9 Beauty Hacks to Add to Your Winter Skin Care Routine

Real talk: The winter season comes with a whole lot of nuisances. The holidays are awesome (who doesn’t like opening gifts and kissing your cutie when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve?)—but what the cold weather does to your skin is decidedly not. Dry skin? Check. Flaky lips? Check. Feet that shouldn’t see the light of day? Check. Basically, winter weather can do a number on your skin—from head to toe. Luckily, smoothing things out isn’t impossible. In fact, there are some easy cold weather beauty hacks that you can incorporate into your skin care routine to feel softer, stat. Ready to go? Cleanse your skin with a gentle facial cleanser and proceed with care to incorporate the following skin care hacks into your routine.

SKIN CARE HACK #1: EXFOLIATE YOUR LIPS

No one wants to get caught under the mistletoe with a chapped pout. Just like the rest of your face, your lips could benefit from some exfoliating too. Before you’re stuck applying your holiday lip color to lips that are as dry as the desert, add a lip scrub to your routine. You don’t have to buy a whole new product, thankfully, the L'Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar face scrubs can double as lip scrubs.

Take your pick from the L'Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Resurface & Energize Kona Coffee Scrub, L'Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Nourish & Soften Cocoa Scrub, L'Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Smooth & Glow Grapeseed Scrub, or the L'Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Purify & Unclog Kiwi Scrub. Not only will exfoliating your lips help keep them from chapping, but it will also help your lip color apply smoothly and last longer. For a complete how-to, here’s How to Use a Lip Scrub Before Applying Lipstick.

SKIN CARE HACK #2: SWAP IN A WATER-BASED MOISTURIZER

When the weather is making your skin feel oh-so-dry, sometimes your regular moisturizer just won’t cut it. So, after cleansing your face with a gentle facial cleanser, consider replacing your standard moisturizer with a water-based one instead. No matter your skin type, water-based moisturizers offer lightweight hydration and a “boost” of H2O for your skin. To choose the right water-based option for you, make your selection—from the moisturizers below—based on your skin type.

L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care - Normal to Dry Skin: This moisturizer is formulated with aloe vera water and hyaluronic acid to provide long-lasting hydration to skin. It’s specifically made for normal to dry skin, providing lightweight moisture and a glowing finish.

L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care - Extra Dry Skin: With a comfortable, velvety finish, this moisturizer meets the needs of uber-dry skin. The formula contains both aloe vera water and hyaluronic acid for long-lasting, continuous hydration and comfort.

L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care - Normal to Oily Skin: It may seem counterintuitive, but oily skin needs moisturizer too. This one has a matte finish, so you don’t have to worry about the appearance of excess shine. It’s also formulated with aloe vera water and hyaluronic acid for long-lasting, continuous hydration.

SKIN CARE HACK #3: TURN THE TEMPS DOWN IN THE SHOWER

Hot showers may feel great but they can dry out your skin. That’s because when water is too warm, it can actually strip your skin of the natural oils it needs to maintain proper moisture levels. And oh yeah, it can also leave your skin feeling tight and raw (ouch!). So, if you want to alter your skin care routine beyond the skin care products you use, turn the dial down and use lukewarm water for showers instead as well as when you wash your face.

SKIN CARE HACK #4: LAYER YOUR SKIN CARE PRODUCTS

Have seasonal dry skin? It’s time to learn how to layer. By applying multiple hydrating products, one right on top of the next, you can better combat dry winter skin. Apply a hydrating serum under your moisturizer or night cream for the added hydration your skin is craving. Hyaluronic acid is a particularly moisturizing ingredient to look out for when choosing a facial serum for this step in your routine—it can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water! Grab the L'Oréal Paris Derm Intensives 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum; apply a few drops onto clean, damp skin, then layer on a nourishing facial moisturizer like the L'Oréal Paris Age Perfect Hydra Nutrition Manuka Honey Day Cream.

Editor’s note: If you’re interested in learning more about how to layer your skin care products, read our article, How Do You Layer Skin Care Products?

SKIN CARE HACK #5: APPLY A nourishing night mask or cream

When the sun sets earlier and the days feel shorter, we all want to stay inside, cozy in our beds—why not make the most out of your shut-eye with an overnight face mask or cream? A hydrating night cream or balm, which you can apply all over your face, neck, and chest, can be just the thing to help stave off dry, chapped skin during the winter months. To give your complexion a super moisture surge, try the L'Oréal Paris Age Perfect Hydra Nutrition Manuka Honey Night Balm. If anti-aging is your primary skin concern, try the L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Intensive Overnight Mask to help fade fine lines and wrinkles while you catch your z’s. Now that’s real beauty sleep!

SKIN CARE HACK #6: STOCK UP ON HAND CREAM

It’s not just the skin on your face that’s prone to dryness in the winter—your hands are often left vulnerable to the same environmental elements as your complexion. One of the easiest ways to prevent dry hands is by adding a hand cream to your skin care routine. Stash one in your kitchen, bathroom, and at your desk—trust us, your hands will thank you. Apply hand cream after doing the dishes, washing your hands, and using hand sanitizer (many of which have drying formulas).

SKIN CARE HACK #7: USE MOISTURIZER AT THE RIGHT TIME

After you’ve washed your face and showered, don’t wait until you’re dry to apply your moisturizer or lotion. Do it when your skin is still damp. Pat yourself with a towel (avoid harsh rubbing), then apply your face serum, moisturizer, and body lotion. The best time for your skin to receive hydration and lock in moisture is when your skin is damp post-cleansing, so don't miss this opportunity!

SKIN CARE HACK #8: BUST OT THE HUMIDIFIER

The low moisture in the air during winter can cause your skin to feel dry. Investing in a humidifier can help counteract that since they add moisture back into the environment. Humidifiers help your skin retain hydration, so this is one purchase that’s totally worth it.

Editor’s note: Not convinced? Here’s How Using a Humidifier Can Benefit Your Skin.

SKIN CARE HACK #9: SWITCH TO A LUMINOUS-FINISH FOUNDATION

Since the dry winter weather can cause your skin to appear dull and lifeless, now is a great time to switch out your regular foundation for a formula that’s a little more luminous. The L'Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Glow Foundation is a glow-boosting formula that goes on smooth and lasts all day. With dry air both outdoors and inside, using a radiant finish foundation during the winter months can go a long way in disguising the appearance of dull winter skin.

Next up: How to Winter-Proof Your Look