Key points:

• The top causes of winter skin issues.
• Esthetician-approved home care devices.
• Appointment-free and injection-free winter facial.

January kicks off the coldest and driest months of the year. Without making a few changes to your winter skin care routine, you’ll rapidly see and feel the effects of winter weather. Many of my clients reach out to ask how to restore their dehydrated, dull, and sagging winter skin. Below are my appointment-free and injection-free methods of keeping your skin lifted and glowing all winter. 

TOP CAUSES OF WINTER SKIN ISSUES

What looks like accelerated aging is often your skin’s response to winter. If you address the issues below quickly, it’s faster and easier to rejuvenate your skin. If you let them go all season long, it will take longer to restore your skin, and some of the damage may be permanent.

INTERNAL DEHYDRATION

If you’re internally dehydrated, it will show on your skin. Drinking water is essential year-round, but it’s easier to forget to hydrate when the weather cools down. It may help to swap the ice-cold water you crave in the summer for room temperature water, unsweetened sparkling water, or warming herbal tea. Herbal tea has the added benefits of antioxidants, which are good for your skin and body.

EXTERNAL DEHYDRATION

Even if you don’t spend a lot of time outside, winter air is dry, and without a topical barrier, winter wind and cold air rapidly degrade your skin’s barrier. Although warm and cozy, indoor heating dramatically decreases humidity—whether you’re at home or at work. This is where layering hydration becomes essential. Applying hydrating ampoules or serums to damp skin allows water-loving ingredients to soak in before you seal everything in with a thicker moisturizing cream. Combining targeted hydration layers, moisture-retaining actives, a protective skin barrier, and bedroom or desktop humidifiers helps your skin maintain hydration instead of constantly losing it.

REDUCED CIRCULATION

Cold weather constricts the veins and arteries, slowing blood circulation throughout your body. This is one reason why your hands and feet get cold so fast. Being above the heart, your neck and head always have decreased circulation, more so with frequent  poor posture and heads-down electronics use. To keep nourishing and anti-aging nutrients circulating through your body, and above the heart, you must actively stimulate circulation.

Stimulate circulation by:

• Stretching
• Exercise
• Steam
• Sauna
• Warm bath
• Massage
• Skincare devices

DECREASED CELL TURNOVER

Add the factors above together, and your skin is more likely to look dull, rough, and flaky. When your skin is dehydrated and lacking the nourishment it requires, cellular turnover slows down. This leaves skin looking dull and feeling rough. The buildup is too thick for granular exfoliators alone, so you’ll need to add an exfoliating device or gentle chemical exfoliator to the mix.

INTENSIFIED LINES

If your fine lines and wrinkles look deeper than usual, their depth may be the same, they just appear to be deeper. When your skin is dehydrated, your wrinkles sink in. Add that to the dead cell build up that sits on top of your skin, elevating fine lines and wrinkles. So, you must take a multi-pronged approach to winter skin care.

SHOP CHRISTINE’S WINTER TIGHTENING ESSENTIALS

I use the products and devices below year-round, but they’re key to addressing the cold-weather skin issues above. They provide instant lift, and tightening, firming, and smoothing improve with use. They’re pro-grade, but safe and effective for home care when used as directed.

1. NANO INFUSION FOR DEEP HYDRATION

The  Skin Wand Pro is a revolutionary nano channeling device. It delivers the benefits of microneedling with zero irritation or downtime. It’s so gentle that you can use it on thin-skinned areas, including your under eyes and directly on your lips. In terms of winter hydration, the exacting silicone tip creates tiny 0.15 channels in your skin that push hydrating serums to the junction where dead tissue meets live tissue. This accelerates the rate at which you can reverse dehydration, and gives you a fresh-out-of-a-facialist glow after every treatment. 

The Skin Wand Pro doubles as a gentle but deep exfoliation, rapidly releasing winter skin cell build up. It’s also a dream for breaking up pigmentation and activating your body’s natural healing response. Use 1 to 2 times a week for 10 minutes.

2. CONDUCTOR MIST + GEL DUO

The  Conducting Duo from my signature skincare line isn’t just for use with your devices. You can apply the Hydrate + Conduct gel once a week as an ultra-hydrating mask. Apply to a clean face and rinse off after 10 to 15 minutes. Follow up with moisturizer.

