My Beauty Product Guide For An African Winter

The days are getting shorter and nights are getting much, much colder. It’s clear that we’re approaching a very cold winter (thank you climate change), and if we’re not well-prepared, our skin is sure to feel the brunt of it.

Cold temperatures can dry out our skin, and it can even cause skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis to flare up. Dry skin isn’t only uncomfortable, but it also looks and feels rough, and you can also end up looking really ashy, which is about as appealing as it sounds. What’s more, dry skin can also affect the effectiveness of your favorite beauty products, making them essentially useless.

There’s no way I’m going to let dropping temperatures affect the health of my skin. Therefore, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite products to ensure that my skin continues to glow in the cold months as it does in the summertime.

Winter Beauty Guide

Choose a Hydrating Cleanser

Yes, your cleanser is meant to strip away dirt and impurities, but that doesn’t mean that it should dry out your skin when doing so. So, which cleanser to choose? Well for me, a personal favorite is the Litchi & Titch Hydration + Anti-Ageing Foaming Cleanser for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, the cleanser is really gentle, which is great for those who deal with sensitive skin. Secondly, the first ingredient listed in the product is literally water, so you know you’re about to get a dose of hydration when cleansing your skin.

Next, the main ingredients found in the product are jasmine, geranium, and grapefruit. The first is a flower, the second sounds like something out of Wakanda, and the third is a fruit that’s mostly found in a cocktail. So how exactly do they help your skin?

Well for one, jasmine is great for people with acne-prone skin such as myself. This is because jasmine helps to regulate the moisture in the skin, which then works to balance sebum production, which in turn reduces the chances of breakouts.

Secondly, there’s geranium, which is a plant that contains antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiseptic properties – all of which are great if you want to keep your skin free of bacteria (think acne) and infections.

Lastly, there’s grapefruit, which is ridiculously rich in vitamin C, which is essentially the holy grail when it comes to skincare ingredients. Vitamin C can help protect against aging, inflammation as well as sun damage (yes, that can still happen in winter.)

Scrub Away The Cold

Do you exfoliate? I really hope you do because no one should be walking around with dead skin cells on their faces, especially in winter when the cold air causes your skin cells to die out faster. Exfoliating will shed away the dry, dead skin and leave you with supple and smoother-looking skin.

So, how do you exfoliate? I suggest trying out the Yo Glow Enzyme Scrub. This exfoliating scrub won’t only help to slough away dead skin cells, but thanks to the presence of pineapple and papaya enzymes, which both contain vitamin C, the scrub will also help to encourage the production of collagen and brighten your complexion.

Lather on a Moisturizing Body Lotion

The skin on your face isn’t the only one that you should be concerned about during the winter season.

While you can’t exactly use a day cream on your body, you can find a body cream that will keep your skin moisturized and hydrated throughout the day. One such product is Clere’s 48-Hour Moisturizing Body Cream. The cream isn’t just glycerine-enriched, but it also contains vitamins E & A. Vitamin E helps to prevent moisture loss in your skin, whereas vitamin A helps to reduce the risk for sun damage.

Master a mask

Don’t you just love a good mask? They’re quick and effective, and they really make you feel like your self-care habits are working.

If you’re going to use a face mask, you definitely need one that has hydrating properties. This is why I love the Garnier Hyaluronic Acid Ampoule Sheet Mask Watermelon Extract. Yes, you read that right – it has hyaluronic acid, which means that it’s going to give your skin a hydrating moisture boost that it’ll certainly appreciate. Also, did I mention that it’s vegan?

Add A Few Drops Of A Serum

I love serums because they give my skin that added assistance, especially if I’m dealing with something specific like pigmentation. Obviously, a big concern in winter would be dry skin, so finding a hydrating serum that can offer additional benefits certainly wouldn’t hurt.

For me, the WBeauty Hydrate Hydrating Serum is the one to beat. Not only is this serum designed for dry skin, thanks to the presence of hyaluronic acid, but it also has a Vitamin Complex that serves to improve your skin texture as well as the skin’s defense system.

Get a Multi-Functional Day Cream

Next, you want a day cream with the right ingredients that will keep your skin moisturized throughout the day – as well as provide some anti-aging benefits.

The Lamelle Serra Restore Cream is the ultimate hydrating day cream. Not only does it keep your skin hydrated during the winter, thanks to its ability to lock in moisture, but its added ingredients work to alleviate symptoms associated with dry skin, like irritation.

Don’t Forget Your Sunscreen (Please)

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but you always need sunscreen – even if you’re freezing. The sun’s UBA rays (the ones responsible for aging you and raising your risk for skin cancer) can penetrate through any cloud, finding their way into your skin, which means that you’ll need sunscreen all year-round.

If you’re in the market for an effective sunscreen, especially one that doesn’t leave a white cast over your black and brown skin, then might I suggest the Eucerin Sun Gel-Cream Oil Control SPF 50+? It’s not only an amazing sunscreen, but for those with oily skin like me, it helps to regulate sebum, leaving you with a matte finish.

Pout With Your Lip Balm

Winter can really dry out your lips, leaving you with flaky and chapped skin.

Let’s be honest, there’s nothing more unattractive than attempting to moisturize your lips by licking them over and over again. So why not give your tongue a break and try the Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm?

Thanks to the presence of vitamin E, this lip balm will leave you with a smooth and supple pout. 

Finish With A Flawless Foundation

The key to a great makeup routine is ensuring that your skincare routine does what it needs to. Now that we’ve established the best skincare products for a hydrated canvas, you can finish off with a flawless, hydrating foundation.

A personal favorite would be the Estee Lauder Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturizing Foundation. Yes, it’s a bit of a mouthful, but that’s nothing compared to what it can do for your skin. The foundation contains probiotic technology, as well as chia seed extract, so of course, it’s going to improve your skin health while it rests flawlessly on your face.

Not only does it provide buildable coverage, but the foundation also serves to combat oxidative stress and hydrate your skin throughout the day. If you’re looking for a foundation that does it all, then look no further than this one. 

Takeaway

Yes, the cold months are almost upon us, but that doesn’t mean that your skin has to suffer for the seasonal shift. In fact, if you prepare yourself well and stock up on some winter-friendly products, winter could turn out to be your skin’s favorite season.