4 beauty products that's getting my skin through the wintery winter

It's not too late to fix what ain't working.

Why hello, Substack friends. I’ve been hibernating for a bit because this winter in the Northeast has been atrocious and I have gone nowhere and done nothing except dive into my heated bed every chance I get. Last month, my electric bill was over $500, which is obscene for a NYC-sized apartment, and despite cranking the heat to the max, I still felt like I was pretty cold most days. It also meant that this beauty routine that I wrote last September—which I was so confident would be the final word—turned out to be well, just average, when faced with temperatures hovering around 10 degrees for 30 days at a time.

My skin was looking dull and feeling dry and all the actives were making it worse. I really had to switch things up, which is what this post is about. And although it’s the end of February and I actually heard birds chirping this weekend, fear not. The third winter is coming and it’s not too late to stock up on these cold-weather essentials.

1. Maelove Night Renewer Glycolic Acid Cream

I know I risk sounding like a rookie blogger who has just gotten her first sponsored post deal when I gush this hard, but this exfoliating moisturizer (💥💥) truly is an overnight miracle. I’ve only ever experienced two overnight miracles in my life, this product and Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair. I alternate now between applying the Maelove glycolic acid cream and tretinoin, and the morning after Maelove nights, my skin looks smoother, less dull, and more hydrated. It is also very gentle, which I need because my face gets chapped pretty easily in the cold and the actives in other products sometimes even makes my skin hurt.

2. IUNIK Beta-Glucan Power Deep Moisture Serum

I purchased this a few months ago after my coworker wouldn’t stop raving about it, and I agree—it’s pretty solid. Hard for me to tell if it hydrates better than the other moisturizers I have, but what I love about this is the texture. It’s basically like water and absorbs very cleanly which means I am constantly piling it on and never worry about it interfering with makeup or sunscreen.

3. Beauty of Joeson Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen

Speaking of makeup and suncreen, just because it’s winter and I’m at home doesn’t meant I’m skimping on the SPF protection. I like to have some fun with my sunscreen and switch it up so I’m constantly trying something new (good motivation to keep up the routine day in and day out). Currently I’m using the new tinted fluid from Beauty of Joeson and I like it. It’s lightweight, has a good range of shades that match a variety of skin tones and gives a nice, natural finish. (Hot tip though, the cap looks about two shades darker than the actual product inside.) It’s $20, and works just as well as the ones that are 2-3x the price.

4. It Cosmetics Je Ne Sais Quoi Hydrating Lip Balm

Best tinted lip treatment. I would pick this over an oil any day because oils come off so fast and seem to leave my lips flakier than ever when they wear off. This balm stays on and feels moisturizing for at least an hour and when it does dry down, the tint it leaves behind is super pretty. I love the Honey shade. The tube that I’m currently using is so old that I think the color is discontinued (Rose) and it still works great.