I have no idea how I used to take care of my skin during extreme chills. ‘Bomb Cyclones’ are a recent phenomenon we’re having a few times every winter in the East Coast. It’s basically an outsized winter storm meets blizzard, and thunderstorms that dumps massive amounts of snow. As my partner and I prepared for the bomb cyclone weekend, I couldn’t help but put together a skincare routine to handle the chilly freeze.
Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser
I’m just not that type that will skip cleansing. It’s not about whether skin is dry or oily, as mine is quite dry in the winter. I cleanse because it makes my skin feel fresh, and I know my products are working more efficiently. But when the weather is less than forgiving, I am using Glossier’s Milky Jelly to give that as-nude-as-possible level of cleanse. The formula has an active cleansing agent that is used to clean contact lenses, so it’s very gentle. And there is allantonin and B5, which help skin feel nice, and soft. The texture reminds me of Cetaphil, only slightly more refined. While it emulsifies, the formula doesn’t really lather. It’s just nice to dislodge, and freshen up, without being invasive or aggravating. Perfect when you just want that gentle touch.
African Botanics Rose Treatment Essence
Sometimes when it’s cold, you just want to skip the water altogether because it’s freezing. So after cleansing, I pat about two pumps of the African Botanics Rose Treatment Essence. It’s a concentrated moisturizing gel that soaks into skin. The formula is full of botanical emollients, humectants, beta-glucan, and saccharides (natural hydrating sugars). Just know it makes the skin touchably soft, and plump. Plus there is pure rosewater and rose centifolia extract which give this a very luxurious, beautiful sensorial experience. Seriously, it’s magical.
Susanne Kaufmann Moisturizing Mask
While I’ve recently shared my love for Susanne Kaufmann’s Moisturizing Mask (read here), it is also part of my bomb cyclone ritual because of how effective it is as a moisturizer and mask. Since I’m staying in anyway, it makes sense that my moisturizer can be so powerful that it functions as my mask. And that’s exactly what this beautiful cream delivers. The cream is water-based, and contains nourishing plant butters and fats, even honey. So it’s quite interesting, and so satisfying to feel on the skin. The texture is just right. A light application will do for most, and a heavy handed application will really deliver enough nourishment that you’ll wake up like you’ve been sleeping next to a humidifier. I really feel this goes a long way in making my skin feel alive, and healthy during cold, frigid, dry winter days.
Lina Hanson Global Treasures
I usually use balms on my lips, but on exceptionally cold, and dry days, they’re good reinforcements on drier areas all over. Lina Hanson’s Global Treasures is one of my favorite facial balms. It’s very nourishing, yet perfectly weighted for the face so it’s never too heavy nor greasy. The ingredients are stellar. Green Tea is the base ingredient, meaning this is a green tea based balm, which I find very cool. It’s also very functional as this balm is loaded with antioxidants. And your eyes do not deceive you, that is actual, real gold flake you see in the balm. Use this in place of face oil on the most challenging days, like during a bomb cyclone. I like to dab this over my forehead, and on my cheeks to stave off that tight, stripped feeling on dry days.
Naturium Multi-Peptide Eye Cream
When I need that extra boost, I lock in my eye area with a nice cream-based product. Natuirum’s Multi-Peptide Eye Cream provides the right balance as it’s extremely moisturizing, yet the full-bodied cream texture absorbs so well that it leaves the under-eye area protected without being suffocated. The cream also doesn’t travel, and seems to work ‘down’ into the skin, rather than around, which I like. There are also peptides like Matrixyl 3000 and Argireline Amplified, which have a lot of scientific studies that back up their ability to fade wrinkles, and rejuvenate skin. It’s also fragrance-less, and one of few “active” eye products that doesn’t sting. I’ve used so many eye creams, and this is just checking every box.
Tatcha Kissu Lip Mask
Yes, lip balms are effective, and will work just as nicely. But there’s something that feels a bit more indulgent about a ‘lip mask’ over a standard balm, that I’ll take anytime I want to be a bit extra. Tatcha’s Kissu Lip Mask is a beautiful jelly lip mask that is described as a leave-on treatment. There’s wonderful ingredients like squalane, allantonin, and fermented rice. Then there’s the pleasurable ingredients like Japanese Peach Fruit Water, and Peach Extract, and Unshiu Japanese Citrus Peel Extract that are purported to have been used for centuries for dry, and damaged lips.
The formula goes on thick, but is greaseless, and non-sticky. It’s really quite different from anything I’ve experienced. Lips just glide together. After a day of wear, lips will also feel ridiculously soft. The entire experience is just a dream.
YÜLI Harmony Body Oil
I made it a point this past Fall to commit to taking care of the rest of my body the way I take care of my face. And body oil has made such a difference. I slather myself right out the shower, and my skin has been so smooth, soft, and *I know it’s a marketing term*.. elastic. I also think it’s preventing a lot of potential UV damage. Body oils basically provide the incredible nutrition, nourishment, and multi-functionality of a face oil, but for the body. And of all that I’ve used, I just think YÜLI’s Harmony Body Oil is something special. Their oils, distilled and sourced in-house, are all quite magnifique.
A lot of body oils tend to be more diluted as far as quality, nutrition-dense plant ingredients go. But with Harmony Body Oil, the formula truly is something that is so high-quality that it would make for a stellar face oil. There’s Prickly Pear Oil, Green Tea Oil, Rosehip Oil, all beautiful oils that make up the base. Harmony also contains so many infused plant extracts, which makes this body oil quite a bit more advanced, and nutritionally-loaded. And then there’s the sensorial: rose, vanilla, amber are very calming, and relaxing. This is the perfect all-over salve for the body to close the ritual.
That’s it all for now. If you’re enjoying my updates, please be sure to leave a comment. I feel like a lot of interaction has become more casual social media comments now!