Winter Skin Care

You can tell the season by looking at my hands.  Really, you can.  Now that I'm older, I'm also seeing a difference in the skin on my face.  The moisturizers I used before aren't quite keeping up with the effects of the cold. So I've made a few adjustments and so far so good.  I should probably also mention that I'm well into my 40's, have combination skin for the most part, and still see an occasional breakout.  Tell me, when does that go away?  

I visit a dermatologist to treat the occasional breakouts.  She prescribed Tretinoin Cream and it makes a huge difference in the quality of my skin.  We are fortunate to have good insurance so refills are under $10. This stuff not only helps with breakouts, but also fine lines, age spots, and skin texture.

Cleanser - Because I use a retinol, my skins tends to be a little more sensitive to soaps.  I've made the switch to cetaphil cleanser and my skin seems to approve.  No more raw, flaky skin.  It doesn't lather (I like a good lather), but I've gotten used to it.

Make-up Remover - Tugging on the eyes is never a good thing.  After I splash my face with water, I use Clinique take the day off.  It can be used on the eyes (lids & lashes) and lips.  It doesn't tug and leaves no residue.

Exfoliating Scrub - I use this more often during the summer and only use this occasionally during the winter. When my skin begins to look dull, apricot scrub makes a noticable difference!  My skin looks brighter and the fresh skin is revealed.

Facial Cream - Until recently I used cetaphil lotion (cream during winter) as my daily moisturizer. This winter it just hasn't been enough so I switched to Kiehl's ultra facial cream and love it!  I use this cream twice a day, under my make-up then again at bedtime after cleansing.

Eye Cream - I've tried several eye creams and like this one the best.  I use it twice daily over facial cream.  A little goes a long way!  I've also tried to stop sleeping on my side as much and can tell a difference in my appearance in the morning!

Midnight Recovery - I'm a huge fan of Kiehl's products!  Mr. is in the industry and brings home samples for me to try.  I rely heavily on recommendations and reviews before investing in new products, so freebies are such a treat!  I've loved everything he has brought me from Kiehl's and have been using their products for a couple of years now. This is one of my favorite products (also mentioned here) and I use it when I need a little extra moisture at bedtime over the facial cream.  I love how it feels on my skin and it smells amazing!

Lip Balm - My lips are extra dry during the winter.  I apply this the minute I get out of the shower and reapply throughout the day.  It works great under lip color without being too sticky or shiny.

Aqua Glycolic -  My dermatologist shared this product with me.  I was noticing a goose bump texture on my neck and chest which comes from being an old lady sun exposure.  Aqua glycolic lotion is great to use for reducing sun spots and improving skin texture.  It isn't on the shelves at the drugstore so you have to ask for it in the pharmacy.  I have been using it since July and can definitely see an improvement in my skin.  *Note, if you use this product, be sure to always use sunscreen.

About those hands, this hand cream is doing the trick!  If you have a skin care product you can't live without, please share in the comments.  I love recommendations!