4 Tweaks A Dermatologist Makes To Her Skincare Routine For Clear Skin In Winter

Dr. Suhismita "Tia" Paul and an example of a product she uses on winter evenings. Dr. Sukhismita "Tia" Pol

In winter, the skin can deteriorate and become a gateway for acne-causing bacteria, says a dermatologist.
Dr. Suhismita "Tia" Paul told Insider she makes four changes during the winter to keep her skin glowing.
Paul still uses cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen, but adapts his routine to his skin's needs.

The dermatologist told Insider that she's making four big changes to her skincare routine this winter to keep her skin clear, including using a stronger moisturizer and scrubbing less.

Dr. Suchismita "Tia" Paul, a dermatologist and plastic surgery specialist in Newport Beach, Orange County, California, told Insider that she likes to keep her skin simple. Paul always uses a cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen, then adjusts his skincare routine based on his skin's needs and the weather.

In drier winter weather, the skin barrier can easily become damaged and dry, becoming a breeding ground for bacteria that cause infections and worsen acne, says Paul.

With that in mind, here are the changes Paul makes during the winter. She uses products that are "mostly freebies or office samples," but she says work for her skin and she's not paid to promote them.

In winter, switch to a moisturizing cleanser

In the summer, Paul uses La Roche Posay Pigmentclar Cleanser, which contains salicylic acid, to try to "close" his pores. But in the winter, she switches to a more moisturizing cleanser.

She said that "salicylic acid is extremely drying to the skin" in the winter, so she likes to use "a very gentle moisturizing cleanser like CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser" in the morning.

In the evening, Paul double cleanses because he believes it's a gentle way to remove make-up and sunscreen, as well as the dirt that has built up throughout the day.

First, she uses a cleansing balm like Good Molecules, then a water-based cleanser like CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser.

Use a heavy moisturizer instead of a light gel

Paul said she uses a "lightweight" non-greasy, water-based moisturizer like Vichy's Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream or Mineral 89 morning and night.

But in the winter months she "boosts" her moisturizer and swaps it for a thicker one, like First Aid Beauty's Ultra Repair Cream, which contains oatmeal.

By using creams that contain ingredients like oatmeal, ceramides or niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, you "simply build that barrier so your skin stays healthy and glowing," she said. :

Use a hyaluronic acid serum for "extra hydration."

Paul said he likes to add a hyaluronic acid serum to his winter routine to add "extra hydration."

She regularly uses products containing vitamin C and retinol.

For example, she uses a vitamin C product like the Urban Skin RX formula in the morning and a retinol like La Roche-Posay Effaclar in the evening, all year round. In winter, it is saturated morning and night with hyaluronic acid serum from La Roche-Posay.

"Another thing I do differently in the winter months is to use retinol every night instead of every other night because it can dry out the skin," she added.

She usually doesn't use a hyaluronic acid serum in the summer because her skin doesn't need it.

There is less barking in winter than in summer

Paul said dry winter weather can easily irritate the skin, and layers can make things worse.

"It can cause redness, peeling and burning of the skin, which are not signs of healthy skin," she said.

Paul said he exfoliates once a week or every 10 days in the winter, compared to twice a week in the summer. It uses alpha hydroxy acid as an exfoliant.

Always use sunscreen

Paul continues to wear sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher throughout the winter, even on "dark days," to prevent UV damage that can cause wrinkles and premature aging. Now he uses Supergloop! Glowscreen SPF 40, but added that it doesn't matter if the product is SPF 30 or higher.

"Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen, never skip the sunscreen, even in the winter months," she said.

Paul, who lives in Southern California, told Insider that he will likely resume his summer routine in March, but cautioned that skin care should be personalized and based on an individual's concerns and needs. , which helps dermatologists decide so they can. to help