Winter Skincare Routine

I try to keep my skincare routine pretty simple year round.  Usually it's just soap and moisturizer morning and night, plus the occasional scrub and mask.  This winter, however, I've felt like my skin's needed something more, so I ended up jazzing things up a bit.  I figured I'd share what I've been using lately.



Cleanser: Young Living Valor Bar Soap
I've written about this soap multiple times before, and this step hasn't changed.  I've used this loyally for the last couple years and it's a great basic, no frills cleanser that isn't too drying.  It also removes makeup well and doesn't leave any kind of film on your skin like a lot of bar soaps do.






Toner: Humphrey's Witch Hazel + Essential Oils
Originally I found witch hazel too drying to use all over, so I was using it irregularly and only on specific parts of my face.  When my skin started acting up around the holidays, this is what I reached for first.  I wasn't quite breaking out - it was more like congested pores - but they disappeared completely within the first couple days of using this.  I use straight witch hazel, but I do mix in essential oils to cover up the witch hazel smell, which I'm really not a fan of on its own.




Toner #2: George's Always Active Aloe Spray Mister
When I first reviewed this, I was just using it as a makeup setting spray.  With switching things around, I began using it more often as a toner, and I really like it!  I tone with witch hazel on a cotton pad and then I mist my face with 3-4 sprays of this.  It's refreshing and gives a little boost of extra hydration underneath my moisturizer.








Moisturizer: Young Living Sandalwood Moisture Cream
As I've said before, although this isn't my favourite moisturizer from Young Living, it's less expensive and you get twice the amount of product, so I do rotate between the two.  It's still a great basic moisturizer, I just don't get that "best moisturizer ever" feeling that I do from the Boswellia Wrinkle Cream.  





Facial Oil: Pai Rosehip Bioregenerate Oil
I don't find my skin needs the extra moisture of an oil all over, but I do like to use one on more specific "problem areas."  I also only do this step at night.  I've been struggling to get rid of a couple fine lines on my forehead (frown lines?) and some redness and broken capillaries on the sides of my nose and I'm hoping this will help with both.  I know technically you can't fix broken capillaries with anything topical, but I do notice they're a lot less visible in the morning, if I apply this the night before.  It's still a bit early to tell if it's helping with the lines, but I'm hopeful!



Lip Balm: Balm Balm Unscented Multipurpose Lip Balm/Badger Creamy Cocoa Cocoa Butter Lip Balm
Both of these lip balms are pretty recent purchases, but they're what's been on my lips most often lately.  The Balm Balm is more salve-like and soaks into your lips quickly, leaving them hydrated but almost dry to the touch, while the Badger is creamier.  It smells divine and moisturizes while leaving your lips feeling coated and protected.  The Balm Balm makes a great lip treatment, but the Badger is what I reach for before braving the cold outside! 




Scrub: Nourish Exfoliating Body Polish
I've been exfoliating with Nourish's Body Polish one or two times a week.  I like it and it's definitely gentle enough for the face, but at some point I'd like to find something better.  I recently tested out a sample of Pai's Kukui & Jojoba Exfoliator, which left my skin feeling incredibly smooth, but I'm not sure I loved it enough to purchase the full size.  I'm definitely interested in trying more scrubs with jojoba beads in them though!





Mask: Homemade Clay & Honey
I posted the recipe a while back and it's still what I usually mix up when I'm in the mood for a face mask.  Honestly, this isn't something I do very regularly - probably once a month or so.






This is a lot more steps than my previous skincare routine, but it doesn't actually take very long.  Now I'm wondering...do you change up your skincare in the winter?  Are there any scrubs you love?  I'm also looking for an eye cream - particularly something that will help with dark circlesIf you have any recommendations, I'd love to hear them!



        

10 comments

  1. Hello dear
    very interesting routine
    may i ask you where you bought the humphrey's tonic?
    :)
    big hugs
    xx

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  2. I've ordered it from both iherb and Vitacost in the past. You'd think it'd be easy, but I've not been able to find just straight, pure witch hazel near me!

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  3. So basic, love it. I keep telling myself to narrow down my products but I want to try everything! All at once! Lol.

    I'm also on the hunt for a new eye cream, for fine lines though. So if you know any, let me know! I've heard the 100% Pure eye cream is good for dark circles, I don't have dark circles so I have no clue.

    I absolutely love the Mary Ginseng House cream scrub (I can't remember the exact name but I reviewed it). It's not super gentle, since it has micro crystals in it, but to use once a week it's beyond amazing. Leaves my skin so smooth, kinda dry but my serums and moisturizer sink in so nicely after using it.

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  4. What essential oils do you add to your witch hazel, and how are they at covering up the smell? I hate the smell of witch hazel too, but like its effectiveness.

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  5. @EcoChicBeautyDiva - It makes me nervous to switch up my skincare too much! (Thus using the same cleanser/moisturizer for years, lol)
    I've seen the 100% Pure recommended before actually...thanks for the reminder :) I'll have to check it out and the Mary Ginseng House scrub too!

    @Mary - I've used a few different ones, but mainly lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree and frankincense...or some combo of more than one of them. I only mix up a little at a time, so if it doesn't work covering the smell or I end up not liking it, that way, I don't have very much to get through :)

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  6. 100% pure eye cream is amazing, you should try it :) my favourite scrub at the moment is Aubrey Organics one which is actually a face mask and scrub :) it's their moisturizing mask with sea buckhthorn and cucumber and it's really nice :)

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  7. Thanks for the suggestions! I'll definitely give them a look :)

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  8. My skin is DYING right now, it is really dry where I live in the winter. I usually have problems with oily skin but my face is peeling off right now...that is how dry it is! I have found that switching to a cleansing oil rather than my normal facial cleanser has helped. It seems to clean off my face without removing too much moisture.

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  9. Great post. I've recently discovered iHerb and I love it! Here are my first picks for skincare:

    http://anewgalintown.blogspot.com.es/2013/06/compras-en-iherb-skincare.html

    There are so many products and brands that it's difficult to choose; I will consider your recommendations in my next order! :)

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    1. Thanks! I'm a big fan of iherb. I think, especially for us non-Americans, it's definitely one of the best places to get affordable natural products!

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