It’s skincare heavyweight season
When it comes to fitness, the saying goes that “summer bodies are made in the winter” — a notion that rings just as true for skincare. For beauty, summer is considered the season for baring glowing, (faux) bronzed skin and keeping sunscreen and a hydrating mist in close proximity. On the other hand, winter is a time for recouping and regenerating skin with brawnier skincare and treatments that require a little more downtime, or don’t play as well with sunlight.
In essence, winter is the cocoon, and summer is the butterfly. And to help prepare yourself for your big reveal, here are the best services, ingredients and products to know about now, particularly if you're in the Northern Hemisphere.
ALL ABOUT ACIDS
When it comes to clearer, smoother, and more radiant skin, it's all about effective exfoliating acids — namely glycolic, tartaric, lactic, citric, and salicylic acid. While you can get a cocktail of these when visiting a professional clinic, it’s hard to find a high concentration of the whole gang within one at-home product — until cult-favorite Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial came along. With an impressive blend of 25% AHA and 2% BHA, it goes deep below the surface to exfoliate for a post-facial glow in just 20 minutes.
LASER FOCUS
When you hear about laser treatments, more often than not, it’s in reference to Fraxel — the popular and globally available in-clinic treatment that uses microscopic lasers to fight fine lines, acne scarring, and pigmentation all within a single session. The treatment is beloved for its effectiveness, but it does require some out-of-office days due to redness, flakiness, and peeling. If you're looking for something less extensive, Clear + Brilliant – often affectionally referred to as “baby Fraxel” – is another worldwide in-salon option. It uses fractional lasers that don't penetrate as deeply, but are effective at reducing fine lines and fixing skin tone in a less abrasive way.
RAISE THE RETINOL
The vitamin A compound retinol is an anti-aging derm favorite. It stimulates cell renewal and repairs DNA damage caused by the sun and environmental factors. During the restorative months, amp up your retinol dosage with Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Line Erasing Night Serum Capsules — which can be up to 76 percent more potent than unencapsulated retinol. If you’re pairing your retinol with chemical exfoliant products (such as T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial), opt for using them on separate days to avoid any redness, sensitivity, or dryness.
RECOVERY MODE
Winter is often the time for facial cosmetic procedures, and for those in post-surgery recovery mode, Helena Rubinstein has developed a secret weapon for accelerated repair. Replasty Age Recovery Night Cream is a repairing and nourishing night treatment that facilities the smoothing of wrinkles and dermal imperfections during sleep, your body’s natural recovery mode. In collaboration with medical expert Dr. Pfulg of Laclinic-Montreux, this skin repairing night balm offers a rich, comforting “bandage” effect. Not in post-interventional care mode? There’s a good chance you’ll love using this as a rich and restorative balm night cream.
PLATINUM AFFAIR
One of the most luxurious at-home treatments on the market, and certainly the most exquisite product release in La Prairie’s rich history, The Platinum Rare Haute-Rejuvenation Protocol is a month-long intensive facial treatment. It looks like a very beautiful science experiment, consisting of three amethyst glass vials with potent concoctions that need mixing on application, but it offers more than just good looks. The treatment harnesses antioxidant activity through its hero ingredient platinum to create stronger, brighter, healthier skin.
