If there’s one thing that January weather means, it’s dryness. Dryness outdoors, dryness inside as heaters do their thing, and dryness of the skin. This time of year, my biggest goal for my skincare is always physical nourishment to combat that dryness, but with things such as they are lately, a little mental nourishment by way of self-care is much needed as well.
My main skincare concerns this time of year are sensitivity and dryness stemming from my eczema (although this list is by no means specific to eczema!), as well as dullness. I’ve also been enjoying spending a little extra time caring for my skin recently, leaning into self-care rituals like facial massage and thoroughly moisturizing before bed.
I wanted to round up the products I’ve been using and loving for both face and body this season, ranging from serums to hand creams and bath soaks to tools. Most of these products I’ve purchased multiple times or use on an almost daily basis, so they really are my tried and tested favourites. No matter your winter skin struggle, I hope there’s a product in this list for you.
Cleansers
Pai Light Work Cleanser. I love oil cleansers because they take off makeup and SPF without drying out and stripping the skin more than it already is this time of year. This is one of my favourites because it contains rosehip oil (more on that a bit later) but also because of how quickly it dissolves product and buildup. I also love the slip it gives to the skin which allows for a nice facial massage during cleansing (if you haven’t tried this, do it tonight). Plus it smells divine, and feels like a true self care moment.
Moisturizers & Oils
Farmacy Honey Halo Ceramide Moisturizer. Ceramides are one of my favourite ingredients for skincare this time of year for replenishing and protecting the moisture barrier, and I’ve been really liking this moisturizer. It’s quite thick but absorbs nicely, and it contains honey which is known for its soothing and humectant properties. I’m on my second jar of this now, and I love how soft and nourished it’s been making my skin feel.
Dr. Jart Ceramidin Cream. This cream is like a shield to the elements. It’s thick (and I mean really thick) and occlusive, with ceramides and hyaluronic acid to strengthen the moisture barrier and protect against moisture loss. It comes out almost like a balm, and then I like to warm it between my fingers before patting it in. I love using this on the dry, eczema-prone patches on my neck and eye area. This tube has been extremely well-loved over the past year and it’s a repurchase for sure. There’s also a body lotion as part of the Ceramidin range which I’d be curious to try as well.
The Ordinary 100% Organic Rosehip Oil. This is a must have for me and a nice alternative to other rosehip oils, which can get fairly pricey. Rosehip is one of my favourite oils because of all the omega fatty acids it contains, and how well it works for repairing and protecting the skin. I use it nearly every night as the last step in my skincare routine and always wake up with dewy skin the next morning. I’m tempted to level up and try the rosehip oil from Pai as well, just because of how much I love the ingredient.
Serums
Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum. I love this product because it’s gently exfoliating with the lactic acid, but the squalane counteracts the dryness and irritation that sometimes comes along with AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) use. I’ll talk some more about Biossance a bit later and why I like their squalane-based products so much. Lactic acid is one of the gentler AHAs so it’s great for sensitive skin, but this product still makes my skin feel more luminous, even, and alive, which I think we can all get behind this time of year.
Avène Hydrance Rehydrating Serum. This is a newer product in my collection, but as my skin has been dryer than usual lately (even by its typical winter standards) I wanted a dedicated hydrating serum to add to my rotation. The thermal spring water used in all of Avène’s products is super soothing and calming, and this serum is designed to protect against moisture loss. My skin feels more supple after using this for a couple of weeks now, and I like to use this after any active ingredients, most often on alternate mornings after I apply niacinamide.
Body
Skin Essence Organics E-Cream. This product was recommended to me by my naturopath specifically for my eczema, but I use it on any and all dry patches. It’s formulated with anti-inflammatory, nourishing, and skin healing ingredients and it soothes an eczema itch like nothing else. It also smells super herbal (in a good way) which I think reflects the amount of natural plant extracts in the ingredient list.
Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm. The holy grail of hand creams as far as I’m concerned. I’ve been using this for over a year now and it’s far and away the best hand cream I’ve tried (and I’ve tried many). It has some really nourishing ingredients like sweet almond oil and shea butter, and it doesn’t leave hands feeling greasy like some other hand creams I’ve used. It also smells downright amazing and is a sensory experience in and of itself. I’d be careful with this guy if you have nut allergies like I do since it contains sweet almond and macadamia oils; it’s never given me any issues but some allergies are more sensitive than others.
Weleda Skin Food Ultra Rich Cream. This is another all purpose product I’ve been loving from the cult Skin Food line. I got the extra rich version to apply on super dry patches, including hands, heels, and any eczema patches as needed. I’ve been especially loving using this on my eyelid and underage area, which is prone to eczema and dryness but super sensitive at the same time. Essential fatty acids combined with Vitamin E moisturize and protect the skin from further moisture loss, while calendula extract helps repair the skin. I was skeptical about this one just because of how much I hear about it all the time, but it hasn’t let me down.
Biossance 100% Squalane Oil. I love Biossance because all of their products contain sugarcane-derived squalane and their mission is to create more sustainable, cleaner skincare products that people can feel good about putting on their bodies. Squalene, different from squalane, is a natural compound found in our skin’s sebum, but is traditionally harvested from shark liver for cosmetic purposes. Biossance’s squalane oil is instead derived from renewable sugarcane, making it sustainable and vegan, but is still extremely similar on a compound-level to the squalene found in our skin’s natural oils. It’s also non-comodegenic, lightweight, antioxidant, and suitable for all skin types. I use this all over my body really but specifically on my face, feet, hands, and hair, as well as any other dry patches that pop up. I truly can’t recommend this enough as an all-purpose oil.
Easy Tiger x Gold Apothecary Bath Soak. With this winter being even more depressing than the season usually is, I’ve been taking lots of relaxing baths to self-soothe and frankly just to treat myself at the end of a long day. This bath soak is made here in Toronto, and contains lots of skin-loving ingredients such as honey, oatmeal, and (oddly enough) baking soda. This is the kind of self care I really try to make time for, especially with the state of the world such as it is, and I really encourage adding something soothing into your day as well.
Extras
Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1. If I’m not diligent about lip balm in the winter, I find myself with extremely chapped, cracked, and dry lips. I’ve tried many a lip balm in my years, and often the fragrance thrown in will leave my lips feeling worse off than they started. The Kiehl’s lip balm is a long-time favourite of mine, and it’s the only lip balm I’ve found that stays effective after months and months of daily use. I keep one in my bag, one in my desk, and another in the top drawer of my dresser, and Jonah likes to steal some occasionally as well. It’s got olive-derived squalane, Vitamin E, and aloe, which means it’s super soothing and amazing at locking in moisture.
Fresh Sugar Lip Polish Exfoliator. I think everyone has experienced the struggle of rough lips in the winter time, no matter how much lip balm you use. I love this product for sloughing off any dead skin and helping my lips retain more moisture. While I don’t use it these days for achieving super smooth lips for makeup application (for obvious reasons), it’s still nice to have soft and supple lips nonetheless.
Vitruvi Facial Gua Sha Tool. This is another one of those things I break out when I need a little extra relaxation and self-soothing. Gua sha is an ancient Chinese medicinal massage technique that involves rubbing a tool across the skin to promote circulation and lymphatic drainage. There’s loads of gua sha tools out there at many price points; mine is a black jade one from Vitruvi and it does the trick beautifully. There’s also lots tutorials out there to demonstrate how to actually use the tool (check out Emma Houreau on Instagram for a tutorial), but make sure to apply an oil to the skin before starting to help the tool slip and slide across the skin. I hold a ton of tension in my jaw, and a nightly facial massage helps me release all that before I go to bed.
