As an hour is added back to our days It's time to swap out lightweight, summer staples for smart skin ingredients with a hefty dose of hydration.
Believe it or not, sweater weather has arrived. And “sweater weather” doesn’t just mean swapping out your wardrobe but also your skin care routine requires a switch too due to the changing temperatures and humidity.
Colder, drier air generally leads to drier skin because of limited humidity, while use of indoor heaters and other environmental irritants can all disrupt the skin’s lipid barrier: wind can ‘wick’ or ‘whisk’ off moisture from the skin, while heaters and hotter showers can leave skin feeling irritated, tight, and uncomfortable. Unfortunately, dry skin is not the only by-product of colder the months, seasonal weather shifts can also lead to oily skin and breakouts (due to changes in sebum production) to uneven and lackluster skin (as cellular turnover slows down). Fortunately, with just a few routine tweaks and hero ingredients, the adjustment can be made seamlessly.
Here are 4 seasonal skincare swaps to winter-proof your skin
Swap out light weight cleaners like a gel for something richer like a balm, oil or milk cleanser
It is essential that we preserve the natural oils in our skin (they are the key to skin barrier function) to avoid dryness and irritation. This means cleansing your skin while maintaining moisture is key during the colder months, which is why we recommend swapping out your gel and foaming cleansers for more nourishing cleansers like a balm, oil, and milk.
What’s the difference?
Cleansing balms are thick, buttery-like cleansers that emulsify and melt onto the skin once applied. They are non-irritating; don’t compromise the skin’s moisture barrier or disrupt pH and they won’t dry out skin. Cleansing oils are formulated with light to medium weight, natural oils that bond and breakdown impurities without stripping skin; and cleansing milks (named for their milky appearance and consistency) are an even lighter emulsion (blend of oil and water).
Choosing the right formula and product is key! And Ustawi has taken on the work, so you don’t have to. Our Nourishing cleansing balm will thoroughly cleanse the skin, removing impurities, oil, makeup, while also boosting hydration, allowing all skin tones to glow! Crafted with a rich sensorial experience in mind this Sugar-ester based balm takes your skin on journey from soft gel to a slicky oil to soothing milk. With this one product your skin can reap the benefits of each type of cleanser and achieve the ultimate cleansing experience.
Add hydrating toner into your routine
If you have been skipping this crucial step, this is the perfect time to reintroduce it into your routine, especially since this important step will hydrate, balance out the skin, and prep skin to receive the rest of your routine, allowing products to absorb more easily.
Ustawi’s Hydrating & Skin Protecting Toner is packed with amazing natural ingredients that help skin to retain water, and create an invisible barrier on the skin surface, a “second skin” - which helps to protect against the harmful effects of pollution. This hydrating toner leaves skin silky and refreshed!
Use vitamin C to bring the glow even in the colder months
Most of us load up on vitamin C during the colder months to boost our immune systems, but this potent antioxidant also packs a punch as a skincare ingredient this time of year. Vitamin C not only shields the skin from environmental stressors by neutralizing free radical damage, but it also plays an important role in collagen synthesis and inhibits melanin overproduction which can lead to hyperpigmentation. To achieve an all-around healthier, brighter, smoother skin, this reparative and preventative multitasker should be in everyone’s routine.
Moisture, moisture, moisture - from head to toe
Use this time of the year is to say goodbye to those water based lightweight moisturizers that are better suited to hot and humid summer months and say hello to heftier hydrators. A rich nourishing texture helps skin maintain optimal hydration all day long. At Ustawi, we always go the extra mile, so our moisturizers are not only ultra-nourishing (providing immediate and long-lasting hydration) but also packed with superfood ingredients to act as a shield against free-radicals and pollution. So, whether your skin is super dry or oily we have you covered this time of the year!
