I’ve been asked by several people about my winter skin care routine, so I’m finally writing a blog post detailing what I do routinely. (Click the blue words below for more product information.)

I’m going to start backwards and say the most important thing you can do for your skin is to remove your make-up at night. So, if you aren’t washing your face every night, start there. Next, incorporate a good night time moisturizer, a daily sunscreen and a regular scrub. Now, for the beauty junkies who already have a basic skin care routine in place – let’s get into the fun stuff. Note: I regularly try new products. I think it’s good for your skin to mix it up once in while. So, the products I’m using right now certainly aren’t the holy grail of face products; use what works best for your skin and fits into your budget. For example, you don’t need to use Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream at night – any quality moisturizer can work. Just find the right one for your skin type and if you aren’t sure talk with someone at Sephora, Ulta or any beauty counter and ask for samples or buy travel size sets before committing to full size containers.

Now, for my routine:

Exfoliate: In the morning before I get in the shower, I fill my Vanity Planet face steamer with distilled water. On the days that I wash my hair (every other day), I use Goop Glow Microderm face exfoliator in the shower.

Prep your Face: After my shower while my body lotion is soaking in, I turn on my face steamer and put on Goop Glow Vitamin C eye cream and a few drops of Drunk Elephant face oil. I’ll steam my face for a few minutes and then I use my Gua Sha stone to massage my face and to drain my sinuses and lymph nodes. If you’re new to using a gua sha, I suggest you just google “how to use a facial gua sha stone” for many different YouTube videos. (Side Note: I bought a gua sha for my Mom and at her next facial, her esthetician asked her what she was doing differently. Face massage makes a difference!) If I’m in a hurry, I’ll brush my teeth, put in hair products, etc. while I continue steaming my face and neck. However, if you have the time, lean into the face steamer and take good deep breaths to relax before you start the day. When you’re done steaming, unplug the steamer and empty the water reservoir so it dries out between uses to prevent any mildew from forming. Let your face dry naturally – do not wipe off the steam.

Moisturize and Protect: Once my face is dry, I mix a half dropper of Ilia tinted serum with SPF 40 and a very small amount of Saie Sunglow luminizer in my palm and apply that to my entire face including under my eyes. (Note: If my skin is feeling really dry, I’ll add a small amount of my night time lotion into the Ilia and Saie before I mix it up in my palm.) Once that sinks it, you’re ready for make-up.

Clean your Face: In the evening, I remove my eye make-up with Lancome eye make-up remover and then rub Clinique take the day off cleansing balm all over my face an eyes. I lay a hot, wet washcloth on my face for a few seconds to heat up the cleanser and open my pours. I wipe off my make-up, rinse the wash cloth and put the hot wet wash cloth back on my face for a few seconds and wipe a second time to remove any residual cleanser. (Tip: I buy packs of inexpensive wash cloths and use a clean one each night. I prefer gray or black so I don’t have to worry about leaving make-up stains.)

Treat and Moisturize: After cleansing, I apply a toner or serum followed by eye cream, face cream and my favorite Laneige night time lip balm. I’m currently on an Augustinus Bader skin care kick, but again you don’t need to use this brand. There are many high quality brands that will moisturize your face for less.

I recently started using the Higher Dose red light therapy on my face a couple times each week and I really think it’s making a difference. So, if you’re already doing everything else above, this is a fun item to add to your routine.

If you have a lot of sun damage or dry patches, consider incorporating additional items into your skincare routine like a Vitamin C+E serum (put this on in the morning before your sunscreen / serums) and overnight exfoliators like the Goop Glow Dark Spot Exfoliating Sleep Milk or a chemical peel like GoopGlow Glycolic Acid Overnight Peel. If you’ve never used a chemical peel, beware – it will tingle. I find it’s best to fan your face until it has finished drying. Only use the peel once or twice a week until your skin has built up a tolerance. (Don’t forget to use all of these products on your neck and chest!)

I know some of these products are expensive, but I haven’t had a professional facial in years and I think my skin looks better now then it did when I had facials every other month. So, if you do get professional facials, think about investing that money in equipment for regular at home use. A consistent routine is what will produce long-term results, don’t expect to see dramatic changes in a day or two. Please leave a comment below about your favorite winter skin care products. I’m always interested in trying new things.

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