From Angela, founder of Cult of Reason and a principal esthetician of over 20 years:
As I write this, it’s a chilly, gray day here in the northern hemisphere, and my heater is working overtime to keep my toes warm. But with cozy heat comes dehydrated skin, noses, and eyes. Let’s talk about how to shield your skin from dryness with an effective morning skincare routine.
Combination skin can be a challenge. Sometimes it’s too oily for heavy moisturizers, but stubbornly dry patches still demand extra care. That’s where product layering and cycling come in—two methods estheticians have used for years but are now trending thanks to social media. If you have combination skin, layering and cycling products is the best way to keep your skin balanced without overwhelming it. And don’t worry—this doesn’t mean using a million products at once.
What is Product Layering and Cycling?
Product layering involves applying hydrating serums (usually a lightweight gel) first, followed by an oil or cream to lock in the moisture. This two-step process addresses both water content and oil needs for effective hydration without clogging pores.
Product cycling, on the other hand, is about listening to your skin’s needs and choosing products accordingly. Is it an extra dry day? Add more hydration. Are you dealing with hormonal breakouts? Bring out the targeted treatments. It can also follow a time-of-the-month schedule if you know your skin’s patterns, such as anticipating breakouts before your period.
My Winter Morning Routine
Here’s my personal morning routine for keeping combination skin healthy and hydrated during the colder months:
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Start with a gentle cleanse. Mornings only require removing oxidized oils from overnight. Use a gentle gel cleanser (new CoR product coming soon!)—no exfoliation here. Save that step for the evening. If I’m cycling for hormonal breakouts, I may add a salicylic acid toner just on problem areas after cleansing.
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Hydrate while skin is damp. After patting my skin dry, but while it’s still slightly damp, I apply Cult of Reason Quench Hydrating Serum, part 1 of The Duo. This locks in water content, even around the delicate eye area, to plump the skin and calm inflammation. Quench’s niacinamide regulates oil, while polysaccharides and licorice root bind water and reduce redness. Bonus: fermented radish root fortifies the skin microbiome.
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Seal it with an oil. Next, I use Cult of Reason Shield Skin Nutrition Oil, part 2 of The Duo, a lightweight oil specifically designed for combination skin. It’s packed with omega fatty acids and stable vitamin C to nourish and protect without clogging pores. I press a few drops into the driest parts of my face (cheeks and jawline) first, then finish with my T-zone. The oil seals in hydration, slowing transepidermal water loss (TEWL), while healing ingredients like rosehip seed and sea buckthorn oil provide extra care.
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Finish with SPF. Sunscreen is the last step before makeup. I prefer lightweight SPFs like Suntegrity Serum SPF 50, which protects without feeling heavy. (Cult of Reason doesn’t have a sunscreen yet, but we’re big fans of Suntegrity’s line!)
For drier skin types, you could add a thicker cream (before sunscreen if in the morning) as a final layer, but for combination skin, this routine strikes the right balance.
Why This Routine Works
This routine isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what works. By layering hydration and sealing it in with oil, you address both water content and moisture needs without clogging pores. And by cycling products, you respond to your skin’s daily changes, giving it what it needs, when it needs it.
Mornings are for protection, evenings are for renewal (more on that in the next newsletter). Feel free to share this post with friends who want expert skincare tips—and remind them they can get 20% off their first Cult of Reason purchase when they sign up. Here’s to healthy, radiant skin all winter long!
TLDR: Angela, the founder of Cult of Reason and principal esthetician, says that skin needs both water and oil in varying amounts to remain healthy throughout all seasons. She uses Quench on damp skin after cleansing for the water content and then seals it in with Shield oil for protection, both by Cult of Reason. Keep It Simple, Sisters.