My Winter Skincare Routine for Dry Sensitive Skin

Every season I change up my skincare routine – and every year I try different skincare products. During the winter my skin becomes extremely dry and sensitive, so I use hydrating products with few ingredients. Here is my winter skincare routine for dry sensitive skin.

Winter Morning Skincare Routine

The skin on my face is tricky – sometimes oily, sometimes dry, sometimes spotted with an allergy induced rash. However during the winter it stays mostly dry. I find products with the least amount of ingredients are best for my skin. Every day I follow the same winter skincare routine and find my skin moisturized and dewy with the products below.

Step 1: I rinse my face with cold water in the morning. If I use an overnight moisture mask on my face, I will wash with a gentle cleanser.

Step 2: After cleansing I pat my face dry with a soft towel. The last time I had a facial I learned I rub too hard on my skin post-cleanse, so pat-away it is. I use the following 4-5 skin care products every single day:

1. Toner – I just ordered the Elemis Superfood Kefir Toner to try out!
2. I love the MaeLove Calming Serum and Glow Serum combined
3. Youth Dose Eye Treatment – Goes on smooth and fills in fine lines – I also love this Eye Revive Mask for days my skin needs the extra moisture
4. The Pro-Collagen Marine Cream is my fav moisturizer with SPF because it goes on light but leaves my skin feeling hydrated. SPF is a MUST, especially since I had skin cancer last summer.
5. I finish with Lip Conditioner, Lip Mask, or good ole Aquaphor on my lips

Winter Nighttime Skincare Routine

1. Remove makeup using this inexpensive Micellar Water and cotton pads or soft cloth. I find that most makeup removers burn my eyes while micellar water is most gentle.
2. Cleanse skin with the Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Cleanser (A daily face wash that stimulates skin’s natural cell renewal cycle to smooth and refine while sloughing away dead skin cells that dull the complexion).
3. Wipe skin down with the Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads – they gently exfoliate and leave my skin SO smooth.
4. Apply Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye Cream and Elemis Superfood Night Cream (it smells SO good)
5. I finish with Lip Conditioner, Lip Mask, or good ole Aquaphor on my lips

Winter Face Masks

Face Masks are a saving grace for my temperamental skin. During the winter I up my face mask usage, especially when its comes to anything that is moisturizing. I love to use a charcoal mask to clean out my pores and then a moisturizing mask (ordered this one today!). I used to have a plumping moisturizing overnight facial mask by Elemis but they no longer carry it online. Under eye patches that hydrate and firm under eye skin are another favorite skin care product.

Preventing My Hands from Drying Out

My hands are the first place to show signs of a lack of moisture during the winter. The skin around my fingernails actually splits from being so dry. I also develop itchy patches on the palms and top of my hands. It’s a pretty unpleasant situation.

The solution to my dry hands: Aquaphor. It is the ONLY product that works to keep my hands from feeling awful, as well as the rest of my skin on my body. Aquaphor is different than a lotion or cream because it is an ointment made with products that allows oxygen to flow while healing damaged skin. AQUAPHOR is my jam.

What kind of skincare products do you use during the winter?