Baby, it’s cold outside. As the winter solstice signals change and temperatures drop, maintaining healthy, glowing skin requires enhanced attention and care. Neora president and co-founder Amber Olson Rourke recently shared expert insights on protecting and nourishing skin during the chillier months, emphasizing the importance of adapting skincare routines to meet changing environmental demands.
“In winter, it’s all about being gentle on our skin,” says Olson Rourke, highlighting the importance of a delicate plan during colder times. This philosophy guides Neora’s winter skin care recommendations, focusing on protection and hydration rather than aggressive treatments.
Key Winter Skin Care Strategies
While exfoliation remains important for healthy skin, Olson Rourke advises, “You’ll want to use something that has a little bit of exfoliation but is also gentle.” Her recommendation includes using silicone scrubbers for removing dirt, oil, and makeup, and limiting exfoliation to once or twice weekly to maintain the skin’s natural protective barrier.
“Our skin is good at its job, so it’s our job to not damage it,” Olson Rourke emphasizes. She warns against over-exfoliation and harsh acids that can disrupt the skin’s microbiome and lead to drying — concerns that become particularly relevant during winter.
For winter skincare success, Amber Olson Rourke recommends choosing moisturizers with multiple hydrating ingredients designed to penetrate several layers of skin. This multilayered method ensures comprehensive hydration when the skin needs it most.
The transition to colder weather requires special attention to skincare. As Olson Rourke notes, this season presents an ideal opportunity to replenish and revitalize skin from summer sun damage while preparing for winter’s challenges. Extra hydration and gentler exfoliation become crucial for preventing dry, flaky skin and protecting against environmental stressors.
Neora’s Essential Winter Skin Guidelines
What’s the fundamental rule for winter skin care success? According to Olson Rourke, it’s about letting skin do its job while supporting it with clean products that deliver gentle yet effective results. This balanced approach helps maintain healthy, hydrated, glowing skin throughout the seasonal changes.
For those looking to maintain radiant skin during colder months, Neora emphasizes working with the skin’s natural functions rather than against them.
Here are the five top tips:
- Choose gentle cleansers without harsh surfactants or artificial fragrances.
- Limit exfoliation to once or twice weekly.
- Focus on multilayer hydration.
- Avoid products with harsh acids.
- Protect the skin’s natural barrier.
The Genesis of Neora
The story of Neora’s thoughtful take on skin care began in a med spa, where Amber Olson Rourke witnessed firsthand how harsh treatments affected her clients. As she explains, “They wanted the results, they’d have these harsh effects, side effects. And the problem is they knew that really good, well-performing natural products can yield the same results. It just takes time.”
This observation, combined with the forward-thinking approach to health and wellness of her father, founder and CEO Jeff Olson, sparked what would become Neora’s founding philosophy. The company started with a plan sketched on the back of a napkin, born from the belief that effective skin care shouldn’t come at the cost of skin health.
Neora’s development process exemplifies this commitment to gentle effectiveness. “We take our time with products, we take our time with the development, and that’s why we don’t have 50 products in our 12 years,” Olson Rourke shares. This measured concept allows Neora to create products that stand the test of time while delivering real results.
A prime example of this dedication is their signature ingredient SIG-1273, named for the number of iterations it took to perfect the formula. This level of persistence in getting it right, rather than rushing to market, demonstrates Neora’s unwavering commitment to creating products that truly work.
The company’s focus on natural ingredients extends beyond basic formulation. For instance, Neora opts for marine collagen over bovine collagen despite it being “more expensive, harder to get” because it adheres to stricter guidelines and considers marine welfare. This commitment to quality and sustainability might impact short-term profits, but it aligns with Neora’s vision of skin care that’s good for both people and the planet in the long run.
