With cold weather, it can bring havoc to your skin remedies. With my already combination and sensitive skin type, cold weather means perpetual dryness. Which would have me overload the use of products to help relieve the dryness of my skin – causing me to break out, too. Then, to treat the break outs puts me right back to dry, flaky skin all over again.

A vicious cycle! What I have learned is simple: the less products, the better. And staying strict to just those products through the winter months.

One of the most difficult tips I can give for those who suffer the cold weather skin battle like me – give your skin more product-free breaks when you can. Meaning:

• No make-up (whatsoever)
• When you do wear make-up – PRIMER baby, primer
• Wash your face up to twice a day, with a very mild cleanser, using only your fingers and cool or luke warm water
• If you’re staying indoors, let your body naturally do the work (no products applied after washing whatsoever)
• If you must apply product, apply only to must-needed areas (not entire face)
• Don’t over-exfoliate during the winter months with combination/sensitive skin

As a Florida girl, many probably laugh at the face of what I experience as a “winter“. But believe you me, you’d be surprised to know that those from up north find it colder here in Florida certain times of the year – mainly because of our humidity. Humidity makes it feel much colder in the air here than some places with snow on the ground!

So, luckily for Florida humidity – it saves me more so than living anywhere else with zero of it. And yet, my skin still prone to going dry! But to save my face during the winter months, I use my cold weather combination sensitive skin routine.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I will receive a teeny weeny commission!*

My Cold Weather Combination Sensitive Skin Routine

1 | Mild, simple cleansing

I’ve used Cetaphil since I was a teenager. Granted, it didn’t do much help for my childhood and teenage years of acne, but with sensitive skin it was the only thing that had me covered in the irritation and redness department. It’s unscented, and doesn’t leave my  face feeling tight, sticky or dry after washing. And with a facial cleanser for my skin type – that’s hard to come by!

They have a cleanser that is specifically for just the face, or one for face and body. Either way, they work equally the same – this one doesn’t “lather”, while the face-only cleanser is clear, and has more lather to it.

Day and night I wash my face using only this. Though, it doesn’t do the trick in getting off heavy eye makeup (use a make-up remover for that), it does manage to make my face feel clean without completely stripping my face of it’s natural moisture that it needs. And that, my friends, is why your face might feel tight and dry post washing.

2 | Weekly exfoliation

Now, some of you are probably batting your eyes at weekly exfoliation. Unfortunately, my skin type just can’t handle abrasive exfoliation – no matter how many different products I try. Even the popular baking soda regimen technically isn’t good for your skin due to it’s alkaline properties when mixed with water. It’s “natural” essence still caused my face redness and irritation afterwards.

Sensitivity problems – aye, aye, aye. Until I found this baby by St. Ives. It’s gentle enough for me to use at least once a week all over my face, but sometimes I use it twice to three times if I’ve been pounding on the makeup. But even with combination skin, I find that it’s been safe enough for me to use on parts of my face (such as my T-zone) once daily. Without any dryness.

It’s hypoallergenic and paraben free, which works well with my skin sensitivities (having a mild case of Rosacea and hyper-pigmentation doesn’t help, either). But this light scrub doesn’t cause my skin any redness, or dryness after use. It smells amazing, has made my skin so unbelievably soft for days after use and even brightened dull areas of my skin over time.

3 | To moisturize, or not to moisturize?

I have a love-hate relationship with moisturizer. If I use it too often, my face builds up with excess oil in areas (causing me to break out), but if I use it less – same thing happens – with the exception of prime areas of my jawline, temples, and around my lips that can become noticeably dry.

I realize it could simply be the type of moisturizer I’m using, but really – I’ve tried them all and each has their own negative effects on my skin. But when I had such good luck with St. Ives facial scrub, I decided to give their moisturizer a go. And though the same predicament still occurs, I’ve realized that I need to just adjust my moisturizing regimen a little.

I use this moisturizer (less than a dime size amount) all over my face at night, and then avoiding my T-zone when applying in the morning. The elastin and collagen proteins in this moisturizer have noticeably made my face softer, more radiant looking skin – without clogging my pores. I’ve been told I have a very natural glow without makeup when shopping for groceries. It does have a light scent, like Lavender, but I think it’s really from the Safflower Seed Oil.

4 | For all the little imperfections

This little magic potion I don’t use too often (because it has oily properties), unless I have to. But when I use it, I swear it’s magic. If you’re prone to oily skin-causing acne, don’t use this. Use toothpaste – directly on the zit – and allow to sit overnight. Trust me.

But there are cases for me where I get Rosacea-causing imperfections on my skin, and this Tea Tree Oil Treatment is a great way to treat them because the anti-fungal properties without over-drying. Though tea tree isn’t for everyone – it can cause irritation and redness for some. Oddly enough, not for me.

It’s not 100% tea tree oil (which, you aren’t supposed to use purely on your skin to begin with), but it also has restored scaly, red bumpy patches on my face caused by Perioral dermatitis (a common inflammatory rash which is possibly resulted from Rosacea, fungal infections, oral contraceptives, and even things like fluoride in your toothpaste).

Ugh, I know. But think of this as merely a spot treatment – nothing more. And it’s a must-have during the winter months to avoid drying out my skin when imperfections outside of acne arise.

List products for purchase:

1. Cetaphil Facial Cleanser – Face & Body, OR Cetaphil Facial Cleanser – Face Only – $15-18.00
2. St. Ives Bright & Even Facial Scrub – $3.59
3. St. Ives Collagen & Elastin Moisturizer – $11.65
4. Tea Tree Oil Treatment – $8.99