6 Ways to Keep Your Skin Hydrated During the Winter Months

I’m a big fan of skincare. I get jealous of people who have flawless skin and literally just toss water on it to keep it that way. Uhm, can we trade hormones or something?

Like, I’m not joking.

It feels superficial and shallow but I care about my face. I care about my skin and I don’t get why people hate skin talk? I’m not trying to be crusty out here and I hope you aren’t either. I want to moisturize and keep it in check — skin cancer does run on my mom’s side of the family so I’m always on the lookout for concerning things due to that.

But, I really want to talk about skin. If you’ve tuned in before, you’ve seen my post about my acne. I had/have cystic acne. At one point, it was severe. It was embarrassing and it made me want to cry. I didn’t understand all the tactics that led to bad skin. No, it wasn’t the chocolate like they try to tell you in high school.

It was simple housekeeping (or should I call it skin keeping) things that I was missing out on. After workouts, I wasn’t washing my face immediately because I didn’t wash off at the gym and took the 10-20 minutes to get home and then take the shower. I didn’t wash my pillowcases as well as I should have especially as I was transitioning to wearing my hair curly and trying out new products that were getting on my pillow and probably clogging my face. My body was hormonal and I know that’s not something we can change a lot but we can stick to a diet that can help level out hormones and start taking supplements that’ll step up, too.

So here I am, breaking out due to indulging over the holidays and being lazy — my face decided to pay me back by breaking out with on my cheeks. Not only has it broken out but it’s dry and trying to be flaky. It doesn’t want me to prosper, to be real with you.

How rude, right?

Totally my fault, though.

That’s why I’m taking the route to take care of my skin. Extra good care because it needs it with this winter weather. I’m working on getting away from dry and dull to moisture and glowing which means I’m implementing products that I don’t always use all year around. In fact, I’ve been focusing on three products to keep my skin from being flaky or dry when I apply my makeup.

Are you ready to take on this skincare journey with me? Let’s talk products — time for me to rave about these products and let you know how much I love them. To ensure you’re kicking off this year with hydrated and glowing skin. 

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe Herbs and Rosewater

If you’ve heard of Mario Badescu, it’s probably for some of his signature products that have made their rounds on social media. I’ve been invested in Mario Badescu products for about three years now and I got hip to the Rose Water Spray a year or two ago and at first, I didn’t want to give it a chance. I hate spraying my face with any type of hydrating or setting spray because I don’t want to get it on my lips. I really utilized it for acne when I bought it but I didn’t totally get it which is why I wasn’t a fan. But, I’ve stuck with this spray. My skin needs hydration and it gets tight after I wash it (I should stop using hot water during the cold months but I can’t stop, won’t stop). This facial spray is hydrating which helps moisturizer my face. After I wash my face, I spray my face twice as I began my routine to get ready for the day. There are times where I spritz it after my makeup is on but not on days where I’m just heading to the office.

Aveeno Positively Radiant Moisturizer

Aveeno is a known brand and one of those brands that I have used for as long as I can remember. I’ve used the lotion and body wash so I’m a fan. Not only that, I’ve been switching between the face moisturizers that they have. As winter was rolling around, I ran out of my Clinique Face Moisturizer and found this gem tucked away in my beauty closet. In the winter time, I have learned that I need a heavy moisturizer as my face gets dry and starts peeling which is where Aveeno always comes in. Usually, I use this product from December to April/May so I do get a little into the Spring with it. It has definitely been a lifesaver as Ohio weather has hit the single digits and my lips chap up as soon as I go outside. It’s literally freezing out and with this weather, I definitely can’t win. This moisturizer keeps my face hydrated and I put it on after I spritz my face to lock in the moisture of the facial spray and the Aveeno. I feel like it adds a few extra steps in the morning but I haven’t had any skin peeling from my makeup and my face does not feel tight which is the ultimate goal.

Makeup Forever Step 1 Primer

Not going to lie, I never used a primer in a routine until this year. In the past, I had the ELF primer which I don’t think I utilized correctly. I invested in primer this year after buying the Fenty Beauty foundation and realizing that it oxidizes and a primer could help out with not turning me orange. This was one of the two primers that I bought and as I utilize this during the cold periods, I have noticed that my makeup looks great throughout the day and I don’t get patchy. Like I said earlier, the goal is to not look patchy or crusty. I’m truly invested in this product. It goes on easily, a little goes a long way, and there isn’t a strong stench. Make Up Forever definitely outdid themselves with this product — I love it and need to switch up from my travel size to a full size.

Drink some water

We all know that water is beneficial to our bodies. You need to make sure you are getting enough water during these months to keep yourself hydrated. Water is essential for everything and it can help your skin out when you drink the right amount. Need to commit to drinking more water? You can utilize tracking your water intake with an app like Plant Nanny or water bottles with markings for the amount of water that you need to get to. I won’t lie, it’s hard for me to get the correct water intake every now and then but I try. Instead of feeling like it’s a chore, make it a goal! You have to find some fun with it — for me, my goal is to not kill my plants on Plant Nanny.

Get a humidifier

Humidifiers aren’t just for colds and stuffy sinuses. The winter air is dry and it wreaks havoc. That’s where your humidifier comes into play because it will put the moisture back into the air. I go to sleep with one of these babies on my nightstand and I have started to feel better about my skin. The best thing about this thing is that I’m not as dry as I was when the year kicked off. There are so many benefits of the moisture being in the air like avoiding chapped lips and dry noses. Many of the conditions brought on by the cold air can be alleviated by this thing which is why I’ve been using it. You can find them pretty cheap at your local retailers — I have one from Walgreens and it did not break the bank.

Don’t take really hot, long showers

This is my number one issue. I love hot showers and I can’t not take a hot shower nor can I stop it from being long. Do I end up dry after it all? Yes. And, I have to load up on lotion which can be annoying. That’s one thing that I’m trying to lessen. I’m trying to take shorter and warm showers rather than scalding hot during this cold season. The one thing that a hot shower will leave you with is dry skin or itchy skin. Avoid hot showers, that is all that I can tell you. Plus, hot showers can make you break-out so yeah, just don’t do it.

 

Is it important to keep your skin hydrated during this time?

Yes! Don’t make me say duh — it’s so important right now especially if you are prone to dry skin or acne. You will want to do everything that you can to keep up with hydration.

If you aren’t hydrating, you aren’t showing your skin some love.

The products above have been some staples in my routine and I thoroughly enjoy them. I didn’t really take anyone’s advice or ask what I should use. I wandered around Sephora and Ulta and I happened to read the labels and figured out that I needed these products in my life.

Be serious about your skin.

The first step is acknowledging what you need to change followed by taking the steps to make those changes.

Don’t let winter get you dull. Glow, my friends. Make sure that you glow and light up the place.

What products are you using to keep your face hydrated?