New Year, New You: Prepping Your Skin for Portland’s Winter

Dec 27, 2024Sonia Bellini

The confetti has settled, the champagne flutes are tucked away, and the “new year, new me” mantra is echoing in full force. January brings with it a collective resolve: diets are overhauled, Dry January is in full swing, and routines take on a “clean slate” energy. But while you’re busy hitting reset on your habits, let’s not forget about your largest, most hardworking organ—your skin.

This year, Portland’s winter weather has gone into full overdrive—colder temps, relentless rain, and bone-chilling winds that leave your skin feeling done. Combine that with cozy but dry indoor heating, and you’ve got a recipe for dryness, dullness, and general skin distress. Sound familiar? Here’s how to reset and repair your skin so it thrives during these gray, soggy months.

The Skin’s Natural Water Reservoir:

Why Winter Hydration Matters

Your skin’s ability to retain moisture is directly tied to its natural water reservoir, which is housed in the dermis. This reservoir is essential to keeping your skin plump, elastic, and healthy. Here’s a breakdown of how it works:

1. The Dermis: The Reservoir’s Powerhouse

The dermis, the thick inner layer of your skin, acts as a water reservoir, holding up to 80% water content. It supplies hydration to the upper layers of the skin, supporting its structure and function.

2. The Epidermis: The Transition Zone

Sitting above the dermis, the epidermis has a much lower water content, at 13–16%. The epidermis relies on the dermis to supply it with moisture to stay hydrated and healthy.

3. The Stratum Corneum: The Final Barrier

The outermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, acts as a barrier to lock in hydration while defending against environmental stressors. However, when exposed to cold, dry air and indoor heating, the stratum corneum becomes compromised, leading to increased trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL). This results in dryness, flaking, and sensitivity.

In winter, your skin’s water reservoir struggles to replenish itself as moisture evaporates from the surface faster than it can be supplied from within. This is why winter hydration isn’t just about applying moisturizers but also about nourishing the dermis, strengthening the barrier, and replenishing water content at every level of the skin.

Hydrate Inside & Out

If you’re partaking in Dry January, your skin will thank you. Alcohol dehydrates your body, leaving skin tight, dull, and prone to irritation. But Portland’s chilly, damp weather can be equally deceptive—it’s not as hydrating as it feels.

• Phytomer Hydrasea Serum: A deeply replenishing serum that strengthens the skin’s moisture barrier while delivering long-lasting hydration.

• Yon-Ka Hydra+ Booster: This botanical concentrate gives an instant boost of moisture, plumping and refreshing parched skin.

• PHYTOMER Oligo 6 Marine Concentrate: A balancing serum with prebiotics that calms and hydrates, perfect for cold-weather stress. Packed with hydrating marine minerals, it keeps skin resilient and fortifies the natural barrier, making it ideal for sensitive or redness-prone skin facing winter’s harsh elements.

• Michael Todd’s or Zoe Bliss Facial Cleansers: Gently cleanses while supporting your skin’s natural hydration levels, ensuring a soft, dewy finish.

All skin types need hydration:

Lets find yours

• Oily Skin: Yon-Ka Hydra N1 Masque, Hydra+ Booster, and Phytomer's Flash Gel + Radiance Cream.

Lots of Oily Skin Type people think that they don't need hydration; but it is essential to keeping your oily skin balanced and at bay! Use our recs above.

• Normal to Dry Skin: Phytomer Hydrasea Serum and Oligo 6 Serum.

• Very Dry Skin: Phytomer Nutritionelle, Vie Mesoforce, Yon-Ka Nutri Defense, and SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore.

Very dry skin needs thicker moisturizers, and as with every skin type, adding a booster underneath those heavy moisturizers lets it sink in deep and tackle the root causes .

• Mature Skin: Layer Oligioforce with the Meso Hyaluronic Mask for an advanced boost.

Brighten & Correct with Vitamin C

Let’s be honest—Portland’s winter skies are gray, and your skin can start to look just as dull. A powerhouse Vitamin C serum is your antidote, brightening skin, evening out tone, and correcting damage caused by environmental stressors.

• SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic: The gold standard of Vitamin C serums, delivering unparalleled brightness and correction for all skin types.

• Yon-Ka C20 Serum: A luxurious Vitamin C option that’s rich and hydrating—perfect for the winter months.

• Vita C by Vie Collection: A glow-boosting serum with anti-aging benefits, leaving skin smooth, plump, and radiant.

Exfoliate Intelligently

Winter skin often feels rough and lackluster, but exfoliation can help bring back that smooth, healthy glow. Choosing the right exfoliation method—physical or chemical—is key.

Physical Exfoliation

Uses small particles to gently buff away dead skin. Ideal for immediate smoothness.

• Yon-Ka Gommage: A soft, gel-based exfoliant that polishes without irritation—perfect for sensitive skin.

• Phytomer Marine Scrub: Refines texture and soothes skin stressed by Portland’s wet, windy weather.

Chemical Exfoliation

Uses acids or enzymes to dissolve dead skin cells for a deeper, more even result.

• SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser: An effective exfoliating cleanser that brightens and smooths without over-drying.

• Yon-Ka Alpha Peel: An overnight treatment that works while you sleep to reveal a refreshed, glowing complexion.

• Vie Collection Night Peel Exfoliant: A targeted chemical peel for brightening, smoothing, and revitalizing winter-worn skin.

Facial Treatments: Deep Hydration & Repair

For an in-depth reset, indulge in one of Bellini’s signature facials designed to tackle Portland’s unique winter skin challenges:

• Glamtox Facial:

Keep your natural contours defined, restore your skin’s radiance, and support a healthy and vibrant complexion. This facial is ideal for managing age-related concerns, including dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and loss of skin elasticity. Visibly diminish wrinkles—immediately.

• Skin Quencher Facial:

A deep drink of moisture for thirsty skin, this facial repairs the complexion and restores a luminous, dewy finish.

Dieting? Ayurvedic vs. Blood-Type

New year diets are all the rage—keto, paleo, or simple “eat clean” trends—but have you considered how personalized approaches like Ayurvedic eating or blood-type diets might influence your skin?

• Ayurvedic Diets: Based on balancing your doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha), Ayurvedic principles promote harmony within the body to reflect outward on the skin. For winter (the meaning of 'Vata'), this often means grounding, warming foods like soups and stews, root vegetables, ghee, and hearty grains. If your skin feels dry or flaky, Vata-balancing meals with healthy fats can make all the difference.

• Blood-Type Diets: Eating for your blood type (O, A, B, or AB) is believed to optimize digestion, reduce inflammation, and, you guessed it, improve skin clarity. For example:

• Type O: A diet rich in lean proteins and vegetables may help reduce breakouts or congestion.

• Type A: Emphasis on plant-based eating can be soothing for sensitive or reactive skin.

• Type B: Balanced meals with dairy and lean meats support skin elasticity.

• Type AB: A mix of plant and protein-focused meals helps balance hydration and combat dullness.

No matter the approach, these tailored diets prioritize nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory foods, which naturally support skin health. Combine them with hydration and proper skincare, and you’ll notice a visible difference in tone, texture, and glow.

While Portland’s wet, gray winter may stick around for months, your skin doesn’t have to reflect it. With hydration, brightening Vitamin C, gentle exfoliation, and even mindful eating, you’ll keep your skin glowing through the rain, wind, and endless cozy sweater weather.