So far, I don’t feel like I’ve needed to make any adjustments, as my skin doesn’t feel any drier or different than it did months ago!
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I have to moisturize a lot more because where I am at we have brutally hot summers, but frigid winters. I also have to ensure I exfoliate more frequently. I typically will stick with my matte foundations as the more moisturizing ones get sucked up by now drier skin leaving nothing but the pigment in the foundations and I just end up looking patchy.
I have to do the exact same, Colorado weather is a mess.
Girl, it’s awful!
I think the only thing I do differently at all is that I tend to do more involved or detailed eye looks, possibly? And this only because during summertime’s heat and eventual humidity throughout monsoon season can cause issues with eyeshadow shades “melting” into eachother somewhat.
Same for me! I find the winter is the best and easiest time for me to experiment with my shadow looks
I’m more likely to wear make-up in winter since there’s less chance of me getting sensory overload AND I’m more likely to go out at all. I have summer-onset seasonal affective disorder, so in summer I try to conserve my energy (or spoons) as much as possible so I’d have enough for necessary stuff. Unfortunately make-up usually ends up on the back burner as a result. >:
How unusual, considering most SAD is related to lack of light, opposed to too much. Do they understand it, meaning the medical professionals, this paradoxical SAD? Are things simply too bright to be tolerable? I’m sorry that you suffer from this.
I suffer from this as well, It’s called Reverse SAD or Summer Depression, and it’s usually from too much sunlight and high temperatures.
Here’s a little more about it!
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/brain-babble/201501/reverse-seasonal-affective-disorder-sad-in-the-summer
I wish more people know about Reverse SAD! Thank you for sharing the link. <3
It might have been undetected most of my life because I was born and raised in the tropics. I live in Australia now and I just can’t seem to adapt to long daylight. Bright lights for long periods of time might have something to do with it. I also can’t handle high temperatures due to temperature dysregulation related to Sensory Processing Disorder.
Wow, I suffer from this too! And I live in Canada so people look at me like I’m crazy when I tell them that summer depresses me. I like winter for the most part, until it gets really cold (like it is now!). My *ideal* day is overcast, maybe a little rainy, and coolish, around 15°C 😉 So I’m happy for basically two months of the year lol….
That sounds like my ideal day! I haven’t had much chance to experience really cold weather (grew up in the tropics, currently living in Australia), but from what little I experienced during one Seattle winter, I seem to be tolerating the cold much better than the heat. It’s apparently not uncommon for people with temperature dysregulation like myself.
I have very dry skin all year around but it is much worse in the winter time and living in Montana with severe cold, dry and windy weather it can be brutal on my skin and most particularly on my lips. I have chronically chapped lips all winter regardless of treatment. My winter routine leans heavily on Asian skin care products. During the winter months I start my cleansing with an oil cleanser and favor oils that are good for my skin. Lately I have been using camellia oil (Tatcha makes a good one) and I also like the Heimish All Clean Balm. I also like the honey based cleanser from Nuxe Reve de Miel. Both remove even my waterproof mascara. I always follow with a foaming cleanser just because I don’t feel clean unless I do. I am currently using one from Sulwhasoo. I spray my face with the Milky Moisturizer from Pixi and follow with Laneige moisturizer and the Water Sleeping Mask or the Sulwhasoo Overnight Sleeping Mask. Two or three times per week I use a moisturizer mask usually one with honey, propolis, etc. I slather my lips with either Nuxe Reve de Miel lip balm or Clarins Lip Balm. Although I know it sounds counter intuitive, I still gently exfoliate during the winter and I usually use the Pixi Gentle Glow pads and then follow the next morning with a gentle buffing with a Konjace sponge. I use the one from Boscia that is a red mud moisturizer sponge. I only do this maybe once per week. I use a lip scrub from Lush to exfoliate my lips. It has an oil base which remains behind after scrubbing.
All of the above are pretty affordable and easily obtained for me. I have been moving more and more into Asian skin care and recently watched a YT video from a trusted source and she reviewed her winter skin routine and she has dry, sensitive skin. I use a couple of the products that she uses already but I was introduced to more products which I am going to order and try so this may not be my routine for the whole winter, LOL.
The Asian sheet masks are pretty good for dry skin too. I’ve heard that a lot of East Asian women even use a sheet mask every time before they do makeup (because truthfully the effects from sheet masks are quite temporary).
