How to Take Care of Your Skin During Winter in Delaware

Ahh, winter. Oversized, cozy knits. Evenings around the fireplace. Snow days (we hope). While there is much to enjoy about the cold season, dewy skin isn’t one of them. Low humidity and indoor heating can weaken skin’s barrier function, causing visible dryness and more prominent signs of aging. Here, we highlight the latest treatments that Delaware experts are using in their own spas and at home to restore hydration, health, and radiance.

The Expert: Brandi Gregge, Mint + Needle

Brandi Gregge, MSN, FNP-BC, aesthetic injector and owner of Mint + Needle (Middletown and Lewes), recommends a Medical Grade Chemical Peel ($250 to $300) to remove dead surface layers and boost cell turnover, resulting in smoother, more radiant skin. “Winter is an ideal time because you have less sun exposure. Regular exfoliation also allows your skin care to be more effective,” she says. Gregge also swears by the Skinwave Hydrating Facial ($250; $199 for members), a medical-grade dermabrasion treatment that promises to deeply cleanse, detoxify, hydrate, plump, and massage. “This therapy provides antioxidant benefits, boosts hydration, and reduces inflammation. It’s gentle enough for sensitive winter skin and helps address dryness while giving the skin a refreshed and glowing appearance.”

The Expert: Lisa Campbell, LC Aesthetics x Houppette

At Houppette (Greenville), NP/aesthetic nurse Lisa Campbell, owner of LC Aesthetics x Houppette, relies on the Glass Facial ($800) for the ultimate glow. The customized treatment delivers hydration, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, Botox, and other antiaging ingredients through 24-karat needles to promote “beautiful glass skin,” Campbell explains. “When skin is so healthy and hydrated, it can’t help but look dewy, delicate, and poreless.” The treatment offers a host of skin benefits with little to no downtime, so it’s just as ideal for pre-event pampering as it is regular self-care.

For lackluster skin, Premier Spa and Laser Center’s (Newark) lead aesthetician Daryn Reynolds recommends the Clear + Brilliant package (four treatments for $1,600), “a gentle, noninvasive, no-downtime fractional laser treatment that brightens dull skin and prevents visible signs of aging,” she explains. For best results, Reynolds recommends a series of four to six treatments. “Clients can expect improved skin tone, smoother texture, and softer, glowing skin.”

To combat dry, dull skin, esthetician Erica Suppa recommends one of two facials at her Greenville-based spa: The Signature Enzyme Facial ($90) is a classic European treatment with a gentle, elevated twist. “It uses enzymatic exfoliation—opposed to a harsh scrub—which sits on skin to break [dead skin] bonds, so they fall away easily, without tugging,” she explains. For an extra-dull complexion, consider the Fresh Faced Ultimate Facial ($130), which uses a dermafile on top of the enzyme treatment for a deeper exfoliation, as well as finishing infusion with sonic technology to deeply hydrate.

“Hydration is the foundation of healthy, radiant skin,” says makeup artist and BBKR Med Spa (Wilmington) founder Kristina Ruggerio. Furthermore, “irritation causes signs of aging.” She swears by the popular Hydrafacial ($195), which deeply cleanses, extracts, and hydrates. “It can be customized with personalized boosters, LED light therapy, and lymphatic drainage to address specific skin concerns. The results are immediate, pain-free, and glowing.” For issues like fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, and skin laxity, Ruggerio suggests the Morpheus8 ($500), which combines microneedling and radiofrequency to stimulate collagen and elastin. “This is perfect for the winter months, as cooler temperatures and less sun exposure give your skin a chance to heal without interruption.”

“Hands down, the best service to bring dehydrated skin back to life is one of our Hydrafacials. This is my go-to treatment when I’m feeling dull and dehydrated. It cleanses, exfoliates, and drives powerful serums and antioxidants back down into the skin and the glow is unbelievable. At Zen Spa Fenwick (Fenwick Island), choose from the Purifying, Detoxifying, and Anti-Aging Hydrafacial options ($260 to $395); hyaluronic acid, customized resurfacing and LED therapy, and the 15% Glysal Peel, respectively, deliver results.

At Home

Most experts agree that routine professional treatments will deliver optimal results for a radiant complexion, but an at-home regimen is equally important. Campbell relies on a gentle cleanser to remove impurities and prep skin for “the essentials,” like vitamin C serum and SPF for daytime, as well as a retinol treatment and hydrating moisturizer before bed. In cold-weather months, Gregge switches to a richer, ceramide-based cream to “lock in hydration and create a protective barrier.” She also uses exfoliating peels one or twice weekly to remove dead skin cells and maintain a healthy glow. “Avoid harsh exfoliants,” she cautions, “as they can irritate already sensitive winter skin.”

Related: Shop These Beauty Products for a Youthful Glow in Delaware