Q. Hey Jordan,
Well, the cold weather has hit…and my skin instantly turned scaly! Can you recommend some drugstore moisturizers (for the face) for winter?
Thanks,
Mandy
A. Oh, I hear you: I turn into a scaly toad come winter, too. Especially my nose…it basically peels right off my face; it’s disgusting. So I’ve put a lot of thought into my winter skincare regimen over the years, and while I use products from all over the spectrum, there are a couple of standout drugstore products that I really love for combating super-dry skin.
At night, you have to try Pond’s Dry Skin Cream: it’s really rich and thick, but not so rich and thick that it’ll make you break out…and somehow it feels light as air, leaving no gross residue on your skin. In the morning, I use L’Oreal’s YouthCode if I’m feeling extra dry – it’s a bit thicker than my other daytime moisturizer options, and has sunscreen and anti-aging stuff in it, as a bonus.
It’s also important to make sure that your cleanser isn’t stripping your skin of moisture, so go for creams rather than gels, and think “gentle”. I’ve tried all sorts of cleansers, and my favorites for the wintertime are Cor (expensive), and Cetaphil (not). And for exfoliating, I use StriVectin Retexturizing Scrub, but if you’d like to stick to a drugstore brand just go for the St. Ives Invigorating Apricot Scrub – it’s really good stuff (and as an FYI, it’s great for guys, as it helps prevent all those little red bumps that develop from shaving).
You might want to try a mask once a week, too. My three favorites – Borghese’s Fango Ristorativo, Origins Drink Up Overnight Mask, and Boscia’s Intensifying Moisture Pack – aren’t drugstore brands, but they’re not too pricey. And finally, I’d recommend applying a resurfacing serum once or twice a week, at night – Sarah Chapman Overnight Exfoliating Booster is fantastic (but expensive), and Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus is excellent and relatively affordable.
Any other suggestions for Mandy?
