How we nourish our skin throughout the winter

While the holiday season is a happy time, it can also be a hectic one. From family gatherings to last-minute shopping and all-over-the-place weather, we find that once the holidays are over, our skin is in need of a major hydrating reset. While we’re big believers in a minimal skincare routine made of skin-loving essentials, it’s also important to shift or supplement the products you use during cold and drying winter months. 

Our #1 tip for keeping skin flawless throughout the winter? Hydration. Relying on products that lock in moisture below the skin’s surface ensures that not only is your outer layer of skin going to stay supple and moisturized, but your skin cells will, too. One of our favorite ingredients that works overtime in the winter to achieve hydrated and nourished skin is Hyaluronic Acid. It’s a hugely popular skincare ingredient for a reason: it helps to deeply moisturize, plump skin up, and nourish it from the inside out. 

You can’t really talk about hyaluronic acid without discussing ceramides, the lipids that make up about 40% of your skin’s composition and help form your skin’s outermost barrier. Ceramides hold our skin cells together and form a protective layer that helps keep your complexion healthy and resilient. Healthy skin barriers with a high ceramide percentage help to seal in moisture and keep impurities out. Sadly, all of our ceramide levels decrease as we age *sigh*. But! Using products with highly moisturizing ingredients and high ceramide concentrates can help to preserve that outer layer of skin (especially during the winter months when your skin’s barrier is already compromised from cold temperatures, harsh winds, and dry apartment heat). 

Here’s how ceramides stack up against the rest of your skin’s composition: