Skin Expert, Renée Rouleau Shares Her Winter Skin Care Routine

Skin fact: The skin is always changing. Whether it’s from season to season or climate to climate, the skin is constantly trying to adjust itself to keep it balanced and behaving well.

It’s really important to adjust your skin care routine is important, especially when you can feel or see that your products aren’t working as well as they used to.

Read: Does Your Skin Get Used To Products and Stop Working?

Now that winter is here and despite what many people think, here in North Texas we get cold, ice and snow! Granted, it’s in short bursts unlike my days of growing up in Minnesota and Boston where the cold winters linger on and on for months, but my heat is definitely cranked up in the house so my skin is feeling the drying effects of winter and letting me know it needs hydration.

About my skin: I’m a skin type #2 so I still get breakouts (a few a month) and my skin definitely still produces oil. My skin is dehydrated, not dry which it’s important to know the difference…

Read: Dry Skin Vs. Dehydrated Skin. What’s the Difference?

Here are the changes I’m making in my own skin routine this summer.

My Morning Routine:

Step 1: While I love using Luxe Mint Cleansing Gel in the winter, I find that I want something a little milder in the winter so I switched to Purifying Face Wash. Especially because lately I’ve been experimenting with a new Retinol product that we’ll be launching and along with the dry air, my skin has been feeling tight. But if I’m really tired in the morning and need a pick-me-up, I’ll always grab for the Luxe Mint Cleansing Gel.

Step 2: I use the Elderberry Toner year round as it works very well for my skin. I apply it to our popular Toning Cloths for an easy application. I love the scent.

Step 3: I always use the Vitamin C&E Complex under my sunscreen for my daily dose of skin-brightening antioxidants, but I’ve been adding a layer of Intensive Firming Serum over it on the days where I feel especially dehydrated. This also has ingredients in it that make the skin look really smooth under makeup. My aging skin loves it.

Step 4: My very favorite sunscreen, Daily Protection SPF 30 is used year round. It never feels greasy on my skin and doesn’t clog my pores at all. A good sunscreen that is lightweight is hard to come by, so if you haven’t tried this, I highly suggest it!

Step 5: I then dust on a mineral powder foundation and then do a second dusting with ColoreScience SPF 50 Mineral Powder. I will reapply this powder throughout the day (yes, even in the winter you still get damaging UV rays) not only on my face, but my neck, chest and hands too.

Read: Which is Better? SPF 30 or SPF 100? The Answer May Surprise You

My Evening Routine:

Step 1: Rosemary Mint Cleanser is my go-to evening cleanser to remove my makeup. Plus our new Soothing Eye Makeup Remover is so great to remove mascara and shadow for my sensitive eyes.

Step 2: I use the Elderberry Toner and of course, I always leave it damp on the skin before applying my next step. In the winter when the heat is on, the dry air is looking for moisture wherever it can get it so leaving your toner damp allows for an extra boost of hydration.

Step 3: I use the Skin Correcting Serum at night as my serum when I’m having breakouts but generally I use Skin Drink. Both are oil-free so they give excellent hydration without adding the oil.

Step 4: At night, I change it up quite a bit. If I’m experiencing some breakouts and not feeling very dehydrated, Sheer Moisture always works very well on my skin. If I need more hydration, I’ll go with the Hawaiian Nourishing Cream. And if my skin is feeling especially dehydrated, I’ll use a small amount of Phytolipid Comfort Cream. With the new Retinol product, there are nights when I feel like I need even more and that cream is perfect.

Step 5: I’m a huge believer in eye creams so I never, ever go without one. I actually only use it at night, but you can certainly use it during the day time. The Firming Eye Therapy is what I’m using now but I’ll change up to the Synergy Eye Cream when I’m done. I love them both.

Extras:

Year round, I adore our Triple Berry Smoothing Peel used a few times a month and Mint Buffing Beads is always used on my skin at least twice a week. When I have extra time, I’ll use Vitamin C Mask after the peel. These are my definite glowing skin staples!

Professional Treatment:
My skin really loves the Moisture Infusion Facial in the winter. We use this wonderful collagen-infused mask that is soaked in antioxidants and skin hydrators to drench the skin with comforting moisture. We use warm ultrasound to essentially iron it into the skin for maximum absorption. It feels soooooo good. See the list of our facial treatments here.

Read: Five Winter Skin Care Tips

So there you have it, my winter skin care routine!

Which skin care products are right for you? See our nine skin types and get products recommended.

Want to have a skin consultation with skin care expert, Renée Rouleau? Click here to see which cities and countries Renée will be making appearances this year!

Content Copyright © 2012, Renée Rouleau, Inc

PERMISSION TO REPRINT: You may use any items from this article in your print, blog, magazine or electronic newsletter. But in order to do so, you must include the following paragraph including a link to www.ReneeRouleau.com.

Information courtesy of www.ReneeRouleau.com, a website with skin care tips, products based on nine skin types and advice from skin care expert and celebrity esthetician, Renée Rouleau.