COLD WEATHER SKINCARE MUSTS

Nov 28

Dehydration, irritation, and flaking skin are not your portion this year. There are simple switches that you should be making when the air is dry and you’re braving the elements in winter to ensure your skin is protected and thriving. Here are my top 5…

STEP AWAY FROM THE FOAMING CLEANSER

This is a major no-no for me. Cleansing is one of the main reasons your skin becomes stripped and dry. Often, people reach for a super thick moisturizer to compensate, but some of those moisturizers can lead to clogged pores. Then you’re not only irritated and dry but now also breaking out. Instead opt for an oil cleanser or cream cleanser that is not stripping away your natural moisturizing factors (NMF) but instead is helping to balance your microbiome.

I love the VENN Moisture-Balance All-In-One Face Cleanser because it is a quasi-semi-emulsion that uses humectants with particle sizes that are 5-10 times smaller than the average size of facial pores to cleanse the skin deeply and effectively while keeping the skin hydrated and soft.

LAYER HYDRATION UNDER OIL

One of my all time favorite tricks is to always mist my face before applying any oil based products. Oils seal in hydration but they don’t provide it. A face oil is going to lock in moisture, create a protective barrier, and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL) but you need hydrating ingredients alongside to get the most out of your oils and deliver them deeper into the skin. A water based serum or face mist with ingredients like - Glycerin, Beta-Glucan, Panthenol (B5), Snow Mushroom (Tremella Fuciformis), Aloe Vera, Niacinamide, (B3), Centella Asiatica (Cica), etc.

I love the Tammy Fender Roman Chamomile Tonic misted under the French Farmacie Sérum Radiant. The Chamomile Tonic is rich in antioxidants that fight free radicals caused by UV rays, pollution, and environmental stressors while deeply hydrating and reducing redness and irritation. This pairs perfectly with the Sérum Radiant which blends camellia seed oil, baobab oil, sacha inchi oil, rosehip seed oil, black currant seed oil, plum seed oil, cranberry seed oil, and more to deliver fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins (A, C, E, beta-carotene, etc) to protect and nourish all skin types - including oily and acne prone.

Continue gentle Exfoliation

I find that when my clients come in for facials in the winter they tend to not exfoliate at all. For some, this works fine and they don’t feel they need it, but for many, their skin is dry and flaky. What often looks like sensitivity is actually a buildup of dry, dead skin sitting on the surface.

When that buildup isn’t removed:

Moisturizers can’t penetrate
Skin looks dull or patchy
Flakiness increases
Hydration doesn’t absorb properly
Makeup sits unevenly

I find gentle and consistent enzyme exfoliation is the ideal solution. Enzymes (like pumpkin, papaya, pineapple) dissolve dead skin cells without stripping or irritating the barrier, which makes them perfect for winter maintenance.

I love the French Farmacie Élixir Exfoliant or the Epicutis Cleansing Set (cleansing oil + enzyme exfoliating powder) for a weekly at-home exfoliation.

MASK IT UP

I’m obsessed with mid-week masking. This is another way to keep your skin both hydrated and gently exfoliated for peak glow and clarity.

How to pick a mask?

Hydration / Plumpness: Epicutis Lipid Recovery Mask, CO2 Lift
Exfoliation / Texture: Lesse Bioactive Mask, Tammy Fender Epi Peel
Acne / Congestion: CO2 Lift, Tammy Fender Epi Peel
Dullness / Brightening: VENN Concentrated Revitalizing Lifting Mask, VENN Collagen Intensive Phyto-Retinol Resurfacing Mask
Redness / Irritation: Epicutis Lipid Recovery Mask, CO2 Lift

KEEP UP WITH YOUR SPF

About 80–90% of visible skin aging is caused by sun exposure, specifically ultraviolet (UV) radiation, while only 10–20% is due to intrinsic or chronological aging. This is a massive fact to accept sooner rather than later. If you’re someone who really wants to keep things simple, SPF is the main thing to not skip out on - year round. I love mineral SPFs because they are so soothing to the skin.

If you are doing any special treatments this winter like laser or microneedling its essential to have a zinc based SPF on your skin every day. I love the Lesse Every Tone SPF 30 because it has a ton of soothing ingredients like Pepperberry - which is clinically shown to reduce inflammation markers by up to 40%, while having high antioxidant content to add extra protection against UV and pollution-induced oxidative stress.

Carly Horvath

Carly Horvath is a licensed esthetician who has practiced in Manhattan, Sag Harbor, Montauk, and Sydney, Australia.

Carly began her career in skincare working in a naturopathic skincare clinic, learning the most sustainable ways to optimize skin health from the inside out. This has given Carly a wealth of knowledge to help clients heal their skin from a holistic approach. She has gained a loyal clientele, thanks to her passion for the energetic exchange of guiding her clients into an elevated state of peace and calm, while achieving their skincare goals and prescribing the best home-care regimen for optimal results over time. Carly specializes in treating clients with inflammatory skin conditions such as acne, dermatitis, and eczema, as well as facial sculpting and pre-event treatments. As someone who has experienced her own journey to healthy skin, she cares deeply for each of her clients’ unique stories and seeks to help them integrate a mind, body, and spirit approach to achieving their desired skincare goals.