Cosmopolitan Online – Winterize Your Skin By Dr. Marie Hayag
8 SKIN ESSENTIALS FOR WHEN IT’S COLD-AF OUTSIDE
Raise your hand if dry, dull skin is one of your biggest qualms about winter. (Yup, same.) New York City-based dermatologist Dr. Marie Hayag, founder of 5th Avenue Aesthetics, explains that the combination of the season’s low temperature and humidity can wreak havoc on your skin’s moisture barrier, leaving it feeling dry and irritated.
Don’t worry, though. Dr. Hayag gave us the TL;DR on how to fix it. “Incorporating effective ingredients, reducing water loss, and attracting moisture to your skin can help repair the overall barrier function and prevent the harshest impact of winter weather,” she says. She outlines the essential creams, serums, and lotions you need to keep your skin g-l-o-w-i-n-g and looking its healthiest all season long. Shop all of them at Ulta Beauty.
PM FACIAL MOISTURIZING LOTION
Choosing a lotion that works hard to moisturize your skin while you sleep is a no-brainer. Dr. Hayag’s pick: the CeraVe PM Moisturizing Lotion. “The niacinamide in it stimulates production of cholesterol and ceramides, which are essential in maintaining a healthy skin barrier,” Dr. Hayag says.
CUCUMBER GEL MASK EXTREME DETOXIFYING HYDRATOR
‘Tis the season to kick back with a cheesy rom-com and a face mask, like Peter Thomas Roth’s Cucumber Gel Mask. “This mask is full of ingredients that soothe skin damaged from winter weather,” Dr. Hayag says, including aloe, pineapple, and cucumber extracts.
SKIN TRANSFORMATION CREAM
The Soulcare Skin Transformation Cream contains hyaluronic acid—a humectant that you need-need-need in your routine this season. Think of humectants as tiny magnets that draw in moisture from the air around you and absorb it into your skin, explains Dr. Hayag.
CONFIDENCE IN A CLEANSER FACE WASH
Time to put any intense, oil-stripping cleansers into hibernation. Dr. Hayag says to incorporate an especially gentle face wash into your lineup for the winter months. Try the It Cosmetics Confidence in a Cleanser Face Wash, which boasts an uber-nourishing ingredient lineup of ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and colloidal oatmeal. “Colloidal oatmeal is rich in antioxidants, and helps to soothe itchy, irritated skin,” Dr. Hayag adds.
RÈNERGIE LIFT MULTI-ACTION ULTRA FACE CREAM SPF 30
PSA: You still need to wear sunscreen in the winter. “Wearing sunscreen year-round is important in order to prevent damage from UV rays,” says Dr. Hayag. We love the hydrating Lancome Renergie Lift Multi-Action Face Cream, a formula that seems to do it all. It protects with an SPF of 30, helps address hyperpigmentation, and works on firming skin. Yes, it’s a little $$$, but its luxurious texture and powerful, multitasking formula is certainly worth the splurge.
HYALURONIC ACID 2% + B5
When it comes to hyaluronic acid, more is always more—particularly in the winter. Dr. Hayag recommends The Ordinary’s formula, which also happens to be wallet-friendly. “It contains hyaluronic acid in multiple molecular weights, meaning it can penetrate and provide hydration and repairing functions at various depths in the skin,” she says.
ULTRA REPAIR CREAM
Is your skin suddenly feeling ultra sensitive? Let First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Cream soothe its temperamental attitude. “The colloidal oatmeal in this cream has soothing properties for irritated skin, while the shea butter provides hydration and keeps skin feeling soft,” says Dr. Hayag.
ALOE VERA LEAF MICELLAR CLEANSING WATER
Aloe isn’t just a summer staple. Just as it soothes sunburns, aloe helps heal red, inflamed skin triggered by the colder elements, Dr. Hayag explains. Urban Hydration’s Aloe Vera Leaf Micellar Cleanser can remove even the most budge-proof cosmetics without depriving your skin of its much-needed moisture, thanks to its nourishing blend of vitamins and (of course) aloe.
Marie V. Hayag, M.D.
Fifth Avenue Aesthetics
875 Fifth Avenue
mariehayagmd.com
212.722.2055