Fall to Winter Skincare Transition

The transitional period between fall and winter is the perfect time to overhaul your skincare routine. The shift to shorter days and colder weather can zap your energy level and leave your skin looking a little worse for the wear. Dry, crisp air strips skin of its natural protective barrier by creating gaps that allow water to escape and irritants to penetrate, resulting in dehydration and sensitivity. On the plus side, colder weather means less sun exposure which equates to less visible aging. Additionally, sensitive skin is less likely to get triggered by sweat and heat and for those prone to breakouts, cold weather can tighten pores and help regulate sebum production. By taking extra precautions in the winter and incorporating a targeted skincare routine, you can protect your skin from the harsh elements and ensure your complexion stays radiant and hydrated all winter long.

Get the Most from Your Moisturizer!

Make a rich, intensely hydrating moisturizer designed to replenish and maintain barrier function a priority! Look for products that contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ceramides, shea butter and cholesterol. Pro-tip: always apply moisturizer to damp or even wet skin. Water is both a performance and functional ingredient in skincare. Applying moisturizer to damp/wet skin will trap excess moisture into the epidermal layers making it suppler while reducing surface dehydration. Additionally, water acts as a delivery system pulling active ingredients deeper into the skin.

Our favorites: Skinceuticals Triple Lipid Restore, Cosmedix Rescue + Balm, Obagi Hydrate Luxe

Swap Your Vitamin C with Vitamin A!

Summer skincare focuses on prevention and protection while winter skincare focuses on treatment and correction. Incorporating tretinoin (retinoic acid) into or back into your skincare regimen will help increase cell turnover and thicken your dermal matrix. Vitamin A, although amazing, can make the skin more susceptible to irritation and UV light making it very well suited for winter months. Compounding Vitamin A with other ingredients like hydroquinone and dexamethasone will provide additional skin benefits such as decreasing inflammation and reducing pigmentary irregularities.

Our favorites: Tretinoin .05%, Cosmedix Serum 24, Skinceuticals 1.0% Retinol

Start Taking Skin-Boosting Showers!

The idea of taking a cold shower in winter gives most of us a literal, and physical, chill. A long, hot shower on a cold day may seem like the best option but we can assure you, your skin vehemently disagrees. Hot showers strip natural oils from the skin, cause inflammation, and can make you sleepy as they slow down your metabolic functioning. If a cold shower is simply out of the question, try alternating the temperature between warm and cool water and watch how your skin glows and your energy soars.

Switch to an Oil or Cream Based Cleanser!

 Foaming cleansers can be drying, especially during wintertime, which is why we recommend switching to an oil or cream-based cleanser to gently remove impurities without stripping away essential skin lipids. The goal is for your skin to feel healthier and more nourished after you’re through cleansing. Skin-building, vitamin-rich lipids such as argon, olive, and moringa oils will support the skin's barrier function while helping to maintain a smooth, hydrated appearance.

Our favorites: Cosmedix Purity Solution Cleansing Oil, SkinCeuticals Gentle Cream Cleanser

Get Serious about Exfoliation!

Now is a fantastic time to introduce or reintroduce exfoliation into your routine. Our natural desquamation (exfoliation) process slows slightly during the winter resulting in a buildup of surface skin cells. These excess skin cells can make the skin appear dull and lackluster adding years to a person’s perceived age. Turn back the clock on your complexion by incorporating a combination of exfoliating treatments into your routine. We recommend a trifecta of chemical, physical, and enzymatic exfoliation to help our patients boost skin radiance and increase luminosity.

Our favorites: Defenage 2-minute Reveal Mask, Cosmedix Purity Detox Mask, SkinCeuticals Micro Exfoliating Scrub

Recharge your complexion with a HydraFacial!

Recharge and renew your skin with a moisture boosting HydraFacial! HydraFacial is one of the most powerful, non-invasive resurfacing treatments available today. It combines deep pore cleansing, physical and chemical exfoliation, extractions, serum infusion, hydration, and antioxidant protection to remove impurities and deliver active ingredients deeper into the skin. There is zero recovery time needed and the results are instant, making this our go-to wintertime skin treatment.

Book your Hydrafacial with us by clicking here!

Give Micro-needling with PRP a Try!

In-practice micro-needling uses a sterile pen to create small micro-traumas that stimulate natural restorative mechanisms, increase collagen production, reduce pigmentation, enhance skin radiance, and minimize visible aging. When combining micro-needling with PRP (platelet-rich plasma) patients can expect significantly faster healing time, reduced redness and swelling, and greater production of collagen and elastin post treatment.

Book your Micro-needling with PRP Consult by clicking here!

Get a Great Skin Check-in!

Treat any change of season as a reminder to assess whether you need to make alterations to address your current skin concerns. Just as your wardrobe changes with the weather, so should your skincare! Now is an excellent time to schedule a consultation so we can assess the health of your skin and advise on treatments options and adjustments to your regimen to help maximize results for the months ahead.

Book your skincare consultation with our Aesthetician Stephanie by clicking here!

SPF is still a Must!

Regardless of the time of year, UV rays always pose a threat to delicate skin. UVA rays, better known as the aging rays, are present from sun up until sundown and can penetrate through glass and cloud cover. Additionally, studies are finding that certain types of light emitted from screens are also contributing to premature skin aging and the development of hyperpigmentation. Do your future self a solid by keeping SPF an essential part of your daily regimen.

Our favorites: SKIN Brush & Go Mineral SPF 50, EltaMD Elements SPF 44, EltaMD Daily SPF 40

Don’t forget your Lips!

Lips are tricky as they’re actually prone to dryness all year long! The lips are technically a mucous membrane that secrete very little to no oil making them highly susceptible to environmental changes. Lips are also constantly in contact with saliva which contains enzymes that break down skin. Couple that with cold air, wind, and lack of atmospheric moisture and chapped, cracked lips are inevitable! Apply a moisturizing lip balm with SPF for daytime, and an antioxidant lip treatment nightly to protect your precious pucker from harsh, winter conditions.

Our favorites: Cosmedix Enhance, SkinCeuticals Antioxidant Lip Repair, SKIN Lip Plump and Protect SPF 30.

Learn more about our skincare services here or contact our San Francisco office and call us at 415.409.6500.