Better Beauty Vermont

November.

Often called Stick Season in Vermont. Cold, but not winter yet. Leaves are gone. Snow isn’t here yet. Gardens are dying.

Skin is drying out…

Oh the plus side? It’s cozy sweater season. Cute boots. Leggings. Scarves. Hats over a bad hair day get fewer funny looks. You can snuggle up to the woodstove and read.

But what about your skin?

What can you do about it?

Our skin is our largest organ. Sometimes, it has a hard time with seasonal transitions. Mine does at least. So what do you do about it? Here are five tips:

1. Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate. Treat dry skin from the inside out. I start my day with a warm mug of lemon water, then bring a big travel mug of WIN Daily Lift with me in the car. By the time those are finished (ideally by the time I get to work), I’ve finished 28oz of my 40 ounce goal. While 40oz is not quite half my body weight in ounces, it’s close and attainable. Bring a fun stainless water bottle that has the rest of your goal and drink it. I track my water in my Fitbit app- what works for you?
2. Exfoliate, but not too much. You don’t want to aggravate your skin, but getting rid of dull, dead skin leaves more vibrant skin behind. I love Little Seed Farm’s Activated Charcoal Detox Scrub and Beautycounter’s Sugar Body Scrub in Lemongrass. For my face, every other day, I use the Nourishing Cream Exfoliator. With jojoba beads instead of harmful plastic microbeads, it leaves my face smooth and soft without damaging it or the environment.
3. Moisturize with quality products. Not cheap petroleum products. Not harmful chemicals- opt for quality products. I love the Body Butter and Body Oil– both are luxurious and free of harmful chemicals- plus the citrus is the perfect scent for grey days. The intoxicating smell is achieved though essential oils, not synthetic chemicals hidden behind the label of “fragrance.”
4. Don’t forget the sunscreen! Just because the sky is grey and the days are shorter, doesn’t reduce your sun exposure. Use high quality sunscreen free of endocrine system disrupting chemicals. I stand by Beautycounter’s sun protection line. I love the face stick and the lotion for every day, and always have a body stick with my just in case. Keep your skin protected from the sun and other elements and it will be happier.
5. Treat your dry skin with masks. Look, even the best skincare routine will have hiccups. I find a once a week mask is a great way to unwind (drink an extra serving of lemon water) and really hydrate my skin. I love this plumping mask, but sometimes I do the brightening mask to mix it up.

Winter is dry- the air is less humid, the systems we use to heat our homes make it worse. Harsh soaps, frequent washing with hot water (lukewarm is better for your skin), and itchy fabrics can make it worse. Turn it into a treat- winter skin can give you a great excuse to slow down for a little bit and take care of ourselves…

What are your favorite winter skin routines?