I know it’s only October, but I can’t help but prepare for the onset of winter. You see, I live in the Midwest, where winters are long and brutal. Every temperature-dropping thermostat, early sunset, and biting breeze reminds me that, soon, I’ll be wrapped in thick layers of clothing and crunching through even thicker snow. In order to protect my skin and hair from its drying, irritating effects, I need to have the right, high-performance products on hand.
Luckily for me, I don’t have to wait a moment longer to restock my favorite ones. Amazon’s Holiday Beauty Event is on now through November 1. During it, you can score both daily and long-running deals on some of the best skincare, makeup, and haircare products. (I’m talking upward of 40% off!) Since I’ve already spent hours clicking through the deals, I thought I’d share my personal shopping list with you, dear reader. As a beauty editor with over a decade of experience, I consider myself an expert at winter-proofing my routine.
Yes, this utterly classic French-pharmacy product is on sale right now. It’s a dry oil, meaning it absorbs quickly into the skin. It’s never heavy or greasy, which is why I recommend it to anyone who just can’t do traditional body oil. It can be used on the face, body, and hair, and a blend of vitamins and plant oils will instantly soften, smooth, and moisturize. What I love most about it is the scent. It’s warm and sophisticated and subtle, and sometimes, I’ll completely skip perfume when I’m wearing it. It’s that good.
This might be one of the most celeb-loved face masks on the market. Everyone from Kendall Jenner to Dua Lipa, Selena Gomez, and Lady Gaga has worn it in recent months. Its hero ingredient, PDRN, is a popular Korean skincare ingredient famously found in salmon sperm, as well as other plant sources. Known for its healing and regenerative properties, PDRN can increase collagen production, reduce inflammation, and more. The mask also contains low-molecular collagen to improve firmness and elasticity, and niacinamide for a brightening, barrier-strengthening effect. The most immediate effect, though, is a megawatt glow.
If you’re unimpressed by most face mists, I suggest turning to Korean jelly mists. They’re like the spritzable equivalent of a hydrogel mask, moisturizing and plumping the skin on contact. Biodance’s Collagen Peptides Jelly Serum Mist is my favorite. The thick gel texture drenches the skin in collagen water and a 10-signal peptide complex for smooth skin, deep moisture, minimized pores, and glass-like shine. It works just as well under or over makeup as it does on bare skin.
I’m counting on this seven-in-one device to revive my long-lost summer glow. It uses electroporation technology to enhance absorption of active ingredients, microcurrent to smooth fine lines, EMS to stimulate deep muscle layers and firm the skin, electric-needle technology to refine pores, sonic vibration to increase circulation, and five colors of LED to reduce inflammation and promote collagen. No wonder so many celebs love it, including Kylie Jenner, Hailey Bieber, and Lisa from Blackpink.
Want in on an editor secret? Swap your bodywash with a shower oil in the winter for soft, velvety skin. Shower oils cushion the skin in rich moisture, keeping rough, bumpy, and scaly skin at bay. This shower oil is no exception.
It’s rich in glycerin, which dermatologists say can work even better than hyaluronic acid for dry skin types. At a whopping 50% concentration, it douses the skin in plumping moisture. And thanks to a silky texture that rinses clean, it doesn’t leave an oily residue behind. Trust me when I say it feels incredibly luxe for a drugstore price.
Don’t sleep on Olay’s bodycare either. Based on the brand’s incredibly popular Super Serum ($30), this bodywash combines five serum-grade ingredients in one formula. There’s jojoba oil, squalane, bakuchiol, collagen peptides, and vitamin E. It feels rich and silky on the skin and leaves a luminous glow on the limbs. (You’d never know my skin hasn’t seen the sun in weeks.) Plus, it envelops my skin in a warm, cozy scent—think vanilla, pistachio, and caramel.
For years, I mourned my sun-kissed skin as winter set in. I simply didn’t trust any self-tanners to deliver natural-looking color without streaks, smudges, or that overwhelming self-tan smell (IYKYK). However, self-tanners have gotten so much better since then, and now I have my go-to formulas. This is one of them. It doesn’t have an orange tone, streaks, or transfer, and it doesn’t smell. It just makes my skin look sun-kissed.
I never shut up about this high-tech Korean serum, and for good reason. The Amazon best seller is chock-full of spicules—tiny, spear-shaped structures that pierce the skin’s surface and enhance product absorption. This “liquid micro-needling,” as it’s called, refines skin texture and minimizes enlarged pores for a seamless, glassy look. The addition of exosomes (high-tech cell messengers) means you’ll see smooth, bright, incredible-looking skin ASAP. It’s an obvious add-to-cart ahead of winter.
Behold: the cleanser I’ve been using on and off for over 15 years. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser is my ride or die because it effectively cleans my skin, removing oil, sweat, and sunscreen, yet it doesn’t strip it. I’d like to call it moisture-maintaining magic, but in reality, it’s thanks to squalane, vitamin E, and avocado oil. Don’t let the oil part scare you, though. It’s never given me a single breakout—just calm, clear, and clean skin. It’s the first product I turn to when my skin starts to spiral from cold air and low humidity.
I’m obviously stocking up on the matching moisturizer, too. I can’t say enough good things about Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream. It’s rich, yet not greasy. It keeps my chronic redness at bay. It even prevents irritation from active ingredients like retinol. It’s a forever staple.
FYI, the sunscreen-infused version is also on sale!
Last but certainly not least on the Kiehl’s front, I’ll be restocking my go-to winter eye cream. It’s infused with avocado oil deeply moisturize and plump the eye area, while and caffeine to de-puffs. If you struggle with dryness or fine lines, trust me, buy this.
I don’t know what it is about fall and winter, but I become low-key obsessed with lip combos. I bring all of my favorite liners and glosses out of retirement, including Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Lip Liner. Per the name, it lasts all day long and doesn’t smudge, fade, or feather after drinking one or two hot lattes. It’s also smooth and hydrating thanks to vitamin E and jojoba oil. Honestly, though, I just love the shades. There are so many to choose from, but the iconic mauve-pink, called Backtalk, is my favorite.
This Korean lip tint looks so good when applied over the aforementioned lip liner. It has a buildable, glossy finish and offers long-lasting moisture with ingredients like ceramides and peptides. It makes my lips look plump and dewy in the midst of chapped-lip season.
The Who What Wear beauty team loves this mascara. The do-it-all formula lengthens, lifts, defines, and volumizes all at once. It’s also waterproof (aka, rain-, snow-, and sleet-proof).
Technically, this is a setting powder, but I exclusively use it as a highlighter and eye shadow. Trust me when I say it gives the most angelic and ethereal finish. Dust it across your cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose, or on your Cupid’s bow, and you’ll know what I mean. Lately, I’ve been applying it to the inner corners of my eyes, adding a swipe of mascara, and heading out the door. It’s that simple, yet it makes my eyes look bright and sparkling.
If you’re like me and you have dry skin, peeling cuticles, and brittle nails in the midst of winter, I highly recommend this hand cream. I apply a thick coat at night, and I wake up with baby-soft hands by morning. It’s all thanks to a trio of shea butter, avocado oil, and sesame seed oil.
