| By Rachel Danielle |
When temperatures drop and nature slows down, it’s tempting to think that our skin does the same. But here’s the secret: Winter is when your skin does its quietest, most restorative work. While you cozy up in soft knits and sip something warm, your skin is soaking in every bit of TLC you give it now—preparing to glow when spring blooms again.
Just as the earth quietly prepares for spring beneath its frost, your skin is busy renewing itself beneath the surface. While dryness or dullness may appear on the outside, beneath it, your skin is strengthening its barrier, rebuilding collagen, and repairing microdamage.
When you treat winter wellness as a ritual rather than a routine, you recharge your beauty battery—one thoughtful habit at a time. The B.E.A.R. method is a four-step framework (Balance, Enrich, Armor, Rejuvenate) that will help you prevent dryness and dullness throughout the season and heal you from the inside out.
BALANCE
Maintain your skin’s pH and oil production with gentle cleansers that do not strip the pH levels from your skin. The best way to maintain balance and prepare your skin for its vitamin boost is by washing your face with a nourishing cleanser, twice daily (morning and evening). Find ingredients that are best suited for your skin. This is the ideal season to support your skin’s balancing process. It supports and replenishes moisture, reinforces structure, and builds long-term resilience through the cold months.
ENRICH
Feed your skin with serums rich in antioxidants and hydrating ingredients that promote elasticity and glow. To help your skin thrive, use a serum that provides three essential qualities—hydration, protection, and fortification. Support that process with ingredients that feed your skin’s repair cycle: ceramides, peptides, hyaluronic acid, squalane, and niacinamide. Together, they replenish moisture, reinforce structure, and build long-term resilience through the cold months. Ingredients that support these three processes in your serums will work on a deeper level, and a layered serum packed with humectants like hyaluronic acid or glycerin attract moisture deep into the skin. My favorite antioxidant is vitamin C, as it brightens and defends against environmental stressors, while barrier-repair ingredients (think ceramides and fatty acids) strengthen your skin’s natural shield.
ARMOR
Strengthen your barrier with nutrition, thick creams, and oils that lock in moisture and protect against cold, dry air. And, yes, SPF too! Consistent winter care lays the foundation for springtime radiance. This season is your skin’s training ground—by nurturing it now, you’re setting the stage for a smoother, brighter, more resilient complexion when the seasons change.
Nourishment matters for your skin care routine. The types of food you digest that work to repair you from the inside out, and what you put on your skin, help your skin glow. So fill your plate with healthy fats (hello, avocado and salmon), antioxidant-rich produce, lean proteins, and collagen-supporting foods like citrus and bone broth. These nutrients work from the inside to repair and protect your skin, helping it glow from within.
Armor up with your moisture-rich, antioxidant- and vitamin-infused, SPF‑loving daily moisturizer—both morning and night. You’re building those positive barriers to give your skin the safety it needs to replenish. UV rays don’t take a holiday; therefore, SPF is nonnegotiable. Giving your skin what it needs, from the inside out, will reap many rewards. Plus, it will give you that “head-turning” glow that feels and looks natural, healthy, and alluring.
REJUVINATE
Support cell turnover with mild exfoliation and replenishing masks. End your day with a nourishing routine:
a mineral-rich cleanser, a vitamin-infused serum, and a deeply hydrating night cream. Just like your wardrobe, your skin care should evolve with the weather. Winter isn’t only about defense—it’s your opportunity for deep renewal. Prioritize the right products and mindful habits now, and your skin will reward you with year-round glow.
When you start to age, your skin doesn’t exfoliate as easily, so it can’t absorb the nutrients and moisture in lotions. A gentle exfoliant once or twice a week with lactic acid or PHAs will powerfully remove dull cells and reveal a fresh, even tone. Your skin will continue to look and feel better and better as you keep up with this routine. For those of you under 30, you won’t have to exfoliate as often, but moisturizer keeps you from aging, so make that a consistent habit now. As always, check with your dermatologist before you begin any new regimen.
Winter isn’t your skin’s downtime—it’s its comeback season. Treat it with care, use the B.E.A.R. method, and you’ll emerge renewed, radiant, and ready to glow. With the holidays approaching, it’s the perfect time to turn these rituals into self-care traditions. Think of winter as your permission slip to rest, recharge, and nourish from the inside out.