No, the exfoliation makes total sense, as it allows better penetration of your moisture. If you want to add, a snail based occlusive might suit you. I find that snail breathes, but holds in the other layers well. But, I’m oily/dehydrated and only use oil in cleansing. Most occlusive other than snail break me out. My reasoning might not make sense for your skin type, but snail is mega soothing, anyway.
I will definitely look into the snail products. I have seen them mentioned on YT and are common in Asian skin care so thanks for the tip.
This is probably too basic for you, but I have a condition that gives me super dry lips and the Bite Agave “mask” is the only thing that’s helped me. I put “mask” in quotation marks because I slather it on before bed and it’s still there in the morning…why would anyone wipe it off??? (I guess if they’re moisturizing before lipstick, whatever.) I just got the Smashed—sheer reddish tint—to wear during the day because I can’t tolerate lipstick right now but I need SOMETHING with a little color. Chapped lips are the worst—I hope you get some relief!
Deborah S, I love your regime. Great advice and I will be following everything you have used. They have high ratings. Thanks for all your advice.
The biggest change is that I have specific formulas that I’ll favour for long stretches, as my lips get dry and don’t react well to a lot of matte formulas. I don’t think my choice of colours changes too much overall, as it’s always driven more by where I’m going and what I think would be appropriate to the situation.
I have oily skin but lately i’ve noticed that my skin is extremely dry. I’m using nars tinted moisturiser in alaska as foundation because no matter how many bottles of water i drink a day my skin is terrible these days.
I use a moisturizer under my makeup, something I didnt do in summer. And I use more cream products.
Changes to my makeup routine in the winter are minimal. But here in the Boston winters, coupled with the fact that I swim regularly, the changes I make are mostly about hydration.
For makeup, I change my foundation color. I tend to go more coral/russet in blushes vs. pinks — think TF Ravish (winter) vs. Wicked (reached for more in the summer). That’s not a hard and fast rule, but it’s what I gravitate towards.
This winter I’m trying the SoKo approach to caring for my face adding in an oil cleanse, an essence daily, and sheet masks 2x/week. My facial moisturizers, etc. stay the same. Can’t hurt, seems to be helping.
Where it really gets tough in the winter is the body. A full layer of Kiehl’s Creme de Corps morning and night helps a lot. Dry skin itching is a problem, so sometimes I also have to use a Gold Bond or other anti-itch lotion in order not to go mad. Come April, this will all be a non-factor. 🙂
As first step a heavier moisturizer, or even two layers to get my dry skin working. Next, a lighter shade foundation or mixing my latest shade with an almost white foundation. Every month I get lighter, so March (just before it gets warmer) is critical to match with anything available in my country.
Actually I really miss my summer go-to light coverage BB. I can’t find anything similar in finish but with a winter shade. Each morning I feel like an crazy alchemist mixing 2-4 products (primers included) to get a decent color and finish. I get tired of that trial and error. But then higher coverage foundation also gives that extra layer from the cold.
Under-eye concealer goes a similar way. It gets harder to hide those dark circles with a lighter color without side effects.
The rest is more or less the same whole year round. Only blush and lipstick tones might change as I get paler, but that’s not a strict rule. I just find that some products I thought were not meant for me, miraculously become my favorites in another season.
I use an oil (argan or rose hip) day and night, as well as super thick moisturizer at night (Avene). Also love Mario Badescu’s rose spray.
Winters where I am (S. Ontario, Canada) can be bitter….really cold temps outside, bitter, biting winds and, of course, the drying indoor heat. I keep a humidifier going in my bedroom all winter (as much for keeping my nose and throat from drying out as for keeping my skin from itching like crazy). Makeup-wise, I use more moisturizer and/or a richer moisturizer (both day and night) and in the day, I am far more likely to use “glowing” products – primers with some glow in them or liquid highlighters mixed in with my moisturizer or foundation. Also, I use face washes that are more gentle/less drying. And if I’m going to be outside on really cold days – hiking, walking the nature trails around my house, etc., I will use a product like this cream I get from Ombra that has no water in it (I’d read in past that water in moisturizers can freeze in really cold weather and contribute to skin damage; I don’t know if there is any truth to this but it seems logical) so I’ll apply a thin layer of Ombra Melkfett – nice name, no? – or EA 8 Hour Cream to help protect my face
I’ve read that people in dry climates ought to avoid water based moisturizers but rather those enriched with oils and whatnot. I think the theory was that some ingredients make the skin draw water from the air but they will draw water from the skin instead, if the environment is too drying. I don’t know if we’re talking about the same thing. But topping with a seal-it-all cream is definitely a good idea.
