartment where you don’t have control over the heat), I can’t say enough good things… your skin will thank you. It’s the only way to counteract the brutal effects of the radiator. Dry air = scaly skin.

(As an added bonus, the Dyson humidifier doubles as a fan in the summer, and also soothes dry eyes.)

TWO // Use a face oil. I have dry skin anyway and use face oils religiously, all year round, but in the winter, everyone needs one! I’ll actually turn this into a third step; using it after serum and before moisturizer.

This isn’t necessary but it leaves your skin feeling wonderful. Oils feel amazing and the best ones (these two!) soak right into your skin. They won’t clog your pores, instead providing lasting, non-greasy hydration. If you haven’t tried a face oil yet (I know some of you haven’t…. I read your emails!) then get involved. Neither of these options will let you down or leave your skin feeling greasy. Drunk Elephant’s oil contains virgin Marula oil and absorbs into skin instantly. And Herbivore’s oil contains rosehip and chia, and leaves your skin the softest it will ever be. Also, both are 100% natural.

THREE // Try a sleeping mask! I really love Tata Harper’s moisturizing mask when my skin is acting up.

I’ll apply a thin layer before bedtime, and it will in turn leave my skin feeling extra hydrated and soft the next day. This one is especially effective when you’ve had a really long day. It contains rose oil and avocado protein and melts into your skin… feeling blissfully decadent. I love a good sleep mask as you don’t have to really think about anything. Just slather it on, and fall asleep. It’s the ultimate lazy girl beauty product. The logic behind sleep masks is that they lock in whatever goes underneath (so use a serum before the sleep mask), allowing the serum to really deeply penetrate and get results better than it would otherwise.

FOUR // Try a body serum! In the winter, the skin on my body needs a little something else. I try to exfoliate 2-3x a week, and when I do I will use a serum or oil first, and then, body lotion. This one, from One Love Organics smells so good and it’s easy to apply with the spray bottle. As an added bonus, it’s packed with antioxidants.

FIVE // Switch to a cleansing balm. I personally love cleansing balms and oils all year round (in the summer I will double cleanse and use a gel cleanser after the balm or oil) but in the winter, a cleansing balm is often all I need. They take makeup off better than anything else (especially tough eye makeup) and leave skin soft, luminous, and glowing. There are three that I really love (pictured above, left to right) from Clinique, Omorovicza, and Sunday Riley. I like to take a few fingers full, massage it into my skin, let it melt for a bit (while I brush my teeth), massage it in a bit more until it turns into a creamy milk, and then towel off with a warm, wet wash cloth. I know, I’m high maintenance. But I don’t mess around when it comes to my skin.

In collaboration with Dyson.