When Starbucks starts selling their holiday drinks that is my cue to swap out my summer skin favorites with some winter hydration goodies. As the seasons change so does our skin and I live in the arctic tundra that is Canada from November-April. My skin craves hydration during these months more than it craves peppermint hot chocolates!!
A swap out doesn’t have to be expensive though! The drugstore has some hidden gems that are perfect for when the temperature hits below freezing and your nose is hiding behind multiple scarves. So, without further ado, let me introduce you to some winter drugstore skincare staples (say that three times fast!).
CLEANSERS
The first step of any skincare routine is taking off your makeup and cleansing your skin. During the winter months it is especially important to reach for hydrating cleansers and makeup removers to avoid dry sore patches on our sensitive faces.
Derma-E Hydrating Cleanser has been my go-to drugstore winter cleanser. It contains hyaluronic acid, which holds up to 1000 times it’s weight in water so it is definitely a magical skin ingredient for dry seasons. This cleanser is also sulfate-free and extremely gentle. I bought mine off of amazon but it can be found in most local drugstores!
I am a massive fan of cleansing oils but I will confess that it is hard finding one that doesn’t leave my skin feeling too greasy or clogged. When I found this little gem in Walmart I almost did a little happy dance right there in the skincare aisle. Guys, this was $7…. $7!!!!!!! And it’s incredible for removing makeup. The Palmer’s Skin Therapy Cleansing Oil is better than, dare I say it, the Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm. Yes, it’s that good. It’s full of rose hip, jojoba and grapeseed oil so it’s nourishing on your skin but still tough on makeup.
EXFOLIATORS
As soon as it hits October 1st I swear my skin goes into hibernation mode and is in need of a very good scrub. Now, scrubs sound a bit daunting to an exfoliating newbie. But they are so good, especially if you find the right one for you.
My favourite brand for facial scrubs is by far St Ives. They have a scrub for any concern and their ingredients are all natural. My current favourite is the Even & Bright Pink Lemon and Mandarin Orange Scrub. I also really love their Oatmeal scrub for when my skin has a bit of windburn or redness. The best part is that these are almost always on sale at the drugstore and are usually between $3-$5. That is a fricken bargain if you ask me!!
Chapped lips are my biggest pet peeve in the wintertime. Lipstick just never looks cute when my lips are sore and cracked. So, I opt for a Lush lip scrub and Vaseline combo. Nobody can beat the lush lip scrubs!! And they are edible so it’s like a little treat for you and your lips. Scrub away all the yucky gunk and then follow up with a generous amount of Vaseline and I promise you’ll wake up with supermodel lips!
MOISTURIZERS
I’m not kidding when I say I hoard moisturizers. I’m a moisturizer snob so it takes a really incredible product for me to repurchase a moisturizer.
Guys, why have I been sleeping on L’Oreal skincare??? The hydra-genius moisturizer is one of the best products in the drugstore right now. It’s super lightweight but plumping and hydrating. It’s main ingredient is hyaluronic acid, which means it’s full of magic. I swear this moisturizer has drastically changed my skin in just one week. You need to get this little gem before everyone realizes how incredible it is!!
My under eyes also crave some more hydration in the wintertime. Garnier makes this rollerball eye cream that instantly brightens and hydrates my under eyes in just one use. It’s super low maintenance and much easier than a little tub of eye cream. It also has caffeine as its main ingredient so it helps get rid of dark circles and under eye bags. I think that is definitely an added bonus for tired cold mornings.
MASKS
A hydrating mask is your new bestfriend in the wintertime. My skin needs some extra umph especially when I have a special event and want to look like I don’t even know what dry skin is.
The Garnier moisture bomb mask is one of the best hydrating masks I have ever used. My favourite part is that it’s a sheet mask so it’s super easy to use and toss. It contains almost half a bottle of hydrating serum in just one sheet mask so it’s great to use before bed. Massage all that leftover serum into your face and neck and wake up looking like you drank about a gallon of water. They are super inexpensive too so I stocked up on a couple while my drugstore had them in stock. Here in Canada these masks tend to go quick!!
So there you have it, a winter skincare routine that won’t break the bank. I’m a skincare junkie so I understand how unappealing the drugstore can be after using high-end products. But just trust me. This list is the best of the best and will give you high-end results without hurting your wallet. Now you can buy all the Starbucks Christmas drinks without feeling guilty!! And you’ll have super hydrated skin to boot.
Featured image via Burst on Pexels
