A ski in the Gatineau Hills or a skate on the Rideau Canal skateway on a sunny brilliant blue sky winter day sounds pretty dreamy.
While we enjoy spending time outdoors, winter isn't very kind to our skin, especially if it's sensitive. The cold temperatures, harsh winds and indoor heating exacerbate sensitivity by zapping moisture and depleting our skins natural defences. The result is often red, dry, chapped, irritated cracked reactive skin.
Are you struggling with sensitive skin? Unsure how to care for it in the winter?
Keep your skin care simple with products that nourish and strengthen your compromised skin. Here are our recommendations for daily skin care that include cleanser and moisturizer in one, free of essential oils and specially formulated for compromised skin from Laurel, a calming serum, moisturizer and mask (that can double as an overnight masque) from Blissoma, an unscented version of the popular Josh Rosebrook Vital Balm and tried and true calming and nourishing Eminence moisturizers.
We've also included our favourite skin care products for the outdoors. It's important to provide a protective barrier and extra support for the skin while enjoying the outdoors.
DAILY SKIN CARE
Laurel Essential Lipids Oil Cleanser - don't be fooled by the name, is a cleanser + moisturizer in one. Formulated without essential oils, it's ideal for sensitive, compromised skin.
Laurel Hydrating Elixir II is a toner that helps calm, support and recover dehydrated, sensitive, rosacea, acne and pigmented skin. It hydrates the skin and allows for better product absorption.
Laurel Unburden Serum is a healing oil serum and sun protection oil in one formulated to support and strengthen the most sensitive, reactive skin.
Eminence Linden Calendula Treatment Cream is a winter favourite. It's a day and night cream, as well as an overnight treatment cream to soothe sensitive, cracked or chapped dry skin.
Blissoma Peace Evening Calming Elixir is a lightweight healing and calming night cream and treatment that soothes and hydrates reactive skin.
Josh Rosebrook Unscented Vital Balm is an unscented version of the popular Vital Balm that contains botanical hyaluronic acid for hydration and supports the skin's natural barrier.
Blissoma Pure Sensitive Care Complex is a moisturizer ideal for ultra sensitive, dry, reactive skin. It reduces redness and inflammation and helps rebuild skin's protective barrier.
Eminence Calm Skin Moisturizer is a lighter texture to the Linden Calendula Treatment Cream. It's ideal for calming and revitalizing sensitive, rosacea skin.
Blissoma Lavish Recovery Mask is a rich and creamy hydrating mask for dry, stressed, sensitive, inflamed, and mature skin that can also be used as an overnight treatment cream.
It's important to consider you skin when outdoors by providing a protective barrier, extra support and nourishment.
Our favourite skin care products for the outdoors:
Laurel Recovery Balm is a MUST HAVE for everyone, especially those with extreme eczema, dermatitis, cystic acne and sensitive allergy-prone skin as well as for cuts and scrapes. This multi-functional healing balm reduces redness, swelling and irritation.
Province Apothecary Hydrating Rescue Balm relieves even the driest skin. It protects and alleviates against chapping and cracking. Perfect for applying on the cheeks before skiing, for hands, feet and elbows. Safe for babies and sensitive skin.
ILIA Lip Wrap Reviving Balm is a hydrating balm that protects the skin from the harsh elements. It supports skin's natural moisture barrier while smoothing and plumping the lips.