The real-feel temperature today in NYC is 1°F. I can't remember the last time I felt that cold. Going outside for just five minutes made my face immediately turn the color of a tomato and start to sting. Winters in the North East are no joke, but this isn't my first rodeo. As someone who has lived here my whole life, I know a thing or two about keeping warm and protecting my skin in these frigid temperatures.
Making seasonal tweaks to your beauty routine isn't a myth or even a suggestion if you ask me — it's a must. Your skin's needs in the summer are drastically different from those in winter, and failure to adjust accordingly can result in dry patches, rashes, rosacea flare-ups, and overall tightness and discomfort that comes with a compromised skin barrier. But have no fear: I have some industry tips and tricks to make it manageable.
1. Swap Your Skin-Care Products
First things first: you need to be swapping out your products for thicker, richer formulations that will keep your skin protected when the temperature drops and the wind picks up. For moisturizers, trade gel or water creams for thicker creams and emulsions. You can also update your face wash to be a bit more comforting, swapping your gel or foam for a creamy-based product.
2. Try Slugging
"Slugging" by incorporating face oils or ointments into your routine as a final step can also help amp up your hydration levels. "Slugging is a great option for somebody who has dry skin or irritation," says Joshua Zeichner, MD, a dermatologist and associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. However, if you're prone to breakouts or have very oily skin, "covering your face in petroleum jelly overnight may leave you feeling heavy or greasy."
This tip isn't just limited to your face — you can slug just about anywhere on the body, from your hands and cuticles to your feet.
3. Tweak Your Makeup Routine, Too
Your makeup routine could probably use an update for winter as well. Outside of just needing lighter shades in the wintertime, cream-based products (I know, I sound like a broken record) can be more forgiving with dry patches and roughness than powders.
4. Limit the Hot Water
Trust me: I know how good a long, hot shower feels. However, the hot water can strip your skin and leave it dry and tight, doing more harm than good. If you insist on taking a hot shower, just make sure you moisturize immediately after — face and body. Sabrina Carpenter's aesthetician, Renee Rouleau, has a "golden minute rule" for this. "If you don't seal water in, it will start to evaporate through a process called osmosis," she says. "Water attracts water like a magnet, and this will actually pull water out of your skin and go into the air, so you dehydrate more. Particularly if you're in a dry climate or during winter."
If you're in need of some winter-friendly product recommendations, keep scrolling.
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