If you’re like many of us at Everly Grace, you might have noticed your skin a little “off” this past month or so. As the seasons change, so does our skin. So in addition to every other element out there, weather, hormones, stress and more, our skin adjusts to the seasons too.

Winter weather strips your skin of moisture and of its natural, moisturizing oils. Heating your home, removes moisture from the air, making your home environment dryer. Those cozy hot shower, hot tub sessions and baths also drain the skin of natural moisture and oils. That ski lift, winter show shoe adventure or hike can also have winds and winter sun that effect the skins’ natural balance. Frequent washing and drying that comes with flu season leave skin even dryer and more unprotected.

Winter and summer can equally be hard times for your skin, each in their own unique way. See our tips below for some winter-specific techniques that will prove just as comfy and valuable as those wool socks or mittens that become the go-to for the season.

Moisture

We can’t stress this one enough! This will be the most obvious when it’s not right and will take the longest to recover from. Keep your skin moisturized and don’t get to the point of dry, flaky cheeks or lips. You’ll notice it first in these places and if you’re dry here, everything else is probably lacking moisture.

While a moisturizer is key in both your morning and evening ritual, in the winter, you can really use your evening ritual to keep your skin moisturized with the following tips:

• Start your evening routine with washing your skin, and then follow with a serum. I tell my clients all the time that serum is like a primer. It resets the skin after cleansing and prepares it to get the most out of what’s next. You’ll get more out of your moisturizers if you use a serum first.

• Use a heavy moisturizer like Calendula Essential Hydrating Cream, Cassis Ultra Replenishing Cream or STEM CELLULAR Anti-Wrinkle Overnight Cream. This moisturizer should be thick, almost to the point it’s not something you’d want to wear in the morning. Our EGB staff can personally recommend something for your skin type also. Contact us here.

• If the moisturizer doesn’t seem to be enough, mix it in with an oil. Put a little moisturizer and oil in your hand and mix them together before applying to your face. This trick can also work as a quick fix if you notice your skin starting to dry out.

• Dry lips? Soak ‘em up with Primrose Eye and Lip Treatment: A light blend of hydrating Evening Primrose Oil and regenerating Acai Fruit Oil that helps reduce the appearance of fine lines. Absorbs quickly for supple, smoother skin.

• Finally, it’s time for bed! A humidifier can really help keep moisture in your room. Having trouble sleeping? A humidifier provides white noise and you can add some essential oils to help ease your mind to sleep.

Peels and Masks

Lets be honest, we probably spend more time on the couch in these chilly months. It is dark by 6pm and a cozy house after a long day can be a pretty hard thing to leave. Take advantage of this time and step up your skin care routine components that need a little more time to take full effect. Peels and masks can take anywhere between 3-10 minutes on average. Put on a mask, watch a chunk of TV and go wash it off during commercials, or in between chapters in a book. You be multitasking without even knowing it!

What’s the difference between a peel and a mask?

• Peels gently remove the outermost layer of your skin, producing a smoother texture and sometimes helping to even out dark spots, such as acne scars.

• Masks can clean out pores and detoxify the skin, enhance moisture, absorb excess oil, and deliver antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, or blemish-fighting treatments to the skin.

So, now what should I use and when?

• A peel should not be used as often as a mask and usage varies greatly depending on skin type. Some skin can handle a peel weekly, and some it’s only necessary monthly. If your skin feels dry, a peel is a good idea before a mask.

• A mask can be used more generously - especially in the winter!

Our favorite masks and why:

• Best for all skin types: Moss Blemish Treatment Mask: A purifying mask and spot treatment that combines pore-refining Moss Extract with oil-absorbing Kaolin and Bentonite to leave skin looking healthy and clear.

• Best for oily skin: Aloe Replenishing Gel Mask: A light, soothing gel mask that calms and helps reduce redness with anti-inflammatory Aloe Vera while moisture-binding Prickly Pear Cactus and Hyaluronic Acid hydrate and plump the skin.

• Best for dry skin: White Tea Antioxidant Mask: A creamy, nutrient-rich mask that blends detoxifying White Tea, hydrating Borage Seed Oil and soothing Aloe Vera to hydrate, firm and replenish devitalized skin.

• Pro Tip: Keep your mask in the fridge - the sensation of the mask warming up as it’s on your skin will help soothe dry skin.

SPF and Sunscreen

It wouldn’t be an EGB blog if we didn’t mention importance of SPF. From Huffpost.com: Alex A. Khadavi, the founder of Advanced Skin & Hair, said, “Reflection of radiation from snow requires aggressive sunscreen protection, maybe even more than summertime as individuals participate in snow activities like skiing and snowboarding. Almost 80 percent of UV radiation is reflected from snow while only 25 percent from sand.”