6 SUREFIRE CURES FOR THE WINTER SKIN BLUES
December 1, 2022 by Jack
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We’re not even in the thick of winter, yet you’re probably already feeling the side effects of cold air, whipping winds, and a lack of humidity—you know what we’re talking about. Dry, chapped, flaky skin can be coupled with increased sensitivity, roughness, and even blemishes. Of course, these skin woes aren’t limited to the face alone. Your hands and lips may also be experiencing the unpleasant ramifications of Old Man Winter.
If you’re wondering how to take care of your skin during the big chill, check out our 6 top tips for maintaining—or restoring—your hydrated, handsome good looks during the winter and all year round.
1. Winterize Your Cleansing Process
Ask any pro, and they’re liable to tell you that the cornerstone of any solid skincare routine is none other than a cleanser. A face wash helps create a clean canvas for your other products to work their magic by sweeping away dirt, excess oil, and other impurities that assault your skin throughout the day. Lighter, gel-based cleansers are typically an excellent choice for men because they have more active sebaceous (oil) glands, so they’re effective at balancing the skin.
During the winter, you will want to use a sulfate-free wash to prevent stripping the skin of vital moisture. Adding hydrating ingredients will keep sensitized winter skin clean and calm. Never rinse with hot water as it dehydrates the skin. Set that faucet to a tepid temp to prevent further moisture loss.
Jack Black Pick: Black Reserve Body and Hair Cleanser is a dual-purpose, sulfate-free body and hair cleanser that leaves skin feeling clean without feeling dry and tight. Aloe Vera helps soothe, calm, and soften the skin, while essential fatty acid-rich shea butter provides deep hydration. You’ll love that it also deeply hydrates thirsty tresses that have been zapped of moisture from indoor heating and outdoor elements.
2. Up Your Winter Skincare Routine With a Nourishing Face Oil
Are you wondering how to keep your skin hydrated in the winter? Try a face oil! While putting oil on your face may be a turnoff—especially if you’re already oily—this liquid nectar is the ultimate skin softener that helps balance natural oils while providing an added dose of moisture. It only takes a few drops to achieve a vibrant-looking complexion, regardless of your skin type. A face oil works in tandem with your moisturizer to seal in moisture while providing additional skin-loving benefits to help you achieve a healthier-looking complexion.
Jack Black Pick: MP 10 Nourishing Oil is a lightweight yet concentrated formula that helps soothe skin and relieve dryness and flakiness. Organic Moringa Seed Oil provides smoothing and firming benefits. At the same time, a powerful combination of antioxidant-rich Argan Oil, Organic Marula Seed, and Grape Seed oils helps reinforce the skin's natural defenses, soothe redness, and restore elasticity and suppleness.
Pat a few drops into the skin after using Dry Erase Ultra-Calming Face Cream, a calming winter must-have that delivers moisture to dry skin, helps diminish the appearance of redness, and soothes facial skin. Clinically tested ingredients, botanical oils, and extracts make it a perfect night treatment or for use after masks, peels, and exposure to environmental elements.
Pro tip: Shaving sensitized winter skin can be uncomfortable, leading to unwanted nicks and irritation. MP 10 Nourishing oil also provides exceptional moisturization and soothing benefits when used as a pre-shave preparation or as a stand-alone shaving oil. Bring back the art of the shave!
3. Restore Your Glow With Regular Exfoliation
If you’re wondering how to keep your skin healthy and glowing in winter, try to exfoliate your skin 2-3 times a week to remove all the flakiness that comes with cooler temps. Not only does a face scrub help the skin become smoother, clearer, and brighter, but all of the other products (like your moisturizer and face oil) will work better because there aren’t any dead skin cells standing in the way. You’ll also get a closer shave and help fade any lingering spots from those maskne days.
Jack Black Pick: Face Buff Energizing Scrub is a facial scrub and pre-shave cleanser in one that exfoliates for a smoother complexion and a more effortless, closer shave. Eco-friendly, biodegradable scrubbing particles help to unclog pores, prevent ingrown hairs, and minimize shaving irritation. The formula effectively removes oil, dirt, and dead skin cells, leaving a clear path for your blade.
4. Give the Delicate Eye Area a Little TLC
Caring for the skin around the eyes is vital, especially during winter. The eye area tends to be the first to show signs of aging because it’s ten times thinner than the rest of the skin on your face and body—and it’s more sensitive, too. Sure, it’s an extra step, but it only takes 15 seconds to nourish, hydrate, and protect the delicate eye area.
Jack Black Pick: Protein Booster Eye Rescue is a rich cream formula that helps to diminish the appearance of crow’s feet and fine lines on the thin, delicate skin around the eyes. It features Matrixyl®synthe’6®, a highly effective peptide that helps minimize the appearance of expression lines in the eye area. Caffeine helps soothe and refresh puffy, fatigued eye area, whether you’re not getting enough sleep or SADS (seasonal affective disorder) is getting you down.
5. Protect Your Pucker From the Elements
Chapped, cracked, peeling lips are definitely one of the top winter skin woes. They result from cold or dry weather, frequently licking your lips, sun exposure, and certain spicy or acidic foods. The good news is it only takes a balm to ease discomfort and restore suppleness.
Jack Black Pick: Our Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 takes all the benefits of our original balm but with the added benefit of sun protection (ski trip, anyone?). This emollient balm, enriched with superior skin conditioners and antioxidants, soothes and relieves dry, chapped, irritated lips. Unlike waxy sticks, Intense Therapy Lip Balm quickly penetrates for instant relief. SPF 25 offers optimum sun protection while guarding against windburn and extreme temperatures.
6. Keep Your Hands on a Hand Cream
Between winter weather and frequent hand washing (it is cold and flu season, after all), your hands can take a beating. Not to mention, your palms lack oil glands, so they’re more susceptible to dryness, chaffing, and cracking. Try to make a habit of applying a good hand cream after washing or spending extended time outdoors to help keep your mitts soft, smooth, and hydrated.
Jack Black Pick: Industrial Strength Hand Healer is a non-greasy formula providing instant relief for dry, chapped, or cracked hands. Intensive moisturizers and conditioners like Macadamia Nut Oil, Liposomes, Glycerin, and Vitamins A and E help diminish tough calluses and heal unsightly cuticles. This unique formula dries to a smooth finish, leaving minimal residue on your hands so that it won’t disrupt your texting, typing, or gym session.
Whether you’re traveling this season or new to the Black Jack world of skincare and grooming, our Skin Saviors kit contains a complete skincare regimen in TSA-approved sizes to cleanse, exfoliate, moisturize, and protect.
And if you’re still on the hunt for the perfect gift for a certain man in your life, check out our holiday giving and receiving guide—why not give the gift of grooming this season?