PRO TIP: You can use the Mist + Conduct hydrating mineral mist daily as a hydrating finishing spray. This formulation softens skin, revitalizes parched skin, and helps skin retain moisture. Carry it with you on days you’ll be in the cold or wind more than usual to spray on as a protective barrier.

3. MICROCURRENT FOR INSTANT LIFTING AND TONING

One of my favorite cold-weather skincare treatments is microcurrents/EMS. I use microcurrent on clients year-round, but it’s a top pick for winter device upgrades. The  Hybrid Lift Pro is a gentle, effective, and multi-modality microcurrent device from my signature line. You’ll see lifting and tightening after the first treatment.

Choose from 3 modalities:

• Mode 1: Randomized vibration.
• Mode 2: Randomized vibration and heat.
• Mode 3: Randomized vibration, heat, and EMS.

REJUVENATING SKIN WITH THE HYBRID LIFT PRO

Cleanse, then apply Hydrate + Conduct to your skin. As needed, apply Mist + Conduct to re-wet your skin for comfortable slip and glide. If you’re using Mode 1 or 2, you can use over serum or oil. You can also use all 3 modes over a sheet mask. Use for 10 minutes twice a week, cutting across the 11 facial vectors on each side of your face for maximum lifting. 

• The heat is soothing and pushes actives deep into your skin, rapidly restoring your moisture layer while boosting circulation.
• The EMS lifts, tones, and sculpts your jowls, neck, and eyes, while plumping out your skin for a smoothing and tightening effect.
• The EMS and randomized vibration give your face a mini-workout and boost circulation, delivering nourishing and restorative antioxidants.

4. LED FOR WINTER RESTORATION

LED therapy is clinically proven to prompt repair and rejuvenation. It’s a top pick for proactive anti-aging and reversing aging winter skin. All you need is 3 to 10 minutes 2 to 3 days a week, depending on which device you use.

LED therapy:

• Stimulates collagen to reduce fine lines and wrinkles
• Prompts circulation to deliver oxygenating nutrients to skin.
• Breaks down pigmentation to unify skin tone and texture.
• Reduces undereye dark circles by up to 70%.
• Improves skin laxity for healthier and younger-looking skin.
• Reduces inflammation and soothes redness.

Red light therapy is the most versatile of the LEDs, but I keep a few devices on my treatment bar.

• Omnilux: The  Omnilux line is my favorite flexible mask. It combines red and near-infrared light. Choose from 3 flexible masks: face-only, hands-only, or a neck and décolleté mask. Yes, you can use more than 1 mask at a time. Use for 10 minutes.
• Eye and Lip Pro+: The  Eye and Lip Pro+ addresses all issues for aging eyes and lips. It combines LED red light, RF, EMS, and vibration. Use for 3 minutes per treatment area.
• Glow Younger TriLight: The  Glow Younger Trilight is a versatile whole-body device that emits red, yellow, and infrared LED. It’s lightweight and measures 2 3/4 inches wide and 5 inches long. Use for 3 minutes per treatment area.
• Time Master Pro: The  Time Master Pro is a multi-modality device that emits blue, green, red, and infrared light, paired with low-frequency ultrasound and EMS. Treatments take 10 minutes.

STEP-BY-STEP WINTER FACIAL LIFTING ROUTINE

STEP 1: CLEANSE

Double cleanse with  Just Say Ahh Revitalizing Cleanser. This formulation is hydrating and pH-balancing.

STEP 2: EXFOLIATE AND NOURISH

Apply a generous layer of one of the serums below, then apply the Skin Want Pro in small circles over the entire face for 10 minutes. Re-wet with Mist + Conduct, as skin must be saturated during your treatment. Include a few passes on the lips for a plumping effect, and underneath the eyes to plump, smooth and reduce dark circles.

• Nourish, hydrate, and protect skin with the  Rejuvenating Ampoule.
• Nourish, brighten, and soothe with  Triple C+ Gold.
• Nourish, firm, and refine pores with PLLA-infused  CaviPLLA+ O2 Advanced Volumizing Serum.

