Last Updated On: January 4, 2018
Happy New Year!
January is here! Although currently in Chicago, it is brutally cold! It’s so hard to get back to working when it’s below zero and all you want to do is just cozy up on the couch. However, I’ve made my vision board checklist for 2018, I’m excited for this year, and I’m feeling motivated. With that said, one of the things I want to start blogging about on Girl’s Guide Chicago along with continuing to write my girl’s guides and eBooks are lifestyle guides. I’ve lived in Chicago for 10 years and I have so many things I would like to share with you about my life in the city.
For my first lifestyle guide, I thought I would share my winter skincare routine. The winters in the city are so harsh on your skin and so it’s really important to take the time to take care of your skin and to create a skincare routine that works for you. I have a routine that I do every day and night. After reading about my skincare routine, I think you will find my skincare routine is easy to do and it will just become part of what you do every day. Also, all the skin care products I use daily are really affordable. I will make sure link them all below.
How to get great skin throughout Chicago’s winter months
There are three things that are the key to having great skin. Your skin needs to be clean, have lots of moisture, and you need to drink lots of water throughout the day, even during the winter months. The heat from your home and the cold from outside really does affect your skin more than you actually may think.
Clean and moisturize your skin every night
It’s so important to do your nightly skincare routine, no matter how tired you are. You want to make sure your skin is clean and moisturized. Your skin actually works to repair itself while your sleeping so you want to prep your skin before you sleep. I use a lavender makeup wipe to get all my makeup off. I find the lavender is very soothing for my skin. Next, I apply my moisturizing daily face cream all over my skin and neck. My skin looks refreshed and it takes me less than five minutes to do this.
Equate Beauty Night-time Soothing Makeup Remover Towelettes, 40 sheets, 2 count (Pack of 1)
Use a light facial scrub in the shower
I have been using a light facial scrub every time I shower for years. I really love the scrub I’m currently using. It feels like little bubbles are really getting into my pores to clean my face and it leaves my face feeling soft, and really fresh and clean.
Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Daily Scrub 150ml
Add a moisturizer to your face and your body after you get out of the shower
My mom and grandma always taught me to keep my face and body moisturized and this is something I have done for as long as I can remember. I also have always used the same face moisturizer which is also the same one my mom uses. Along with my daily face moisturizer that I use all over my face and my neck, I also use a body lotion all over my body, every single day. During the winter months, I also use baby oil gel that I mix with my body lotion. The baby oil gel doesn’t make my skin feel oily it just makes my skin feel soft and hydrated all day long. If my face is feeling especially dry I use bio-oil before my face moisturizer which I apply with a cotton ball. If your skin feels flaky when you first use it, that’s ok. It just means that the bio-oil is getting rid of all the dry skin. I would also wait a few minutes before you do your makeup to let the bio-oil soak in. Or you might prefer to use bio-oil at night after you clean your face if you face feels too oily during the day. Lots of celebrities swear by bio-oil which is how I found out about it. It’s a great product and I think it works really well. The best part is that it’s around $10!
Pond’s Dry Skin Cream , 6.5 Ounce
Jergens Skin Firming Toning Body Moisturizer with Collagen & Elastin, 16.8 Ounces
Johnson & Johnson Baby Oil Gel, 6.5 Ounce
Bio-Oil – Skin Care Oil – 60ml (Specialist for Scars, Stretch marks, Uneven Skin Tone, Ageing Skin, Dehydrated Skin )
Get a sun-kissed glow
If you are looking for a sun-kissed look during the winter months I also add Jergens Natural Glow to my body lotion every other day. Mixing it with my lotion gives me an even color and it doesn’t look streaky. It really helps me to not look so pale during the winter. You can use it more or less depending on how dark you want to go.
Jergens Natural Glow Firming Moisturizer, Fair to Medium Skin Tones 7.5 Ounces
Use a face mask at least once per week
To give you skin an extra added boost of moisture, use a face mask at least once a week. I started using them about a year ago and I find them very relaxing. I recommend using one that is either moisturizing or brightening. I often get mine from Sephora or even Target.
Treat yourself to a spa bath
I don’t take too many baths, but just writing about using my H20 Body Scrub is making me want to take a hot bath right now. You can use this body scrub in the shower or in the bath however, I love adding just a scoop or two to a hot bath. It smells so good and your skin feels so silky and smooth. It’s the best and so relaxing! Just bring a glass of wine and it’s the perfect spa bath.
H2O Plus Sea Greens Body Scrub, 12 Ounce
Drink lots of water!
It’s so important to drink water throughout the day. Trust me, it was something that I was so bad at doing and it affected my body in a lot of ways. However, I recently started drinking water with a S’well bottle and for me, that was the trick. Now, I drink water from my S’well all day long. It’s like I can’t get enough of drinking water and I’ve noticed a difference in my skin and in my body.
S’well Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle, Double Wall, 17 oz, Turquoise Blue
Do whatever works best for you
You don’t have to follow my exact skin care routine. You can modify and do whatever works best for you. However, the products I use everyday are very affordable. I don’t think you have to spend a lot of money to have good skin, I just think you have to take the time to take care of it. I usually buy all these products at the store or off Amazon. If you purchased everything I use it would cost you around $80 and most of these products will also last you quite a few months.
I would also love to know what products you like to use to get through the harsh winter months. Please share your favorite skincare products below!
Free Download: Save a copy of this checklist I made:
A Girl’s Guide to Great Skin Throughout the Chicago Winter Season (Shopping List)
