Caring for sensitive skin can be tricky. From researching product ingredients to avoid irritation to figuring out the optimal skincare routine that is clean, minimalist, and non-irritating, it can feel overwhelming. Harsh winter weather can disrupt your carefully balanced skincare regimen. So, how do you care for sensitive skin in colder months? And is it possible to have a minimalist yet effective skincare routine in winter? The answer is yes—thanks to the super antioxidant hydroxytyrosol and olive trees that it’s derived from. Let’s dive in.
How Winter Affects Sensitive Skin
Did you know that olive trees can thrive in temperatures as low as -15 degrees Celsius? These hardy evergreens require several months of cold to flower and fruit. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for sensitive skin!
Sensitive skin needs extra care in winter. It often has a weakened barrier, making it prone to redness, irritation, and dryness. Key factors like hydration, barrier repair, and gentle formulations become a priority during this season, along with finding products that are gentle, effective, and non-irritating.
Winter presents multiple challenges for sensitive skin. Cold air, low humidity, and indoor heating strip the skin of its natural moisture, leaving it dry and vulnerable. This is why it’s important to adjust your skincare routine for winter with a focus on hydration and barrier support.
This means swapping lightweight products for richer, more nourishing formulations, such as creamy cleansers and skin barrier-supporting moisturizers with ceramides or skin-compatible oils, such as olive oil. Incorporating hydrators and antioxidants like hydroxytyrosol for skin can further protect from environmental stressors while preventing irritation.
How to Care for Sensitive Skin in Winter?
Traditional winter skincare advice often suggests heavy moisturizers enriched with petrolatum, shea butter, or oils like jojoba. However, for sensitive or acne-prone skin, these can be too heavy, potentially leading to congestion. A better approach is to use lighter ingredients that deliver moisture while remaining gentle.
A skincare routine can be minimalist, effective, and uncomplicated. Here are five essential tips tailored to sensitive skin:
- Avoid harsh cleansers: Choose a gentle, creamy, or oil-based cleanser that hydrates while cleansing. Avoid harsh cleansers that strip the skin’s natural oils, as maintaining your skin’s barrier is crucial in winter.
- Layer hydration: Use a hydrator with humectants like glycerin before applying a moisturizer. This helps draw moisture into the skin and keep it locked in throughout the day. A pro tip—apply a hydrator while your skin is still damp.
- Moisturize and support: Look for formulations with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, or glycerin to nourish and strengthen the skin’s natural defenses against winter stress.
- Incorporate antioxidants: Combat oxidative stress with potent antioxidants like hydroxytyrosol. Hydroxytyrosol benefits include protecting skin from free radicals, calming inflammation, and supporting skin barrier.
- Don’t skip SPF: UV rays don’t disappear in winter, and sensitive skin is especially vulnerable to sun damage. Avoid redness, irritation, and future hyperpigmentation woes by applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily.
A Minimalist Winter Skincare Routine with Beauty Thinkers
As the saying goes, “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.” The same applies to skincare. Winter can be harsh on sensitive skin, but with the right products, you can create a simple yet effective routine that delivers multi-layered hydration, protection, and nourishment. Below is a minimalist four-step winter skincare routine featuring Beauty Thinkers’ winter-friendly products. This routine is also suitable for aging skin, and all products are enriched with olive-derived super antioxidant hydroxytyrosol.
Step 1: Prep with AQVAM SPA Hydrating Mist
Start your routine with the AQVAM SPA Hydrating Mist, a multi-tasking hydrating spray that delivers an instant boost of moisture while preparing the skin for the products that follow. Formulated with humectant glycerin, it attracts water to the skin, while pro-vitamin B5 (panthenol) locks in that moisture, leaving the skin soft and plump. Olive leaf extract, rich in hydroxytyrosol, provides antioxidative protection, shielding your skin from environmental stressors like cold wind and dry indoor air. This lightweight mist is ideal for rehydrating skin on the go throughout the day.
Step 2: Strengthen with Hydrator 3 Barrier Support
Next, layer on the Hydrator 3 Barrier Support, a powerful formula that supports skin barrier—essential for sensitive skin in winter. It contains a combination of plant-derived ceramides, which work to repair and strengthen the skin’s natural defenses. These ingredients are derived through fermentation technology, ensuring high purity and efficacy. Humectant glycerin adds another layer of hydration, keeping your skin supple and protected against moisture loss. This step ensures your skin stays resilient, even in harsh winter conditions.
Step 3: Nourish with Antioxidant Cream
For your moisturizer, reach for Antioxidant Cream, a product that combines the benefits of a serum and a cream to simplify your winter routine. Infused with olive extract rich in hydroxytyrosol, this cream provides antioxidative protection while promoting a smoother, more even appearance. Its deeply moisturizing formula hydrates sensitive skin and supports skin barrier, helping to address winter-related irritation and dryness.
Step 4: Lock in Moisture with Antioxidant Boost
Seal in all the hydration and nourishment with the Antioxidant Boost facial oil. This award-winning, vegan-friendly oil features only four ingredients, including the world’s first skin-compatible extra virgin olive oil enriched with hydroxytyrosol. Its lightweight texture makes it suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin, and it works wonders in cold weather by creating a barrier that locks in moisture while delivering potent antioxidative benefits. Use it as the final step in your routine at night or before sunscreen in the morning. You can also use it on your body to moisturize and soften dry areas.
Our customers love this multi-layered approach with varying textures and multi-tasking products. It protects, hydrates, and brightens sensitive skin all winter long. For comprehensive UV Care, check out our popular after sun care.
