Should the Season Change Your Skin?
You are right to wonder if you should change up your products when the seasons change, especially when headed towards winter. And yes, you are seeing changes in your skin as the weather cools down -- but Skin MPLS warns, don’t “fall” off your regimen. This is not a time to try something new or focus only on hydration. Once you have a set foundation regimen that is working, it is never a good idea to switch all your products. Instead, you will just want to gently tweak it.
Here’s what stays the same 365
Active Cleanser. You know we are ALL about the actives (check out some of our fav ingredients here). Since active ingredients (like mandelic acid and exfoliating beads) can cause cell turnover in the form of flaking skin, you may be tempted to shelf your active cleanser if your skin is feeling dry. But don’t! You need and want these ingredients to help almost every skin issue.
Instead of switching cleansers, you can dilute your active cleanser with a little more water and/or shorten your cleansing time to under two minutes. Then, worst-case scenario, you can even supplement with a universal cleanser like Green Tea Cleanser. If you have dry or aging skin, another great choice is Peptide Foam Cleanser or Image Vital C Hydrating Cleanser.
Toner. Toner is important. Period. It removes traces of cleanser and the minerals from your water (which can be drying if left on the skin over time), it has active ingredients that are beneficial for skin, and it gives your serum ultimate penetration power. Yes, your serums will work without toner, but they will work much better with toner.
If you are not currently not using a toner, for fall/winter we may recommend something more gentle than we would in the summer. Our two favorites are Skin Nourishing Toner and Triad Pads. Once you’ve joined team toner, don’t stop using it -- ever. If you are dry, add in a hydrating toner like Iso Rose Hydrating Mist or Essence Toner to use in the morning after the shower when skin can feel most tight. Micellar water does not qualify as toner. It does have a place in skincare, but it does not replace a toner.
Vitamins A and C. These are the powerhouses of beautiful skin. Going off of them will regress your skin goals. Fortunately, vitamin C is not typically drying or irritating. And while some people think it’s only important in the summer because it protects against sun damage, it’s still a non-negotiable in the winter for its antioxidant and brightening qualities. You want and need vitamin C in the winter to help strengthen your skin’s skin barrier and protect you from harsh winter weather.
As far as vitamin A (AKA retinol), this can be tough to handle in winter months. You may have to cut back your usage to every other night or add a layer of hydration on top of vitamin A. If you do cut back to every other night, use that alternate night as an opportunity to bring a new serum into your lineup to reach even higher skin goals. Reach out to your aesthetician for a personal recommendation! If you suffer from stubborn acne we prefer you march on with your vitamin A every night and check out our favorite tips for handling your flaking skin.
And here is what may not weather the winter
Hydrator. While some people’s skin stays the same all year round, most say they are oily in the summer and dry and/or dehydrated in the winter. Or you may even be dry in the summer and then extra dry in winter. Your skin needs three things to stay protected. It needs water, oil, and ceramides. Some skin, usually acne-prone, has a lot of oil and lipids and doesn't want much more. ALL skin needs water though.
Don’t get offended if someone says your skin is dehydrated, that doesn't mean you are failing at your daily water goals. Our skin is made up of mostly water but due to the environment and exfoliation, it is constantly losing water so a hydrator of some sort is always a must. When winter comes, for oily to normal skin just hydration alone will not cut it and a more replenishing moisturizer is necessary.
For dry skin, it’s all about layering (check out tips here) even more hydration AND oil AND ceramides to fight the extra toll winter takes on your skin. So even if you already use our richest moisturizer, you may need a hydrating serum, rosehip oil, or both to supplement and plump your skin.
SPF. If you don’t know you need it in the winter, we have failed you. However, you may opt for a lower SPF or a combo SPF with your moisturizer. It is not okay to skip or rely on it in your makeup ever!
We provide unbiased information on the whole chemical vs physical SPF debate. In all honesty, we tend to use chemical SPF more because they are just more friendly for everyday use. Fear-mongering is huge with SPF. To us, sourcing high-quality ingredients (AKA the professional lines we carry) is a HUGE factor in the safety of your sunscreen and what we are comfortable with putting on our skin and yours. Our winter daily favorites are Vivant’s Day Treatment SPF15 and Supergoop’s Superscreen SPF 40. Keep Unseen Sunscreen and Sun Protection Mild (which is a great physical option for those who prefer) around for sunny walks and vacations.
Masks. When you are feeling like your skin needs a booster, Skin MPLS masks are the perfect go-to once-to-twice a week. Masks remove dead, dull skin that your regular products don’t always reach. Also, they infuse antioxidants and nourishing ingredients back into your skin that the winter takes away from us! They will absolutely ease your skin into a season change! Our opinion on Sephora sheet masks… best left to tween birthday parties. Really step up your game with our favorite masks at the studio that we promise actually do something.
Here’s some holiday cheer earlier than even the Hallmark channel, our retro guide to merry masking. Also, refresh yourself anytime with Cassie’s Sunday masking Instagram highlights on our page.
For more specific advice on how to customize your skin, reach out to your aesthetician! If it’s been a bit since your last facial treatment, we recommend at least coming in around season changes to keep advancing your skin -- whatever stage it’s in!