The skiing skincare strategy.

Dispatching from the slopes of Telluride where the sun is praying for my downfall.

Feb 05, 2025

This week’s newsletter is subliminally sponsored by ‘S’ words. Skiing. Snow. Sun. SPF. I’m lucky to be spending the week cruising down the slopes, and the slight sacrifice I’m making for that touch of luck is my skin.

My skin is a creature of habit – she likes to be in one place, on a schedule, doing the same things morning and night. And we’re not … doing that this week.

I’m not special in this. Generally, our skin learns to “like” the climates and environments we live in. The water we wash our faces and shower and brush our teeth with; the foods we tend to consume; the places we go on a weekly basis … you get where this is going. Anytime I’m traveling and out of routine, my strategy is always to hydrate, protect and repair. Here’s what I’m using (and a little bit of why) while skiing this week, in very sunny conditions.

AM –
1. Face Reality Barrier Balance Creamy Cleanser - my go-to cleanser when I’m home and away because it cleans without stripping the barrier. It’s hydrating and has multiple soothing ingredients like allantoin and centella asiatica extract. A VIP whenever I know my skin needs reassurance it will all be OK.

2. Prequel Multi-quench Hydration Serum - a great hydrator to apply right after cleansing. This serum is formulated with polyglutamic acid, which can help your skin increase its natural moisturizing factor. In a drier climate, I’ll take every moisture boost I can get.

3. SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic - a high-potency vitamin C and E serum to protect from UVA and UVB rays. This specific formula can remain effective up to 72 hours once absorbed, so I’ll only apply it every 2-3 days, especially when my skin is in a compromised state.

4. Face Reality Clearderma Moisturizer - on a normal day, I don’t feel the need to add this layer of moisture, but again, we’re out of routine. This formula is lightweight enough to layer over and under other products, and has some soothing ingredients with additional antioxidant support.

5. Prequel Skin Utility Ointment - you thought I was kidding about the hydration strategy but this is a 3-step process, babe. For very specific times where I feel like my barrier needs help locking in moisture, I like an occlusive layer to seal that hydration in. I personally really like how Prequel’s ointment feels on my skin (not too sticky), and under SPF.

6. SPF - there are *so many* SPF options I like and regularly use – it really is dealer’s choice. But this is thee most important daytime step for me this week between the gorgeous Colorado sun, how it’s reflecting off the snow, and skiing on said snow all day. Once I’ve given the Prequel ointment (and other steps) a bit to dry down, I’m applying the Beauty of Joseon Rice + Probiotics SPF. On the slopes, I reapply every 60-80 minutes using THANK YOU FARMER’s Silky Calming Sun Stick.

Now we move into the nighttime routine, where we’re attempting to restore after daytime “damage.”

PM –

1. Prequel Pre-cleanse Nourishing Oil Cleanser - clearly I have a crush on Prequel. I’m such a stan for double cleansing and starting with an oil cleanse; this stuff is a dream for removing “the day.”

2. *round 2 of the Face Reality Barrier Balance Creamy Cleanser

3. Prequel Hypochlorous Acid - If ‘hyaluronic acid’ was the HA-acronym it girl of 2023, hypochlorous acid took the crown in 2024. We tend to love it for it’s soothing antibacterial, anti-inflammatory qualities and if I’m choosing my fighter, it’s Prequel. The ultra fine mist, affordability, accessibility and formulation wins me over. (A note about hypochlorous acid: make sure you spray onto completely dry skin, and give it time to completely dry down before continuing with other skincare.)

4. *round 2 of the Prequel Multi-quench Hydration Serum

5. Face Reality Cran-peptide Cream - a long-standing fan favorite for a reason, this stuff feels so rich on the skin. The combo of antioxidants and peptides are a dream for helping an impaired barrier heal.

Alright, time to get back to the slopes.