Simple Switches to Adapt Your Summer Routine for Colder Weather
As the temperatures drop and the air turns dry, your skin’s needs change too. What worked beautifully in July might leave your complexion tight, dull, or flaky in December. But that doesn’t mean you need to overhaul your entire routine—just make a few thoughtful swaps to keep your skin balanced and glowing all winter long.
At Emogene & Co., we believe skincare should evolve with the seasons—simple, intentional, and barrier-supportive. Here are our favorite winter-ready swaps to make your routine cold-weather-proof.
💧 Swap: Gel Cleanser → Gentle Cream Cleanser
Foaming or gel cleansers can feel too harsh in winter, stripping essential oils your skin needs. Creamier, pH-balanced cleansers cleanse effectively while maintaining your natural barrier.
Try:
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Ritual Foaming Milk Cleanser — packed with oat, apple, and coconut amino acids to cleanse without tightness, while simultaneously hydrating your skin.
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The Healer All-Purpose Balm — perfect as a first cleanse to melt away sunscreen and makeup.
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Marshmallow Magic Gentle Cleanser — infused with marshmallow root and aloe for a plush, soothing cleanse that comforts dry, sensitive skin and leaves it feeling soft, never stripped.
🧴 Swap: Astringent Toner → Hydrating Mist or Gentle Exfoliant
Alcohol-based or “tingling” toners can dehydrate your skin when humidity drops. Instead, choose hydrating or barrier-supportive options that prep your skin for moisture.
Try:
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Clarify Purifying Mist for soothing hydration throughout the day.
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Renew Facial Toner with 0.75% salicylic acid for gentle cell turnover that refines pores without irritation.
🌸 Swap: Summer Serums → Barrier-Building Serums
Light, exfoliating serums might work in the summer, but winter calls for formulas that restore, calm, and hydrate the skin.
Try:
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Prime Niacinamide Serum — strengthens the skin barrier, reduces redness, and balances oil production.
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Glow Vitamin C Serum — brightens dull winter skin and protects against oxidative stress.
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Clarify Purifying Mist — powered by hypochlorous acid, it soothes, hydrates, and defends your microbiome post-cleanse or after exposure to cold air.
For extra glow, finish your evening routine with a few drops of Revitalize Facial Oil, Recovery Facial Oil or Repair Facial Oil pressed gently into your skin for a sealing, silky finish.
🌿 Swap: Weekly Scrub → Enzyme or Chemical Exfoliation
Rough physical scrubs can micro-tear dry, delicate winter skin. Opt for enzyme or low-acid exfoliants to encourage smoothness and radiance—without compromising your barrier.
Try:
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Resurfacing Enzyme Facial Mask 2–3 times per week. It uses fruit enzymes from papaya, pineapple, and pomegranate to gently brighten and smooth.
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Follow with Prime Niacinamide Serum and Hydrate Moisture Accelerator to restore hydration immediately after exfoliation.
☀️ Swap: Solo Lightweight Lotion Moisturizer → A Base Hydrating Serum For Layering Other Moisturizers
Summer’s airy lotions feel refreshing when it’s humid, but in dry winter air, your skin craves more cushion. A richer moisturizer helps seal in hydration and prevent water loss.
Try:
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Hydrate Moisture Accelerator for daily lightweight hydration and layer Healer All Purpose Balm on top at night or on dry spots for extra nourishment.
Pro Tip: Apply moisturizer while your skin is still slightly damp to lock in moisture more effectively.
🌙 Swap: Light Night Moisturizer → Restorative Cream + Facial Oil
As humidity drops, your skin loses moisture faster overnight. Replenishing creams and oils work together to repair the barrier and keep your complexion soft by morning.
Try:
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Restore Intensive Night Cream — a rich, reparative formula that deeply nourishes overnight, helping restore balance and elasticity while you sleep.
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Revitalize, Recovery or Repair Facial Oil — delivers potent botanicals and essential fatty acids to reinforce your barrier, improve tone, and leave your skin with a soft, radiant glow.
Pro-Tip: Layer your facial oil over Restore Intensive Night Cream as your final nighttime step for the ultimate moisture seal and morning radiance.
☀️ Swap: Skipping SPF → Daily Protection
Clouds and cold air don’t stop UV rays. Up to 80% of UV radiation still reaches your skin through clouds or reflects off snow, so SPF remains essential.
Try:
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Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 for a glowy, hydrating finish every morning.
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Heading outdoors or skiing? Layer a higher broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen over Radiant for added protection.
💋 Swap: Basic Lip Balm → Healing Conditioner
The thin skin on your lips lacks oil glands, so it’s first to chap when the temperature drops. Wax-based balms can feel protective but don’t repair the underlying dryness.
Try: CocoVanil Lip Conditioner for nourishing hydration with chamomile, calendula, and lavender-infused grapeseed oil. For extreme dryness, dab Healer All Purpose Balm over lips or any cracked area to restore softness overnight.
🩶 Swap: Body Lotion → Nourishing Body Oil
Winter body care deserves an upgrade too. Oils help lock in moisture more effectively and soothe irritation caused by dry air and clothing friction.
Try:
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Remedy Body Oil — a blend of chamomile, calendula, lavender-infused grapeseed, apricot kernel, and hemp seed oils that absorb quickly and leave skin silky, not greasy. Apply right after a shower to seal in hydration.
Final Thoughts
Seasonal skincare doesn’t have to be complicated—it’s about listening to your skin and making small, thoughtful adjustments. With Emogene & Co.’s barrier-friendly, plant-powered products—from hydrating cleansers to reparative serums, luxurious oils, and restorative creams—you can transition seamlessly into winter with skin that stays soft, hydrated, and radiant, no matter how cold it gets.
