Does your winter face look a little different than your summer face? Don't worry. Dry, dull skin doesn't have to be inevitable this season.
To keep your skin looking healthy and radiant no matter the weather, start with three winter essentials: a moisturizer, a lip balm, and an exfoliant. But, say the experts at our sister site RealBeauty.com, you've gotta choose the right ones.
Guide to Winter Skin Care Essentials
Moisturizer musts: Clouds can't be counted on to filter out the sun's harmful UVA rays. So to prevent dry skin and wrinkles, use a double-duty moisturizer that contains a broad-spectrum SPF of at least 30. Yep, even in winter.
Lip lessons: Don't assume that any old lip balm will do. Some actually contain ingredients that can have a drying effect. One thing to avoid: mineral oil. It creates a film on your lips that fools your skin into thinking it can stop producing its own oils. Products with added colors, flavors, and fragrances also can cause drying and irritation.
Exfoliant extras: Sloughing off dry, dead surface skin cells helps reveal fresh, new, more moisture-rich cells -- so it becomes even more essential in winter. But you want a gentle exfoliant that won't irritate and dry out skin even more. So choose an enzyme-based one, and be sure to moisturize afterward.