Bonus Pro Tip: Use on your stretch marks too!

STEP 3: LED

Apply your preferred LED-only or multi-modality device with LED. Use as directed, for 3 to 10 minutes. 

Pro Tip:⁠
When it comes to red light therapy and peels, timing matters. ⁠
⁠
Red light should always come after a peel. ⁠
⁠
Once the peel has done its job and removed that surface buildup, the LED can penetrate deeper into the skin—meaning better calming, better healing, and better results overall. 😉⁠
⁠
Think of the peel as clearing the path, and the red light as doing the real repair work.

STEP 4: MICROCURRENT/EMS

If you’re stacking devices, microcurrent/EMS is always last, or part of a multi-modality treatment. For your winter skin treatments, I suggest the  Hybrid Lift Pro in Mode 3 for heat, randomized vibration, and EMS.

STEP 5: MOISTURIZE

Prompt the restoration of the collagen matrix underneath your skin with PLLA-infused  Volume Boost Moisturizer. You must apply PLLA products once a day for maximum lifting, plumping, and tightening. The apple stem-cell-infused Renew + Hydrate is also an excellent choice for winter.

STEP 7: PROTECT

If the sun is still shining, apply broad-spectrum UV protection.  Dr. Esthé’s line of lotion-like sunscreens is lightweight and contains ingredients that support your winter skin reset. If you haven’t applied PLLA to your skin yet, you can apply the  All Mineral Face and Body Sunscreen.

WINTER SKIN CARE BEYOND UPGRADING YOUR DEVICES

Now you know what devices I use to address the most common winter skin conditions. If you have additional questions, you can join the  Christine Byer Beauty Club. As a member, you’ll receive exclusive skincare tips for the current season and your lifestyle, skin type, and skin conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does winter ruin your skincare results?

If you don’t make the right changes to your skincare routine, winter can ruin your results, but it doesn’t have to.

• Maintain internal hydration.
• Gently exfoliate at least twice a week.
• Switch to a thicker cream moisturizer.
• Incorporate hydrating and moisture-retaining actives.
• Layer a protective seal on top.
• Don’t skip broad-spectrum UV protection in the winter.
• Complete a weekly winter facial. 

When to use mist and aftercare products?

The options in functional mists have never been more advanced. They provide tailored support for your skin throughout the day. Use all mists and aftercare products as directed. For parched winter skin, choose options that rehydrate and seal your skin.

Here are some of my top picks:

• Spray  PLLA-infused Pilleo Stem Cell Mist on a clean face or use as a daily setting spray.
• Spray the hydrating Mist + Conduct on to set your makeup or moisturizer, or to condition skin and lock-in moisture in cold and dry weather.
• Spray  Intensive Moisturizer on after cleansing to tone and hydrate, layering moisturizer on top. You can also mist it on midday to seal your skin.
• Spray HOCI mist to reduce bacteria when you work out but can’t shower right away, or to minimize contact dermatitis when wearing headsets, helmets, or gear that sits against sweaty skin.

How to stack skincare devices?

If you’ve invested in a range of home care devices, you may be wondering how to use them together without overdoing it. Use all devices as directed.

1.   Begin with manual massage and lymphatic drainage tools such as the Anma, or Contour Pro.

2.    Once every other week move into gentle exfoliation with the Skin Wand Pro, or for an even milder form of exfoliation try the Contour Pro with the brush head attachment weekly. 

3.    LED only devices such as the Glow Younger or Omnilux can be used to calm, repair, and boost collagen production every other day for up to 10 minutes depending on your chosen modality. 

4.    Up to 2-3x per week, use deeper energy EMS devices such as the Time Master Pro or Radio Frequency + Infrared Light for up to 10 minutes to stimulate collagen production and tightening. 

5.    Microcurrent is always last, and the Clareblend Mini is gentle enough for daily use. If you are looking to combine EMS and Microcurrent into one sweep- the Hybrid Lift Pro might be the device for you!

PRO TIP: LED therapy can be used on the same day as any device. For best results and skin recovery, alternate RF/ultrasound days with EMS and/or microcurrent unless your device combines the technologies into one treatment.