Winter Skincare From Home

In a world where sharing confined spaces with others in spas, hotels, and retreats has become taboo, we’ve created the ultimate skincare guide to get you through the winter months. There are plenty of ways to relax and even enjoy a makeshift facial at home whether you’re alone, with a partner, or having a gathering with your quarantine bubble of friends.

Some of the best skincare products ever created are out on the market these days. From treatment serums and acids to laser light masks, and home microdermabrasion kits, there are tons of ways to recreate your favorite facials at home. Consistency is important for seeing results and giving your skin the nutrients and hydration it needs. According to most skincare experts the best day-to-day pattern goes as follows:

Cleansing – Wash your face with a mild cleanser and if you wear a generous amount of makeup, a double cleanse is encouraged. Our favorite is the winner of ELLE’s Future of Beauty Awards, the Kinship Naked Papaya Gentle Enzyme Face Cleanser. Made with naturally derived ingredients, most notably jojoba oil, papaya, and plant-based probiotics, that are meant to brighten and not strip the skin of its natural oils. 

Custom chemical peel brand, VIPeel, recently launched VIDerm, a new line of skincare products that includes the Gentle Purifying Cleanser. This cleanser is great for removing makeup and works for a variety of skin types.

Exfoliate – Alpha Hydroxy Acids come from natural plant-based ingredients. The main four types of acids are glycolic, lactic, citric, and malic. These acids boast a number of benefits like exfoliation, boosting collagen production, and hydration. A gentle swipe on the face, neck, and decolletage is all you’ll need. This is a crucial step in skincare because without exfoliating the treatments and masks you put on your face won’t absorb evenly into your skin. 

Our favorite exfoliator is the Kinship Insta Swipe Lemon and Honey AHA pads, winner of the Best Clean Exfoliator by Women’s Health Beauty Award. Infused with lemon, honey, and glycolic acid, the pads gently remove dead skin and dirt that may be trapped in pores, and act as an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial agent. Tatcha’s Classic Rice Polish is a water-activated powder that is extremely gentle and doesn’t leave the skin stripped. Made with anti-aging ingredients like green tea and silk proteins, the polish has been added to my personal collection.

Toner – This step is recommended for everyone, but specifically those with very oily skin. Toners help to gently regulate pH balance and can be used once a day or as often during the week as you like. The best toners are usually over the counter products like apple cider vinegar or witch hazel. 

Masks – We’ve reached the fun part. There’s something satisfying about putting goop on your face and enjoying the tingling sensation skin gets when absorbing a nice mask. We’re currently loving the Clean Greens and Lucuma Bright powder masks from Golde. The brand focuses on creating clean products that offer your skin the superfoods it needs. The Clean Greens mask, described as a green juice for your face, is ideal for detoxing. For achieving skin that glows like a glazed donut, your best bet is the Lucuma Bright mask. Golde offers the two masks in a bundle if they both tickle your fancy.

For those of you looking for masks that pack more of a punch, 111Skin most likely has the best one for you. The brand was founded by plastic surgeon Dr. Yannis Alexandrides who, after his 20 years of expertise in the industry, created products that replicate in-person treatments for skincare aficionados to use at home. 111Skin also offers free skin consultations with a skincare professional. Reach out to Sylwia Gorzkowska using the following link: bit.ly/111SKINconsultation. 

All 111Skin masks should be applied for 15-20 minutes. If you have acne-prone skin the Anti-Blemish Bio Cellulose Mask (part of the Reparative Kit) is the mask to use. The forehead section of the mask repairs skin that may be irritated from diet, hair products, perspiration, and sebum. The lower half targets inflammation, irritation, and hormonal breakouts. Sylwia suggests applying before bed and rubbing excess product down the neck and decolletage, allowing it to dry on the skin. 

To achieve a dewy skin that lasts all day, start your morning with the Rose Gold Brightening Facial Treatment Mask (part of the Radiance Kit).

Finally, the Celestial Black Diamond Lifting and Firming Treatment Mask (part of the Luxury Kit), is the line that’s best for anti-aging treatment. This mask comes in three parts– first, the forehead and eye section that targets fine lines and frown lines; second, the lower half of the face is soaked in collagen-stimulating properties that improves volume and plumpness; and third, this mask, shaped specifically for the neck and decolletage, contains peptides that help firm and sculpt. This mask is also best used at night.

Treatment – Right now, you, your guests, and/or your partner should all get a nice hot towel and lay it on the face for 10 minutes or steam with a towel over your heads. The treatment stage is the most important stage of any skin-care routine. You should invest in high-quality serums because they’re more concentrated for targeted use. 

Retinol, often considered the holy grail for skincare, is proven to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, smooth skin texture, and reduce the appearance of dark marks and acne scarring. Start wearing retinol once a week, at night, and work up to daily use slowly. 111Skin’s revolutionary Celestial Black Diamond Retinol Oil is unlike most other retinoids on the market. It’s made with oil which helps relieve the common side effect of dry skin that most people encounter when first starting to use retinol. 

Make sure to pair with sunscreen as retinol makes skin extra susceptible to UV Rays. Glossier’s Invisible Shield is the thinnest sunscreen we’ve ever worn. It absorbs quickly into the skin without leaving a white or greasy film, making it perfect for daily use.

Leading custom chemical peel brand VIPeel recently launched VIDerm, a new line of skincare products that include the Vitamin C Brightening Concentrate, perfect for skin that needs a brightening boost.

For acne-prone skin, we recommend Glossier’s Zit Stick which is made with tea tree oil, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, and Benzoyl Peroxide.  Or try the Kinship Pimple Potion that contains retinol, Salicylic Acid, and plant-based ingredients that help improve skin texture. Use these to spot treat and kick those breakouts to the curb.

Vegan skin-care brand, Alder New York, was established in 2016 and incorporates dermatologist-approved ingredients in all of their products. Their Everyday Serum contains hyaluronic acid and vitamin B3 to rejuvenate dry winter skin. 

Moisturizer – You’ve reached the finish line, this is the last step of any healthy skin routine. The most important ingredient to look for is Hyaluronic Acid, which will keep your skin bouncy and thirst-free. You can also hydrate with argan oil. Tatcha’s Silk Cream provides deep hydration and can be layered to accommodate those extra dry or extra oily days. This cream will leave your skin looking so pearly you won’t even think about using an Instagram filter. 

While you, or you and your guests, are treating yourselves to a skin-care day, indulge in your favorite movies, snacks, gossip, and enjoy the skin beautification process.