How to Have Healthy Winter Skin

TSG Tip 239: Intelligent Elixirs

Cool winter temperatures combined with indoor heat can be hard on skin, and during chillier months it’s especially important to keep skin hydrated and moisturized to combat dryness and other factors that can enhance visible signs of aging. Here, Cat Tatman, co-founder of Denver, Colorado-based clean, non-toxic beauty product line Intelligent Elixirs, offers a three-step plan for having healthy, glowing skin all winter long.

Understand the difference between hydrating and moisturizing. “Hydration refers to the water within the skin, while moisture pertains to the skin’s ability to retain hydration,” says Tatman. “Hydrators are humectants that help the skin ‘hang on’ to its own natural moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss, or TEWL, while moisturizers help maintain natural oils and lipids on the surface of the skin to keep it soft and prevent TEWL.”

Select the right products for your skin. Tatman recommends using both a hydrator and a moisturizer to keep your skin healthy throughout winter. “My favorite hydrator is Hyaluronic Acid, which holds up to 1,000 times its own weight in water,” she says, adding that there are many gel formulations that contain high levels of Hyaluronic Acid combined with Vitamin B5 that are great for all skin types and layer well with a moisturizer. When it comes to selecting a moisturizer, Tatman says to look for a product that suits your skin type (dry, oily, etc.) and contains hyaluronic acid, squalane, glycerin, and fatty acids. Finally, Tatman recommends having a facial oil on hand. “In addition to being great at helping skin balance and maintain moisture, facial oils are rich in antioxidants and fatty acids,” she says, adding that facial oils can be used alone or layered with an evening moisturizer. “I particularly like Squalane and Argan Oil,” she says.

Stick to a daily regimen. Having a good skincare routine is key to maintaining a healthy glow. Here, Tatman outlines the basics:

  • In the morning: Cleanse skin using a cleanser that gently removes impurities that leaves skin soft. “Avoid products with sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate,” Tatman advises. Dry skin with a soft cloth. Then, apply hydrator followed by a moisturizer and SPF or a moisturizer with SPF. “The sun is always a factor, even in winter,” Tatman says.
  • In the evening: Cleanse skin, dry with a soft cloth, and apply hydrator. Then, either apply facial oil followed by moisturizer or pat facial oil on top of moisturizer.
  • 2-3 times a week: Tatman recommends integrating a scrub into your regimen 2-3 times a week after cleansing. “Keeping the skin’s surface clear of dead skin cells and debris will allow for better absorption of products,” she notes.

TSG Tip 238 from Cat Tatman, co-founder of Intelligent Elixirs in Denver, Colorado. Tatman is also Editor of The Scout Guide Denver.