A Skin Care Regimen On a Budget

By: Deja Senna-LeslieIllustration By: Katie HerchenroederNovember is finally here and had no hesitation bringing in that harsh cold weather with it.It’s cold now but frigid weather is approaching! Did you know that it’s almost a must to switch your skin care regimen when the weather switches? Outdoor temperatures have a huge impact on your skin and its way of functioning. Since the weather changing does affect your skin, there are certain steps you need to make to accommodate those changes depending on your skin type.Cold weather tends to make the skin more dry and take away the natural moisture your skin produces. Without the proper care, this can lead to redness, itching, unnecessary oil build-up in the pores which, in turn, can lead to breakouts. So what can you do to try your best to prevent this from happening? Let’s start with dry skin. According to Harvard Health Publishing and WebMD, there are numerous ways to try to keep your skin hydrated. Here’s a few:

• Wash your face with lukewarm water instead of hot water. You can strip natural oils away using hot water against your face.
• Use moisturizers that are oil based. In the summer, water based moisturizers are probably best, but since your skin needs extra moisture, the oil will help with that.
• Try to moisturize more often throughout the day. 2-3 times should be enough.
• Changing your diet can also have a huge impact on your skin. Try eating healthier fats, foods with high water content, more vegetables and fruits that have a lot of antioxidants to help you clean you out all of your toxins, and of course, drink lots of water!
• Try using cleansers that are specifically made for sensitive skin. A lot of cleansers contain chemicals that can be too harsh to the skin, possibly making it even more dry.
• Getting a humidifier can be very helpful. Keeping your personal space at a good temp - that’s not too dry - is very important. This goes for heat as well.
• Use sunscreen! The sun is still out and believe it or not, it can reflect off the snow and make the sun exposure even worse.
• Try to stay away from clay masks that will just dry your skin even more and take away important oils that keep your face moisturized.
• If you think your skin needs some intense attention, it doesn’t hurt to see a dermatologist for further help!

For some people, maintaining oily skin or combination skin in the winter is easier considering you don’t have a lot of sweat to worry about or a lot of oil build up. This situation can be true, but dry weather can still affect your skin and possibly even change your skin type! Here’s some tips directed toward people with oily/combination skin:

• Even in winters it’s recommended to use gel or water based moisturizers, specifically with Vitamin E which is known to be the best moisturizer for oily skin.
• Don’t over exfoliate! Exfoliating is important, but to accommodate the weather, try to do it less than you usually would in warmer temperatures. Exfoliating with BHA might be better. For those who don’t know, BHA stands for Beta Hydroxy Acid. The most common one is Salicylic Acid. Using these kind of acids as an exfoliate helps remove the dry flaky skin.
• As I said before in the dry skin care regimen, incorporating a healthy diet is very important. This process includes a lot of antioxidants and foods that will keep you hydrated. Once again, drink lots of water!
• Using sensitive skin products can also be helpful for oily skin. Exposing your skin to too many chemicals can cause more dryness and then make your skin produce more unwanted oil.
• Try not to use absorbing clay masks that can also have the same effect as your heavy chemical based products.
• And once again, if anything seems concerning or needs more attention, contact a dermatologist! They’ll have more options or better answers than most other sources of information!

So you’re probably wondering, “How can you afford products that are natural and help dry skin?” I took the liberty of doing some research on affordable drugstore skin care products that might be helpful. Based on personal experience, friend’s experiences, and valid reviews here’s some suggestions I have for you:

1. Unscented Simple Moisturizing Facial Wash - 5ozSimple is a drugstore skin care brand that specializes in sensitive skin. Their products barely have any chemicals at all and leave your skin moisturized, which is a plus for this season! This product only costs $7.99 and gives you a pretty decent amount of use!

2. Unscented Eucerin Sensitive Skin Gentle Hydrating Cleanser - 8ozLooking for a cheaper option? Here’s another face wash that has the same qualities and more product for your dollar! The only difference is that this brand doesn’t specialize in sensitive skin, but this product in particular is made for sensitive skin. This item ranges from $4.99-$5.99, depending on the store you buy it from.

3. Bontanics - All Bright Cleansing Toner - 8.4ozSince the skin tends to appear dull during the winter, I thought I should suggest a toner that had brightening properties. Botanics is known for using natural ingredients and very little to no chemicals. Some of their products are 100% organic too, if you’re interested in more natural brands. This toner helps remove dead skin cells and provides a glow to your skin. It also has natural Hibiscus extracts. Usually products that have mainly natural ingredients are cost ineffective, but this toner is actually only $6.99.

4. Unscented Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner - 16ozThis is a cheaper option for a toner made specifically for sensitive skin. It’s made for all skin types, fragrance and 100% natural. For a price of only $4.69.

  Moisturizers for dry skin:

5. Burt's Bees Intense Hydration Day Lotion - 1.8 ozThis moisturizer is specifically made for dry skin and has intense hydration. It's dermatologist tested, and contains no parabens, phthalates, or petrolatum. It has clary sage and is enhanced with probiotic technology to help hydrate the skin. You only need a tiny amount to apply to the skin, which is one reason why they don’t provide that much. It costs $7.99.
6. Unscented Pond's Dry Skin Cream - 6.5ozA cheaper option would be the Pond’s brand. It’s a very rich and heavy cream so you wouldn’t need to apply that much nor constantly throughout the day. Even though it’s a rich cream, it’s been tested to not clog pores. It’s also really great primer before applying makeup. This product is only $4.99 and you get more cream!

 For combination/oily Skin:

7. Unscented Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream - 1.7ozSimple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream is an incredibly lightweight gel based moisturizer that doesn’t leave the skin greasy. It’s long lasting and leaves the skin feeling refreshed with its cooling properties. It’s infused with minerals and plant extract to ensure hydration. This product is specifically made for sensitive skin. The price ranges from $7.59 - $8.59, depending on the store.
8. Garnier SkinActive Balancing 3-in-1 Moisturizer Day/Night Mask, 6.75 fl ozGarnier is a really great drugstore brand and usually gets the job done. This produce is a 3-in-1 moisturizer. You can apply it during the day or night and also use it as a mask. It contains 96 percent naturally derived ingredients. It’s made without mineral oil, parabens, silicones, and dyes - which are all things that clog up your pores. It has green tea which is an acne fighting ingredient. This is a cheaper option, priced at $5.38.