I haven’t heard this before and have always used a water based sleeping mask at night. I will research this and since I am in the process of changing up my skin care this would be a good time to make the change. Thank you so much for the information.
Interesting that you should say this. I heard a “beauty expert” being asked how it is that a certain product (perhaps hyaluronic acid) draws moisture from the air into the skin but doesn’t work the opposite way, drawing moisture OUT of the skin and into the air. The “expert” was pretty much put on the spot and tried to imply that the product “knew” how to avoid doing this. Of course, it sounded silly as can be. I guess, though, that most moisturizers also contain some sort of oil or oil-like product to form a barrier to seal the skin and stop moisture loss. But any of us who had chapped lips as kids (or even as adults) and licked and licked them to relieve the dryness know full well that just water on its own won’t do it…it’ll evaporate and leave things even dryer than before.
Humectants (like glycerin) attract water, so they’re more effective for humid climates than dry (where, yes, a humectant in strong enough concentration will pull water from the deeper layers of your skin instead of the air and can dry it out further). Most moisturizers aren’t formulated with a high enough concentration to hurt your skin, though, and humectants combined with oils (or other moisturizing ingredients) can be great for skin even in dry climates. 🙂
I’m going to check that cream for outdoors and out for swimming too. It’s not as cold here in Boston as in CA, but when the Montreal express blows in off the ocean –hoo whee! — it can get bitter here too.
I was using Vaseline on my face before swimming, but it made me super red for some reason. I’ve been looking for something with more heft than the Olay 7 cream I generally like to use before getting in the pool. Looks like the Ombra is an option worth pursuing. Thanks!
Hope you can find it, Linda. I’m fortunate to have a German store chain where I live that sells it and it’s very inexpensive (there’s also a swanky gourmet market that sells it but they charge about twice the price). My sis in law, who is a harpist and whose fingers were chewed to bits because she was playing a special piece that had been written for her, had tried everything – Polysporin, that liquid paint on bandage stuff – because, honestly, it looked like she’d run her fingers along a cheese grater! I gave her a jar of the Melkfett cream not thinking it would make a huge difference but it’s bland and greasy and contains calendula so it’s pretty innocuous. She’s hooked on it now!
This is good website/store that carries a lot of German products. Looks like they have the Ombra Melkfett cream. Hopefully it is cheaper than the source you have been buying it from: http://www.smallflower.com/ombra/original-melkfett-skin-cream-8.4oz-cream-17165
Doubtful – that’s a US site so the prices would be in US dollars and there would be shipping and duty on top (assuming the company delivers to Canada). The last time I bought some, I think I paid about 6.99 Canadian. I’ll have to check the next time I’m at the store as I could probably use a new tub anyway. But for Linda and others in the US, that site would be a really great source.
I’m more likely to wear “heavier” makeup looks in winter (like smokey eye), so it might take a little longer to get ready!
It doesn’t! 🙂
So far, I’ve added a hydrating undereye primer (Smashbox) to my routine, and changed my setting spray from Urban Decay All-Nighter to Urban Decay Chill. As the winter goes on and my skin gets more dehydrated, I’ll change my face primer from Hourglass Mineral Veil to Hourglass No. 28 serum primer. I feel less need to pile on the sunscreen/BB cream in the winter, so use more concealer, or use a separate sunscreen and foundation more often.
I didn’t know a hydrating undereye primer existed! I really hope my local smashbox counters have it soon (they’re usually so slow with all the new products in my country; we still don’t have the smashbox matte liquid lipstick and that thing has been launched like what, half a year ago.)
It is available online at sephora. I have been using it for several years and it is excellent!
I’ve used that under eye primer for a year or so. I got it primarily to see if it would help the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer look less dry and scaly on my under-eye area and it actually does. The tube is ridiculously small and not really practical (it is designed to act as an applicator but doesn’t really work – you’re better off using your finger). Roxi, I’m not sure what country you are in but if you’re in Canada and near a SDM that carries Smashbox, they will have it.
