3 Professional Glow Experts Share The Winter Skincare Routines They Swear By

"I love a gentle yet effective cleanser that doesn’t strip the skin. My Daily Cleansing Serum ($38) features oat bran extract to repair the skin’s barrier, and glycerin, jojoba, and sodium hyaluronate to help the skin hold on to moisture. I love to remove cleanser with two pieces of wet cotton gauze. It helps to gently exfoliate and make sure all traces of cleanser are removed.”

After cleansing, I apply iS Clinical’s Pro-Heal Serum Advance Plus ($148) to nourish and protect the skin. It’s a great option in the winter especially because it’s not going to be too harsh on the skin.

"To add an extra layer of hydration, I’ll apply a hyaluronic acid serum like Dr. Nigma Talib’s Hydrating and Plumping Serum No 1 ($185) or iS Clinical’s Hydra-Cool Serum ($90).”

"Wearing sunscreen every single day is the most important thing you can do for your skin, and you HAVE to still apply it every day, even in the winter! I love one that’s lightweight yet hydrating like this one from Supergoop!”

"I’m diligent about washing my face every single night. If the skin isn’t cleansed thoroughly, your treatment products won’t be able to properly absorb. I use my Daily Cleansing Serum ($38) and remove it with two pieces of wet gauze.”

"After cleansing at night, I love to use a toner. It’s a great step to wrap up your cleansing routine. My Daily Toning Essence ($52) brightens the skin with sake water, and sebocytine helps to regulate sebum production to keep pores clear.”

"Many people are scared to exfoliate in the winter when the skin is drier. However, dry and sensitive skin still needs to be exfoliated! You might not be able to exfoliate as often as other skin types, but it’s still so important. One to two times a week, I use Dr. Dennis Gross’s Alpha Beta Daily Peel Pads ($88) to exfoliate.
"A good, gentle way to exfoliate if you have more sensitive skin is to use gauze to remove your cleanser. The gauze will gently exfoliate the skin in the process, resulting in brighter skin. Exfoliation is necessary to remove the dead layer of skin on the surface so that the hydrating products you use later on can do their job!”

"On nights when I’m not exfoliating, I use my Retinol Reform ($95). It’s an amazing multitasking product to address several different concerns. It combines lactic acid and retinol to speed up cellular turnover to bring fresh skin to the surface, as well as boost collagen, minimize fine lines and wrinkles, reduce hyperpigmentation, and help keep the skin clear. The best part is that it’s not going to cause flaking, so you can use it in the winter without worrying about it drying out your skin.”

"After Retinol Reform ($95), I apply a hyaluronic acid serum again. It’s such a great way to add extra hydration without needing to rely on a heavy moisturizer, which can cause congestion.”

"It’s best to apply eye cream before your moisturizer to allow it to fully absorb. Eye creams are formulated with smaller molecules than moisturizers so that they can penetrate the delicate skin around the eye. iS Clinical’s Youth Eye Complex ($98) is my favorite to plump up and hydrate the under-eye area.”

"Finding a great moisturizer that works well for your skin type is so important. For more normal to oily skin, My Daily Oil-Free Moisturizer ($42) is a lightweight, fast-absorbing moisturizer formulated with sodium hyaluronate and glycerin to draw moisture to the skin and help it hold on to it. If your skin is on the drier side, I love iS Clinical’s Reparative Moisture Emulsion ($90) because it’s lightweight yet deeply hydrating.”

"I always cleanse in the morning. Some people think you don’t need to wash your face because you don’t have anything on it, but I don’t believe in that theory. I want to remove my nighttime products along with any oil that my skin produces so I can create a clean canvas to ensure my protective daytime products work their best. I use my low-foaming, sulfate-free cleanser called Moisture Protecting Cleanser ($37) in the winter.”

"Then what’s particularly important in the winter is to get my next product on within 60 seconds, otherwise moisture will evaporate out of the skin. I’ll put on my Moisture Infusion Toner ($43) and apply it generously.”

"While the toner is still damp on my face, I’ll apply a no-sting Vitamin C E Treatment ($68), and I’ll let it sink in for 60 seconds.”

"After that, I’ll use the most important daytime product, which is sun protection. I do two generous applications—one to my face, and then will squeeze out more and do a second application to the front and sides of my neck. My Weightless Protection SPF 30 ($58) is my favorite because it doesn’t feel greasy or clog my pores, and it won’t pill up under makeup.”

"If my eyes look tired and puffy, I’ll dab on a brightening eye serum like my Vitamin C Eye Brightener ($60). It works great under makeup, too. From there, I’ll put on my makeup.”

"At night, my skin is dirty from oil being produced but also from touching my face all day, even if I don’t try to, so I really want to clean the skin well and reduce bacteria to reset the skin. I’ll do a double-cleanse if I’m wearing makeup. My first step is to remove makeup with Soothing Aloe Cleanser ($31); then I’ll use my Rapid Response Detox Cleanser ($41).”

"If it’s around my monthly cycle and I feel some breakouts coming, I’ll do a post-cleanse reset with my Rapid Response Detox Masque ($64). I’ll leave it on for five to 10 minutes to reduce the microbial count on my skin, which can help to prevent clogged pores and breakouts.”

"Then I’ll rinse off the mask, apply toner, and leave it damp.”

"I rotate between different serums at night all throughout the winter. I like to give my skin a variety of ingredients. My Advanced Resurfacing Serum ($87) has retinol, my Pore Wrinkle Perfecting Serum ($50) has exfoliating acids, and my Firm + Repair Overnight Serum ($73) is a hydrating peptide-firming formula.”

"After my serums, I seal everything in with this moisturizing cream.”

"I always use an eye cream at night. I use this one sparingly applied to the bone around the eye, and then as mentioned above, I’ll pat on a skin oil when needed.”

"This cleanser contains fermented rice water and licorice root for skin brightening as well as PHA, which is a larger molecule than AHA, providing a slow, gentle exfoliation.”

"Next, I’ll use my Youthful Eye Jelly ($47) from The Things We Do. The botanical hyaluronic acid mixed with the depuffing properties of periwinkle and cucumber, and a dash of licorice to brighten under-eyes are a total winning combo for day and nighttime use.”

"This Isla Oil ($64) is a super-blend of oils that help lock in natural moisture without congesting the skin. It's my go-to product instead of moisturizer because most of them actually break me out!”

"Last but not least, this is a smooth, light, dewy alternative to most matte sunscreens. It’s a silky, safe sunscreen with plenty of choices for darker skin types!”

"Shani Darden’s Daily Cleansing Serum ($38) features olive, chicory root, and oat bran, which all work together to help soothe and gently revive the skin after a long day.”

"I like to do a second cleanse in the evenings to remove excess debris, sweat, and makeup from the day. I use my exfoliating cleanser which has tiny jojoba exfoliant beads along with a light mix of AHA sand BHAs to brighten the skin.”

"I’ve never seen true results from a toner until I started using this one. It contains a high dose of birch milk, which is a tree sap containing amino acids, to help fight congestion as well as dullness.”

"This retinol combines vitamin A with hyaluronic acid, green tea, and gotu kola for deep cell renewal with a hug.”

"Four times a week, I finish off my week with this jelly sleeping mask. It is soaked in organic oats, B5, and amino acids to help repair the skin through the harsher winter weather.”
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