PRESS RESET

Winter skin doesn't need more products - it needs smarter ones! Our beauty experts explain why paring back can move your complexion forward

- REPORT: JULIA MCEWEN

January has long been synonymous with fresh starts – a new diary, cleaner eating, healthier habits. Now, that same reset mentality is shaping the way we approach skin care. Increasingly, celebrities are embracing a pared-back beauty philosophy, proving that even with access to every treatment and product imaginable, restraint can be the ultimate luxury.

Canada’s own Pamela Anderson has spoken openly about her preference for a pared-back routine. “My skin’s always been sensitive,” she has said. “But over time, it’s become more reactive. I’ve found that simplicity is so important.”

Victoria Beckham has echoed that sentiment, describing her regimen as highly edited: cleanser, a targeted treatment, moisturizer and SPF. The emphasis isn’t on additional products – it’s on consistency.

That logic becomes especially relevant in winter. Cold air, indoor heating and harsh winds chip away at the skin barrier, making it more reactive and slower to recover. Layer on an overzealous routine packed with exfoliants, retinoids and every trending serum du jour and suddenly your complexion isn’t just dry – it’s angry.

“People come in using 10 or 15 different products because they've seen them on social media,” says Dr. Muneeb Shah, a Miami-based dermatologist (better known as @Doctorly) who has more than 20 million combined followers across social platforms. “But most of the time, these routines don’t make sense for their skin. When irritation hits, I tell them to stop everything and reset.”