Winter Skincare in Canada: How to Protect Your Skin Barrier
Canadian winters are hard on skin. Cold air outside, dry heat inside and wind in between leave many of us with tightness, flaking, redness and chapped lips by January. The fix is not one miracle cream. It is protecting your skin barrier. Here is the routine our estheticians recommend.
1. Switch to a gentler cleanser
Foaming or exfoliating cleansers that work in summer can strip skin in winter. Move to a cream, milk or oil cleanser, and wash with lukewarm, not hot, water. Browse our cleansers.
2. Add a hydrating serum
Hyaluronic acid draws water into the skin. Apply a serum like Dermalogica Circular Hydration Serum or SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel on slightly damp skin, then seal it in with moisturizer.
Dermalogica Circular Hydration Serum
SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel3. Use a richer, barrier-repairing moisturizer
Look for ceramides, lipids and fatty acids, which help rebuild the skin's protective layer. Favourites include Dermalogica UltraCalming Barrier Repair and, for sensitive skin, G.M. Collin Sensiderm Cream.
Dermalogica UltraCalming Barrier Repair
G.M. Collin Sensiderm Cream4. Ease up on exfoliation
Exfoliate once or twice a week instead of daily, and pause strong acids or retinol if your skin feels raw.
5. Keep wearing SPF
UV rays still reach your skin in winter, and snow reflects them. A mineral SPF such as Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield SPF 50 or SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 works well under makeup.
Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield SPF 50
SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50
6. Do not forget lips and hands
Use an overnight lip mask and a rich multi-use balm like Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream for hands, elbows and dry patches. See all lip care and hand care.
Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin CreamWant a personalized winter routine? Book a facial at one of our five Montreal-area locations, or ask our estheticians for advice wherever you are in Canada.
