Winter Skin Care in Lubbock: What Our Estheticians Change When It Turns Cold
Winter skin care in Lubbock usually starts becoming obvious when your skin suddenly feels tight, and not in a good way. It is that uncomfortable, dry tightness where your face feels like it needs something immediately. Then come the rough patches, pinkness, and probably the worst part of all: chapped lips.
When I asked four of our estheticians what they notice first when the weather turns cold, every one of them came back to the same thing: dryness.
This is the start of Round 2 of my Esti Roundtable series. In Round 1, I asked our team what they look for in your skincare routine. This time, I am getting into what changes when West Texas winter shows up, from richer moisturizers and lip care to the treatments that make more sense this time of year.
What Cold Weather Does to Skin in Lubbock
Victoria Henry, Medical Esthetician and Laser Tech, says one of the first things she notices is skin becoming drier, more easily irritated, slightly pink and rougher in texture.
Sheena Klos, Founder and CIDESCO Certified Master Medical Esthetician, points out that indoor heat is the one people forget about. You can protect your face from wind and dust outside, but once the thermostat goes up, you are sitting in that dry heated air for hours.
One simple fix at home is a humidifier. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using one to add moisture back into the air.
Trade Up to a Richer Moisturizer at Night
A thicker cream at night is a good habit year-round, and winter is when it matters most. When our estheticians say “richer,” they mean a heavier, thicker texture that helps hold moisture in without leaving your face greasy.
Sheena says you may need a richer moisturizer in winter than you use during the summer, and Posey Pence, Medical Esthetician and Laser Tech, recommends moving to a thicker moisturizer at night when the weather changes.
A few options we carry at The Spa: SkinBetter Science Trio Rebalancing Moisture Treatment is the lighter of the two Trio options, and Trio Luxe Moisture Treatment is the richer choice for drier skin. Victoria likes pairing Dr. Schrammek Skin Elixier with a heavier moisturizer for extra hydration.
The American Academy of Dermatology agrees that creams and ointments hold moisture better than lotions when skin is very dry. It also recommends applying moisturizer while your skin is still damp and using warm water instead of hot in the shower.
Lips, Ears and Hands Get Forgotten
At The Spa, we see people take good care of their face while other areas get skipped because they were never part of the routine.
Hands are a big one, since we use them all day long. We also offer keratin hand treatments as an add-on if yours need extra attention during an appointment.
Lips are the other obvious winter problem. If you have had a facial with us, you probably know the “amazing lip stuff” that goes on at the end. That is the IMAGE ORMEDIC lip product, and we carry it in retail too.
Posey recommends bringing your face products down the neck, over the ears, and using whatever is left on the backs of your hands. The neck and décolletage count too.
Sun protection belongs in that habit as well. The Skin Cancer Foundation lists the ears, lips and tops of the hands among the spots people most often miss with sunscreen. If you are going outside, even in winter, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends a lip balm with SPF 30 or higher.
The Winter Myth: “I Don’t Need Sunscreen When It’s Cold”
Just because you cannot feel your skin baking under the summer sun does not mean UV exposure disappears when it gets cold.
Brayden Mitchell, Medical Esthetician, says this is one of the winter myths she hears all the time. Her advice is simple: SPF should still be a daily essential no matter the season.
The Skin Cancer Foundation notes that UV rays can still damage your skin’s DNA within just a few minutes in the colder months, and it recommends making sunscreen a daily habit all year. Our West Texas sunscreen guide has more on why it matters here.
Why Winter Is Peel and Laser Season in Lubbock
Winter is prime time for some of our stronger in-spa treatments because most of us spend a lot less time outside. Three of the four estheticians I asked brought up peels or lasers.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons points to the same reason: shorter, colder days make it easier to avoid the sun while skin recovers. Freshly treated skin is more sensitive to UV, and Mayo Clinic notes that new sun damage after laser resurfacing can reverse your results.
Sheena’s take: “Up the exfoliation!” She calls winter “the perfect time to be aggressive with retinols and peels for real skin correction.” How far she goes depends on each client’s skin type, history and goals.
That does not mean going home and getting aggressive with every exfoliant and retinol you own. Home exfoliation is maintenance between visits. If you use AHA products at home, the FDA says they can make skin more sensitive to the sun, so protection matters while you use them and for a week after.
Victoria recommends IPL and PiQo4 when they fit, along with the Herbal Green Peel Classic as an alternative to a chemical peel. Treatment choice still depends on the person. IPL is not appropriate for darker skin tones, and melasma needs its own treatment plan.
Tattoo removal and other laser treatments that need sun avoidance while skin heals fit well in winter, too. Our fall and winter treatment timing guide breaks down how long each one takes.
What Our Estheticians Would Gift This Season
Hydration was the theme when I asked our estheticians what they would gift this winter. Dr. Schrammek Skin Elixier was named by three of the four, and I did not tell them what to choose. Dr. Schrammek describes it as a beauty fluid for very dry, demanding skin, which makes it an easy winter pick. Brayden’s pick was SkinBetter Science Trio Luxe Moisture Treatment, a richer moisturizer for skin that needs more hydration.
I personally love SkinBetter Science Hydration Boosting Cream too.
For something smaller, the IMAGE ORMEDIC lip product is an easy stocking stuffer, and a good exfoliating polish works for someone who already has hydration covered.
Common Questions About Winter Skin Care in Lubbock
Should I exfoliate less in winter?
Not necessarily. At home, keep exfoliation gentle and regular. Save the more aggressive correction for the treatment room, where your esthetician can watch how your skin reacts.
Do I still need SPF if I’m inside most of the day?
Yes. Quick drives and errands during the day add up, which is why Brayden recommends SPF every day, every season.
Small changes make a big difference in how your skin handles winter: a richer moisturizer at night, SPF even when it is cold, and a little more attention to the areas that usually get skipped. Winter is also the season to plan the peels and lasers that are harder to work around in summer.
Sources
Book your consultation or call (806) 701-5840.
The Spa by Sheena
8713 Milwaukee Ave Suite 200
Lubbock, TX 79424
By Chelsey Zahn,
Marketing & Analytics
The Spa by Sheena is a Med Spa serving Lubbock and West Texas. Clinical treatments are performed under the supervision of our medical director by our licensed team.