CVS brand carries 100% glycerin at about $6.00 for 5 oz. My skin can become very dry, especially in winter. Not all glycerins are made equal, but this one is extremely high quality. It can be mixed easily with anything or worn alone. You read that right — I’ve worn it alone overnight. If you sometimes have winter skin that ends up flaking or itching no matter what product you put on it, or becomes so sensitive that it actually feels and behaves as though it’s chapped, this product is a life saver. It kicks honey concoctions to the curb, imo, and is not greasy or messy. It instantly calms, soothes and reduces redness. It’s my little miracle in a bottle.
Really?! Had no idea. Will be investigating. Thanks!
For makeup, I use a combination of a very light coverage foundation + a foundation powder to add some more coverage (as opposed to medium coverage foundation + translucent powder in other seasons). Sometimes I also mix some oil into my usual liquid foundation to make it less pigmented and adhere to my dry skin better. For the past month though, I’ve only been using my 2 cushion foundations (Lancôme miracle cushion and L’Oréal Nude Magique, which are 90% similar imo). The foundation powder im using on top of them is Chanel vitalumiere compact douceur, which is not matte nor drying.
And I definitely use my beautyblender way more than brushes for foundation and concealer in the winter.
I go for heavier eye creams, and moisturizers, oils and serums to combat dryness. I’ll lower my SPF to a 20 on grey days, and I use more moisturizing SPF creams and reapply less often if I am not in strong sun. More moisturizing of nails, hands, and cuticles. By pass pedicures to let me toes recover from all the chemicals. And this year, fewer manicures too. I go to my paler shade concealer. What’s really different this winter is that I am feeling inclined to go warmer toned in eye shadow, blush, lipstick and brows. This is a first for me. I think it was all the red eye shadow looks this fall, then I ventured into the rusts. Now I am actually wearing a few browns. What converted me was a combo of the Modern Renaissance and the Viseart neutral palette. I returned the Cool Mattes because the formula was just not there. When Viseart came to Sephora, I began to play with the Neutral Matte and realized I could wear it. I can even wear the Dark Mattes. It’s like crossing to the other side of the universe. I wore exclusively cool shades for years. But it’s really nice to go warmer in the winter months I’m finding. Just want to thank you, Christine, because following you has expanded my range.
I don’t change my make-up routine, I just use moisturizers targeted for drier skin. If I do anything, I just tend to apply less powder to set my make-up.
Not much changes except for that I am definitely more likely to reach for highlighters that lean more white and light, like Nars Albatross or Colourpop Stole the Show.
Just moisturizing more often. I also sometimes use a skin oil in place of cream moisturizer. I also tend to apply it with my Beauty Blender instead of my hands. I find I over do it due to dryness thinking it will be better, but I end up going into oily territory. Winter skin care is still a new thing for me – this is only my second winter outside of Florida.
It doesn’t. The only time my makeup routine changes is the hottest part of the summer.
My skincare routine is geared towards oils and moisture as we enter winter and cold temperature and windchill. As for makeup, it has brighter touches on the cheeks and eyes, and movement away from very dark lipstick.
I tend to wear more and more often. Parties, indoor pursuits, holidays and the like. I also have no qualms about wearing super dark lipstick year round but I’m more likely to pull them out in the winter.
Everything changes in the winter. I may have VERY VERY VERY oily skin, but when winter hits you wouldn’t even know it! My face gets red, tight, I get dry patches all over and my skin starts to peel a little. It’s horrible. And the worst part about all of this is that I live in Miami! Smh. Our version of winter is hot, humid, chilly, rainy, and dry. I have to use the Tarte Maracuja Oil the night before I know I’m going to wear makeup and the day of I use any primer I have that’s for dry skin. I typically use the Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer. And I use a foundation that’s not too matte.
I do not change anything.
It is just easier because I am not sweating in my face which makes foundation application complicated in summer.
Hydration is the name of the game!
Without a doubt, I forego long wearing foundations because they dry out on me. I also use an SPF with hydration. I go for foundation that is more satin finish or with luminous finish because they just aren’t as drying. It’s all about the hydration and not looking like a dried up prune for me!
