Vanessa Kiskaden, Licensed Aesthetician
October 2025
Your Winter Glow-Up: 7 Skincare Swaps That Actually Work
Your summer skincare routine is officially canceled. Let's optimize so your skin looks flawless for the holidays.
That lotion you loved in July? It's ghosting your skin right now. Those indoor heating systems are drying you out like a raisin? Yeah, we need to talk. The experts at Awaken Medical Aesthetics are breaking down exactly what to swap, and why your skin will thank you for it.
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Inside The Edit
1. Upgrade Your Moisturizer (Like, Yesterday)
The deal: Cold air + heating = skin that drinks moisture faster than you down your morning coffee. That lightweight summer lotion isn't cutting it anymore.
The move: Switch to a richer, barrier-protecting cream that actually locks hydration in.
Try this: SkinBetter Science Trio Luxe works overtime to repair your skin barrier and calm irritation—exactly what winter-stressed skin craves.
Pro tip: Using a good HA underneath your moisturizer will help lock in the moisture.
Level up at Awaken: Take your hydration game to the next level with a HydraFacial to lock in hydration and give your skin that immediate glow boost.
2. Ditch the Harsh Cleanser
The deal: That foaming face wash stripping away your natural oils? Not cute in winter. You need something gentle that won't leave your face feeling like the Sahara.
The move: Go for a hydrating, low-foam cleanser that cleans without the tightness.
Try this: Hydrinity Prelude Facial Treatment Cleanser has botanical goodness and gentle AHAs, no stripped, squeaky-clean feeling here.
Pro tip: Washing your face twice daily is still important in winter. It's all about choosing the right cleanser that cleans without over-drying your skin.
3. Level Up Your Serum Game
The deal: Those watery, lightweight serums aren't delivering enough moisture when the air is bone-dry. Your skin needs more oomph.
The move: Choose serums packed with hydration heroes like hyaluronic acid, peptides, and barrier-repair ingredients.
Try this: Hydrinity Renewing HA delivers multiple weights of hyaluronic acid—basically a tall drink of water for your face.
Pro tip: You can layer! Apply a light hydrating serum first, then top with a richer peptide formula. Just make sure the textures play nice together.
4. Rethink Your SPF Strategy
The deal: Plot twist—UV rays don't take winter off. Snow actually amplifies UV exposure, and your vulnerable winter skin needs serious protection.
The move: Use a sunscreen that doubles as hydration (mineral formulas with added moisturizers are chef's kiss).
Try this: SkinBetter Science Tone Smart SPF 68 Sunscreen Lotion (or the Sheer option for a lighter finish) is gentle and gives you solid UVA/UVB coverage without the white cast.
Pro tip: SPF goes on last in your morning routine. Yes, even when it's cloudy. Yes, even when it's freezing. No excuses.
5. Ease Up on Exfoliation
The deal: Scrubbing your face like you're scouring a pan will wreck your skin barrier in winter. But you still want that glow, right?
The move: Cut back on frequency and intensity. Swap harsh scrubs for gentler chemical exfoliants (think low-percentage AHAs or enzymes).
How to do it:
-Use a glycolic or lactic acid cleanser 2-3 times weekly instead of daily
-Try a mild enzyme mask once a week
-On super dry nights, skip the retinoid or buffer it with extra moisturizer
Pro tip: If your skin feels tight or looks red after exfoliating, you've gone too hard. Scale it back.
Need advice from an expert? Book your virtual consult with me via text here.
6. Change Your Mask Routine
The deal: Your skin is literally begging for extra hydration and barrier support. Masks deliver that concentrated goodness fast.
The move: Swap clay and brightening masks for hydrating, restorative ones (sheet masks, ceramide masks, overnight sleeping masks).
Try this: Hydrinity Restorative HA Masque delivers intense hydration and skin recovery for winter-stressed skin.
Pro tip: Use 1-3 times weekly, depending on how thirsty your skin is. Follow up with a rich cream to seal everything in.
7. Show Your Scalp & Hair Some Love
The deal: That flaky, itchy scalp and static-y hair? Winter's fault. Your hair and scalp need the same TLC as your face.
The move: Switch to sulfate-free, moisturizing products and add weekly treatments.
How to do it:
-Use a hydrating hair mask weekly
-Try a lightweight scalp oil or serum (niacinamide and ceramides work wonders)
-Sleep on a satin pillowcase to prevent frizz and breakage
Pro tip: Be gentle with tight hairstyles in winter, your hair is more fragile when it's dry.
Level up in-office: Transform your scalp health with the HydraFacial Keravive treatment, a professional solution that cleanses, exfoliates, and nourishes your scalp for healthier, more hydrated hair.
Your Complete Winter Skincare Routine (Copy This)
Morning
-Gentle hydrating cleanser
-Rich repair or barrier serum (like Hydrinity Renewing HA)
-Thick moisturizer (like SkinBetter Trio Luxe)
-Mineral SPF (like SkinBetter Tone Smart)
Evening
-Gentle cleanser (double cleanse if you wore makeup/SPF)
-Treatment products (retinoids, actives, but use less frequently)
-Rich moisturizer
Weekly
-Hydrating mask 1-3x (like Hydrinity Restorative HA Masque)
-Gentle exfoliation 1-2x
-Hair/scalp treatment
Make It Work for Your Skin
Start slow: Swap one product at a time so you can track what's working (and what's not).
Patch test richer formulas: Heavier creams can sometimes cause breakouts if your skin isn't used to them.
Consistency is key: When it comes to getting results and really making a difference in skin hydration, staying consistent with your routine is what matters most.
Know your barrier-repair ingredients: Look for ceramides, phospholipids, fatty acids, multi-weight hyaluronic acid, and peptides on labels.
Remember: Weather, heating, and even your water hardness affect your skin. What worked in summer might be all wrong now, and that's totally normal. Your skin changes, your routine should too.
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