My Winter Skincare Must-Haves

Over the past couple of years, skincare has become one of my top priorities and something I truly enjoy learning more about. It always makes me laugh to think back just a few years ago when I had no skincare routine whatsoever, basically just rinsing my face off in the shower…gross. After much trial and error, I’ve truly found a skincare routine that works best for me and my skin.

I shared my summer skincare routine back in early August and now that the winter months are in full effect, I’ve changed things up a little and added in some products to help keep my skin as clear and hydrated as possible. Since being in Denver, these small changes have done wonders with keeping my skin super hydrated with the dry mountain air!

I just want to reiterate that this is a routine I’ve tried and tested that works for me and my skin. We all have different skin that reacts to the environment and products in different ways. I hope you use this post as a resource and tool for your own skincare routine. I highly recommend each and every single product I’m about to share and hope they work as well for you as they do for me!

So without further ado, here’s a breakdown of my winter skincare must-haves!

DRUNK ELEPHANT LALA RETRO WHIPPED MOISTURIZER WITH CERAMIDES

This moisturizer has been life changing for my skin this winter!! Y’all it is the most luxurious whipped moisturizer that packs a punch of hydration with the added bonus of ceramides that help protect against water loss in the skin. I use this every single day, especially since being in Denver. I love using it both day and night. It is not a thick, heavy moisturizer at all and it penetrates the skin quickly to provide hydration. If you’re looking for a moisturizer, this is the one to get!

DRUNK ELEPHANT B-HYDRA INTENSIVE HYDRATION SERUM

I also started adding B-Hydra into my winter skincare routine and it’s another life changing product! Think of it as a glass of water for your skin that replenishes nutrients while delivering hydration to your skin all day long. It’s very lightweight but packs a hydration punch which my skin absolutely loves! I also use this day and night.

DRUNK ELEPHANT PROTINI POLYPEPTIDE MOISTURIZER

This is my OG moisturizer that I used from Drunk Elephant when I started using their products a couple of years ago. It’s silky smooth and very lightweight, and improves dryness, dullness and firmness in the skin. Though I gravitate more towards LaLa in the winter, I still love using this and adding it into my routine. I’ll typically use it at night in combination with B-Hydra. If my skin is really, really dry, I’ll use both LaLa, Protini and B-Hydra for the ultimate hydration combination.

DRUNK ELEPHANT VIRGIN MARULA ANTIOXIDANT FACIAL OIL

The virgin marula oil is one of Drunk Elephant’s top products. This luxury facial oil is high in antioxidants to deeply moisturize, nourish, soothe and rejuvenate the skin. It acts as a vessel to help carry other Drunk Elephant products deep into the skin for maximum results. I use 2-3 drops both morning and night in my skincare cocktail/smoothie as Drunk Elephant calls them.

DRUNK ELEPHANT C-FIRMA VITAMIN C DAY SERUM

Looking for brighter and firmer skin? C-Firma is for you! This powerful and super-potent vitamin c serum is packed with powerful antioxidants, enzymes and nutrients that mimic the effects of Vitamin D, while improving the brightness and firmness of skin. I’ve tried a few other Vitamin C products from other brands that either smelled absolutely terrible or burned my skin; this one from Drunk Elephant had/did neither! I have somewhat sensitive skin so if you do too and you’re on the hunt for a vitamin C serum, definitely try this one!

DRUNK ELEPHANT C-TANGO MULTIVITAMIN EYE CREAM

It’s never too early to get ahead on anti-aging and this multivitamin eye cream does just that! Packed with 8 peptides, 5 forms of vitamin c and cucumber extract, this eye cream helps to provide a firmer, brighter and stronger-looking skin around the eye area. It’s such a gentle formula that almost has a cooling effect when you apply it. I use this every morning and apply first before the rest of my skincare routine.

DRUNK ELEPHANT BESTE NO. 9 JELLY CLEANSER

This is hands down my favorite cleanser out there! I’ve tried many different brands and styles, from oil-based to super soapy and this one takes first place by a landslide! It’s free of fragrances, SLS, and essential oils which makes it suitable for all skin types. It quickly and easily dissolves makeup, excess oil and any other grime from the day. I use this at night only, and in the morning just splash some cool water on my face to wake me up.

DRUNK ELEPHANT TLC FRAMBOOS GLYCOLIC RESURFACING NIGHT SERUM

TLC Framboos helps prepare your skin for all of the amazing products you put on it and allows for maximum absorption. This 12% AHA/BHA formula refines and resurfaces skin for a youthful, smoother and more radiant complexion. By lifting and removing dead skin cells, it helps to improve uneven skin tone, the appearance of pores, and dullness and uneven texture. Being in the heart of the winter months, I don’t use this every night but typically 3 times a week. You certainly can still use it nightly but that’s what works best for me and my skin!

DRUNK ELEPHANT UMBRA TINTE PHYSICAL DAILY DEFENSE BROAD SPECTRUM SUNSCREEN SPF 30

Sunscreen is one of those things that I never loved or paid much attention to. For the past year or so, it’s become something that I wear on my face every single day! I love this Umbra Tinte sunscreen because not only is it SPF 30, but it also has the most natural and subtle glow to it. With very fair skin, I’m careful with bronzers and such because most of the time they are way too dark and fake looking. The tinte from this sunscreen looks so natural! It provides a perfectly even palette for my makeup and is even perfect for those no makeup days, too!

LANEIGE LIP SLEEPING MASK: VANILLA

I’ve shared this lip sleeping mask a couple of times before on the blog [here and here] and it truly is a must-have, life changing product that everyone needs! I’ve always had dry, cracked lips and they seem to get worse in the dead of winter. Since using this lip mask, dry and cracked lips are a thing of the past. It’s a miracle worker! It comes with a small brush to apply which is a nice bonus. I like the vanilla flavor best; it’s the most subtle of them. Highly recommend getting this!

FRANKLIN & WHITMAN CUTICLE SERUM

Anyone else get super dry, cracked hands and cuticles in the winter? Ya, me too…and it’s not a good look! This cuticle serum from my ride-or-die brand, Franklin & Whitman, is another one of those miracle workers that I can’t live without. The lid has an applicator brush that you can use to apply the serum to your cuticles without the mess. I like to do that daily and then if things seem to get extra dry, I’ll pour a little into my hand and mix with my go-to body lotion for an extra punch of hydration for my hands.

FRANKLIN & WHITMAN BODY SCRUB: MIDTOWN VILLAGE

This body scrub is one of my Frank & Whit must-haves! I get really dry, flaky skin in the winter and this body scrub helps remove all of that off for a silky smooth look. I’ll use this as needed but typically once a week in the shower.

FRANKLIN & WHITMAN BODY SERUM: SPRING GARDEN, EAST FALLS OR OLD CITY

Similar to the cuticle serum, this body serum is a miracle worker that provides so much hydration and smoothness to my dry winter skin. The bottle design allows for easy application so there’s no mess and slipping with the oil. I also like to combine this with my go-to body lotion for an extra punch of hydration for my skin, and to help pull all that hydration and moisture in.

AVEENO UNSCENTED DAILY MOISTURIZING LOTION TO RELIEVE DRY SKIN

Last but certainly not least, is my go-to body lotion. I’ve used Aveeno body lotion for as long as I can remember so it’s a tried and true brand/product for me. I love this one because it is unscented and made for dry skin. It’s silky smooth and rubs in extremely easily. It provides a ton of hydration to last all day long!

There you have it my friends, my winter skincare must-haves! Do you use any of these products above or are you looking to try one of them out? If so, share below in the comments!