I need to moisturise a lot more, especially around my nose which always gets the driest. Probably due to blowing it more often. I try to buy balmsam tissues for this exact reason. I also wear mostly Berry shades of lipstick. I don’t think they work on me as well in s
I need to moisturise a lot more, especially around my nose which always gets the driest. Probably due to blowing it more often. I try to buy balmsam tissues for this exact reason. I also wear mostly Berry shades of lipstick. I don’t think they work on me as well in summer, not sure why but they just don’t look right. I tend to go more for nudes, pinks and reds in summer.
Lighter shade of foundation and twice as much moisturizer. Tzone but dry patches on cheeks.
Not much except I’ll wear darker blush, eyeshadow, lipsticks tonlook a Snowwhite. I need all the color I can get but very light though.
What’s really interesting to me is that I’ve always thought of fall/winter as a time to deepen my colors. After all, we know what the fall collections look like! But there’s a whole other approach, which I only discovered recently: using lighter colors in winter because paler skin demands it. My complexion is the same shade of pale year-round so that tactic had never occurred to me.
No, I don’t really change my routine for winter – just more lip cream if it’s chilly.
It doesn’t! It’s maybe a silver lining to being mostly housebound – I ignore the seasons completely with regards to makeup/hair/fashion.
I’m from Southern Ontario, and while It’s normally pretty darn cold here. Last years winter, and so far this one has been pretty mild for my town/part of southern ontario. So I’v been doing pretty good!!
I have dehydrated skin deep down, and oily skin on top, just as an fyi.
I don’t really change my makeup routine in the winter, I wear dark vampy/plummy lips more, I switch to berry/terracotta/plummy blushes, and I wear winged eye liner more often!! But I don’t switch my foundation or powder up.
For skin care, I start using facial oils, and hydrating overnight masks (my favourite is from avene I think it is!) and switch to a chemical exfoliator!!
For hair, I wash it twice a week or once a week in the winter, and I use a deep conditioner/hair mask every time I wash it/shower, and I slather it in oils/leave in conditioner. And that’s what keeps my thick, dry, curly hair happy!!
Small but definite changes needed in skin care: gentler toner, much more intensive eye cream day and night; I don’t need face moisturizer though. For makeup: richer colors in general; primer can be a little more on the hydration side (whereas in summer, with my oily skin, I can’t have any hydration in foundation or primer).
Not much changes except maybe I wear more makeup in richer colors. In the summer I wear much less bc why bother when I’m so much more oily nor do I want to put in the effort. I just feel like doing more in the colder months. Keeps me from total depression brought on by the cold, dark days of winter:)
My makeup routine *has* changed recently, but only because I discovered new products, not because of winter. Skincare-wise, I switched out my thinner lotion for a more emollient one.
I definitely wear more makeup in the winter 🙂 Colder weather generally agrees with me so a full face of makeup doesn’t feel as stifling to me in winter as it does in summer. I also choose richer, creamier foundations and use less powder. As far as colour goes, though, I’ll still wear whatever I feel like; if I’m in the mood for turquoise liner and coral lipstick in February, I’ll do it.
I get dry skin in the winter and since I’ve started using Coconut Oil daily to moisturize it has improved my skin’s texture. The jar I get is from Trader Joe’s and costs less than $10 and works great! I gently rub it in and let it soak into my skin for about a half-hour before adding anything else to my face. I tend to use more reds for lip colors vs pinks in the winter, but still use nude colors when eye make up is darker. For foundation, the tinted brightening serum by Bare Minerals has worked well for me. I also use a cream blush and cream contour stick.
In the winter, my oily skin is not as problematic as it is during the summer. I can go without primer on the regular day to day. I can moisturize and put on my foundation and go. If I’m going to a special or long event I will prime.
Another change is my skintone lightens, so of course that calls for lighter shades of foundation, concealer etc….
As for skincare, I do a lot of moisturizing. I avoid anything that strips my skin. Mask, cleansers, and lotions are all chosen to stop the development of dryness and stress on my skin.
Routine? There is no routing. Okay, so the order I do things doesn’t really change, but I am constantly, all year long, trying new products pretty much daily, seeing what works with my skin, hair, face, and favorites.
My skin tends to be drier during the winter, so I make sure to use a good moisturizer before applying my foundation as I use powder foundation year-round. I also tend to wear deeper lip colors for fall and winter, such as berries and blue-based reds.