The Best Winter Skincare Tips by Climate

Around this time every year, a slew of articles rolls out featuring helpful winter skincare advice. This works out splendidly for those who live in chilly, snow-filled parts of the world, but the USA is a pretty big place, with many varied climates. So today, we’re detailing the best skincare tips to follow based specifically on your climate. Heed this expert advice and you’ll keep your skin happy and healthy throughout the season, no matter where you live in the USA.

Skin Care Tips for Dry & Warm Climates

Location: Southwest

There are a few primary considerations if you live in a dry and warm climate (even if it does get a little cooler in the winter months): sensitivity, lack of moisture and continued sun exposure.

“Because skin can be really sensitive in dry and arid climates, I recommend using a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser so that you don’t start your routine off by drying your skin out,” says Stephanie Schendel, a licensed esthetician and the owner of San Diego Medical Spa. PURE PLUSH Gentle Deep Cleansing Foam is a creamy cleanser that utilizes natural ingredients to gently brighten, smooth and refine your skin. You can even follow up with the Mineral Cleansing Water to help sweep away stubborn eye makeup or residue without having to scrub.

Schendel adds, “When it comes to moisturizers, you want to use your water-based products. Look for ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and aloe vera.” These lighter moisturizers are nice in warmer climates since they hydrate without sitting as heavily on your skin. We recommend TRUE OASIS Oil-Free Replenishing Gel Cream. If you feel like your skin needs it — especially at night — you can follow up with (or substitute) a heavier moisturizer or oil, such as BUTTER DRENCH Restorative Rich Cream.

Exfoliation is also important to help slough off dead skin and reveal the brighter, healthier “new” skin underneath. Schendel recommends looking for ingredients like Lactic and Glycolic Acid and to use them once or twice a week depending on label instructions (our PORELESS Exfoliating Essence has both in low doses, and can be used daily if desired). Finally, she adds, “Misting sprays and hydrating masks are very helpful in keeping your skin balanced, and sun protection is most important to maintain your healthy skin.”

Skin Care Tips for Frigid, Snowy Climates

Location: Midwest, East Coast, Alaska, Northern States

This is the climate that gets all the skincare advice articles during the winter months, and for good reason. It’s arguably one of the harshest, and the juxtaposition of a warm summer means your skin goes into a bit of shock come autumn. Attentive care becomes especially important to protect and nourish your skin.

Goal number one should be to infuse as much moisture as possible. Start with a super hydrating cleanser, like OIL OBSESSED Total Cleansing Oil, a lightweight oil cleanser that won’t strip your skin, but will dissolve makeup and dirt accumulated throughout the day. Follow up with PURE PLUSH Gentle Deep Cleansing Foam, our creamy cleanser that softens and nourishes with skin-loving minerals.

Further hydrate your skin with a serum and a moisturizer, advises Saime Demirovic, an esthetician and the co-founder of NYC’s Glo Spa. You can even incorporate a second serum, an emulsion, or an oil. Demirovic says, “For the daytime, I recommend a serum packed with Vitamin C and/or antioxidants, which will help keep your skin healthy and glowing all year round.”

Our SKINLONGEVITY Vital Power Infusion Serum contains antioxidant California Poppy, as well as Ginger Extract to brighten. You can apply it after SMART COMBINATION Smoothing Lightweight Emulsion, which combines skin-strengthening peptides and reparative, moisturizing ceramides. Top it all off with our luxurious BUTTER DRENCH Restorative Rich Cream for an extra dose of hydration.

While hydration should be your absolute priority, there’s always more you can do for your skin. Exfoliate once or twice weekly with an AHA and apply sunscreen to any exposed areas. Since you’re not sweating as much, you can decrease reapplication frequency to once every 4-6 hours.

Skin Care Tips for Humid, Tropical, Subtropical Climates

Location: Southeast, Hawaii

Those who live in tropical climates know there’s a bit of give and take when it comes to skin care in humid weather. Sure, you’re spared freezing winds, and humidity can be a blessing for dry hands. At the same time, all that moisture in the air can wreak havoc on your complexion.

“For some people, it can cause clogged pores and breakouts, so I would recommend incorporating a stronger cleanser that helps tackle sebum build up followed by products that help balance oil production,” says Schendel. Our PORELESS 3-Step Regimen is up to the task; it works to reduce excess oil (which in turn helps reduce visible pore size) while also keeping skin hydrated.

On that note, hydration is still important, but seek out lighter formulations that utilize Hyaluronic Acid, Aloe Vera and waters to moisturize (as opposed to butters and oils). Schendel explains, “These will pull moisture from the air and are less likely to result in breakouts.” TRUE OASIS Oil-Free Replenishing Gel Cream and SKINLONGEVITY Vital Power Sleeping Gel Cream are great options for AM and PM.

As with the other climates, regular exfoliation using ingredients such as Glycolic (AHA) or Salicylic Acid (BHA) will also keep pimples at bay. (Pro tip: our PORELESS 3-Step Regimen includes the hard-working-yet-gentle PORELESS Exfoliating Essence, which can be used daily). Sun protection also remains very important, so make sure that you’re consistently applying and re-applying.

Skin Care Tips for Temperate Climates

Location: West Coast

Temperate climates arguably make winter skincare the easiest, largely because any fluctuation in temperature and humidity is minor, so skin doesn’t go into panic mode.

Demirovic recommends using a gentle cleanser every day — PURE PLUSH Gentle Deep Cleansing Foam is a great one — and using a lightweight moisturizer to keep skin hydrated, bouncy, and healthy. Our TRUE OASIS Oil-Free Replenishing Gel Cream is water-based and loaded with antioxidant-rich algae and mineral moisture technology to intuitively hydrate your skin.

In addition to gentle cleansing and light hydration, focus on exfoliating regularly. Schendel says to apply in the evening, and that “ingredients such as Glycolic and Lactic Acid will help brighten your skin as you sleep at night.” Of course, make sure to apply sunscreen every day to any exposed areas, and reapply every 2-4 hours depending on whether you’ve been active and sweating.

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