As skincare experts, we've seen it all: winter's cold, dry air leaves combination and oily skin feeling tight and dehydrated. You've nailed matte control the rest of the year, but extra moisture often means shine by mid-morning. Here are five proven tips to hydrate deeply without compromising that fresh, matte finish.
Over-cleansing is a common pitfall. Stick to a gentle cleanser at night only to remove makeup and impurities—without stripping your skin's protective barrier, which can trigger excess sebum. For daytime refresh, mist with thermal water on a cotton pad if needed.
Dead skin blocks hydration. Combine mechanical and enzymatic exfoliation: once weekly, use an exfoliating mask like The Body Shop's Illuminating Exfoliating Mask with Ginseng and Chinese Rice. Every 2-3 evenings, layer a glycolic acid serum such as Bioderma's Serum Sebium under your night cream. This primes skin for better mattifying results.
Ditch heavy creams with petrolatum or coconut oil, which can clog pores. Opt for humectants like glycerin and hyaluronic acid that draw in moisture without occluding. Pro tip: applying more product won't hydrate better—skin absorbs only so much.
Avoid center-out application, which overloads the T-zone. Instead, start at the face's outer edges and massage inward for even distribution, especially on oily areas.
When dryness peaks, add 2-3 drops of oil like Clarins Lotus Oil or Melvita Rose+ Face Care Oil over your daytime moisturizer. Apply directly to fingertips on dry zones for an hydration boost and to seal in moisture all day.
Follow these steps for balanced, glow-free skin this winter.
