As Winter is approaching, it's time for us all to re-visit our skin care products and routines. Whether you have dry, oily or sensitive skin, everyone will need to make adjustments for the change in temperature and climate. Here we're going to discuss several easy ways to transition your skin to winter weather.

Dehydrated Skin

Winter is often marked by dehydrated skin and damaged skin barriers. Your skin can be dehydrated even if it is considered to be oily. Dehydrated skin is caused by a lack of water or hydration in the skin. It can oftentimes result in the top layers of the skin feeling dry and tight but oily underneath.

Dryness can almost certainly result in a damaged skin barrier, making it even harder to retain moisture and hydration. This is only exacerbated by the harsh wind and cold air during the colder months.

In order to protect and care for your skin's natural barrier this winter, you'll want to make a few changes to your routine.

Choose the Right Cleanser

Your cleanser is the first thing you should think about because it sets the stage for the rest of your routine. In order to keep your skin hydrated, you'll want to stay away from stripping cleansers that will make your skin feel dry and tight.

Look for a cleanser free from harsh ingredients such as sulfates. These will strip the skin of it's essential oils. Instead, choose a creamy or milky formula that will nourish the skin.

Moisturizing Toner

An alcohol-free, water-based toner will help to restore and maintain hydration levels right after cleansing. All skin types require water-based hydration.

Another tip you can try is pouring a bit of toner into your hands and pressing it into the face. This way, your toner acts as a light serum or essence before you begin applying your other products.

Use a Mask

Nothing beats the restoration capabilities of a quality facial mask. If you have very oily, acne-prone skin, then gel-based masks or sheet masks may be sufficient even in the winter time. However, if those are not providing the level of moisture you need, switch to a cream-based mask to help restore the oils in the skin.

Creamy Moisturizer

A good moisturizer is essential year around, but especially for the colder months. You may find that your spring or fall moisturizer simply isn't cutting it anymore. If this is the case, then you may want to look for a more luxurious, creamy moisturizer that will help prevent your skin from losing moisture so easily.

We recommend the Reverence Jewel Cream by Define Beauty which is a multi-purpose creme used to address concerns of dryness, texture and aging.

Seal with an Oil

While face oils are great year around, during the colder months they can really help to seal in moisture and protect the skin's barrier. Even oily skin types can benefit from a face oil with the right formula. Look for a light, silky oil that is not greasy and will not clog the pores. After your moisturizer, simply apply a few drops of oil on the hands and press into the skin, preventing moisture loss.

For this, we recommend the Treat Treat Pure Skin Ceramide Oil. This is oil uses a powerful blend of ceramides, jojoba oil, damask rose flower oil, avocado oil and rosemary to prevent moisture loss and protect the skin's barrier. This should be used as the last step in your skin care routine.