Glowing Mid-Winter Skin: It’s Possible!

My skin loves the summer. The humidity helps my dry areas stay moisturized, a little bit of sun gives me some glow, and my eczema is kept at bay. But, once the temperatures (and humidity) plummet, that fresh glow is long gone!

Skin faces a lot of challenges in the winter: low humidity, wind, and wide variations in temperature. It is no surprise that skin no longer looks glowy, instead your pores are larger and you look like you need a couple of nights of good sleep. Luckily trading out a few products will help your skin cope with the winter and make you look radiant again!

1) Retinol:
Retinol isn’t only for fine lines and wrinkles, it also improves your skin’s texture, decreases hyperpigmentation, and reduces blemishes. When you’ve been using retinol, your skin’s turnover is increased, revealing fresher skin. This fresh skin will also have a more even skin tone with less hyperpigmentation.

Neutrogena® Rapid Wrinkle Repair® Regenerating Cream contains Retinol SA, and is the highest concentration of retinol. This version is a “sustained action”, as the retinol is slowly released over hours. That longer time of release means that your skin will have less irritation but all of the benefits of a retinoid! This is perfect for the winter.

Since Neutrogena® Rapid Wrinkle Repair® Regenerating Cream is less irritating, you will be more likely to tolerate nightly use, rather than needing to space out to using the product every two to three nights. The end result is a skin care product that works much faster. In a clinical study, 100% of participants noticed a difference within a week of using the product, rather than the months expected with other, less effective, over the counter retinols.

2) Reach for a Gentle Cleanser:
All of the abuse our skin takes in the winter means skin is inflamed and irritated. Most of the year, skin can easily tolerate a cleanser that exfoliates, treats your acne and brightens your skin tone. However, the active ingredients in those cleansers can be irritating if your skin is facing other stressors.

Swapping out your regular facial cleanser for one that is gentle and hydrating can help soothe irritation, improving redness and tone. You’ll notice that your skin is better able to cope with the stresses of winter after just a few days.

3) Gentle Exfoliation:
I love the effects of exfoliation during the summer. It makes my skin smoother and glowy, and takes care of any flaking I might have from dry skin. Because I am already fighting irritation from low temperatures and humidity, I avoid chemical exfoliation and go for physical exfoliation with a light scrub or a deep cleansing device like the Neutrogena Microdermabrasion System. The goal is fresh and glowing skin, rather than overly scrubbed and irritated.

4) Sunscreen:
Sunscreen is something that most people remember to use in the summer, but ignore in the winter. While the sun isn’t shining, the UV rays are still penetrating the clouds, and because the UV is bouncing off of ice and snow, your sun exposure can actually be higher than during the summer! I use a lightweight, broad spectrum sunscreen that can be worn under my makeup every day. Daily use helps to prevent aging and hyperpigmentation.

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This post is part of a collaboration with Good Housekeeping and Neutrogena. All opinions are my own.