The first place I look when someone’s skin is struggling in the winter is their cleanser. A cleanser that works well in the summer can strip too much in the cold months when your skin barrier is already under pressure. You want something that cleanses without disrupting your skin’s natural pH or stripping the lipids you need to retain moisture.
The Dermalogica Magnetic[+] Afterglow Cleanser is one that I often reach for in the winter. It contains glycerin and jojoba oil, which means it cleanses without leaving that tight, stripped feeling. If your skin is more reactive or sensitive to cold, the UltraCalming Cleanser or Special Cleansing Gel are gentler options worth considering. Choosing the right cleanser is truly one of the most important steps in any routine, and in winter it is most important.
After cleansing, the idea is to trap water in the skin before it escapes. Apply your serum or treatment to slightly damp skin within three minutes after cleansing. This is the window where your stratum corneum (the outer layer of skin) is most hydrated and can best absorb what you put on it. For hydration in the winter I use the Circular Hydration Serum.
For overnight recovery, the Dermalogica Biolumin-C Night Restore Serum combines vitamin C (as aminopropyl ascorbyl phosphate) and tranexamic acid. And lactic acid to support skin renewal while you sleep. If you use a retinoid serum like Dynamic Skin Retinol Serum, I recommend buffering it with a moisturizer in the winter to reduce the chance of irritation on a more sensitive layer of skin.
Then close everything down. Super Rich Repair is Dermalogica’s richest moisturizing cream and is very suitable for dry to very dry skin in winter. If that feels like too much, Skin Smoothing Cream or Intensive Moisture Balance both provide firm barrier support with a lighter texture. And SPF every day, without exception.
Australian winter UV still reaches a UV index of 3 to 5, which is enough to cause cumulative damage. The Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF50 is a hydrating SPF that fits well under makeup and works as a daytime moisturizer and sun protection in one step. If you prefer a mineral option, Invisible Physical Defense or Prisma Protect are both worth checking out. For more information on why SPF matters year-round, this article covers it well.
