By the time the first hard frost settles over the prairie, our faces can tell. Skin feels tight after washing, cheeks turn pink in the wind, and the balm that felt like plenty in September suddenly isn’t enough.
We don’t start over when winter comes. We use the same routine all year, and we call it the Prairie Ritual: a facial soap, a hydrosol mist, a serum, and a facial balm. In summer, we shared how we use it when the concern is heat and sweat. In winter, the problem is dry air, so we use the same four steps a little differently.
Why Skin Needs Both Water and Oil
When skin feels dry, most of us reach for something richer and stop there. But dry winter skin is usually missing two things: water and oil.
Water is what makes skin feel plump and comfortable. Oil is what keeps that water from escaping into the dry air. A rich balm on bone-dry skin can still leave your face feeling tight underneath, because there wasn’t much water there to begin with.
That’s why the order matters more than the number of products. Each step prepares your skin for the next one: you clean it, add water, add a concentrated layer of oils, and then moisturize and nourish.
Step 1: Cleanse with a facial soap
Winter skin does better with a cleanser that doesn’t leave it feeling stripped. We make our facial bars with pasture-raised pork tallow using the cold-process method, which leaves the skin comfortable after washing.
Ashwood is the clarifying one. Activated charcoal draws impurities out of pores, organic frankincense calms the skin, and jojoba and castor oils keep it from drying out. It’s the better choice for oily or breakout-prone skin.
Clay & Blush is softer and slightly exfoliating. Pink kaolin clay lifts away dullness, and organic rosehip and castor oils soften skin as it cleanses. It smells of rosemary, bergamot, and lavender. It suits normal to dry skin and anyone who wants a brighter-looking complexion.
Use lukewarm water, not hot.
Step 2: Mist with a hydrosol
A hydrosol is the aromatic water made when fresh plants are distilled, and it carries a gentle dose of each plant’s benefits. Misting right after cleansing rehydrates your skin and rebalances it after washing. That layer of water also helps your serum and balm absorb deeper into the skin, so they work better than they would on dry skin. We explain it more in What Is a Hydrosol.
Lemon Balm is a soothing mist that suits all skin types, and it’s especially good for dry, sensitive, or red skin.
Spearmint is a clarifying mist for oily and blemish-prone skin. In warmer months it also works as a cooling body spray.
Goldenrod is the seasonal mist we make for mature skin.
Step 3: Press in a serum
Our two serums are oil-based, and we made them to complement each other.
First Light is the morning serum. Lightweight oils like meadowfoam, squalane, jojoba, and prickly pear absorb quickly and support hydration. Sea buckthorn CO2 and coenzyme Q10 add antioxidant protection, and frankincense and carrot seed essential oils round it out.
Moonlit Rest is for the evening. It blends jojoba, squalane, plum kernel oil, bakuchiol, and rosehip CO2 to support skin overnight while staying gentle. Blue tansy and chamomile help calm redness and sensitivity.
A few drops pressed into your face and neck is plenty. We cover how the two work in more depth in Introducing Facial Serums.
Step 4: Seal with a facial balm
The balm is the last step because it locks in everything underneath. This is also where you can adjust the routine to your skin, which is why we make three. Warm a small amount between your fingertips and press it into your face and neck, in the morning and the evening.
Meadow Glow is for all skin types and supports a brighter, more even-looking complexion. It’s made with pork tallow and organic meadowfoam oil infused with wild strawberry leaf, violet, and anise hyssop.
Harmony is for oily, sensitive, or blemish-prone skin. Organic hempseed oil and beeswax keep it light, and dandelion, bee balm, and yarrow are infused into it. It’s finished with blue tansy essential oil.
Foraged Grace is a whipped balm for dry or mature skin. Elderflower, echinacea, and goldenrod are infused in rosehip and argan oils, and it’s finished with helichrysum essential oil.
If you want to know how to choose between them or why we switch with the seasons, read Why I Don’t Use the Same Facial Balm All Year.
Once a Week: Gentle Exfoliation
Dry, flaky patches can make it harder for your serum and balm to do their job. Once a week, after cleansing, mix about a teaspoon of our Wildflower Exfoliant with a little water or hydrosol into a smooth paste. Massage it in gently, or leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes as a mask, then rinse and follow with the rest of your ritual. In winter, once a week is plenty.
When to use what
In the morning: cleanse, mist, First Light, then your balm. In the evening: cleanse, mist, Moonlit Rest, then your balm. Winter skin often wants a slightly more generous layer of balm at night, and you can use less during the day.
The Three Prairie Ritual Sets
Each set contains all four steps, matched to a skin type, with both serums included. Every set also comes with a Meadowlark Made branded tote, while supplies last, with one tote per customer.
Radiance Prairie Ritual: for dull or uneven-looking skin
Includes: Clay & Blush facial soap, Lemon Balm Hydrosol Mist, First Light and Moonlit Rest serums, and Meadow Glow facial balm.
A good fit for all skin types, especially if your main concern is skin that looks tired after months indoors.
Harmony Prairie Ritual: for oily, sensitive, or blemish-prone skin
Includes: Ashwood facial soap, Spearmint Hydrosol Mist, First Light and Moonlit Rest serums, and Harmony facial balm.
Built on the idea that oily skin still needs nourishment, especially in winter. If breakouts are your main concern, Does Tallow Cause Acne or Clog Pores? answers the question we hear most.
Grace Prairie Ritual: for dry or mature skin
Includes: Clay & Blush facial soap, Goldenrod Hydrosol Mist, First Light and Moonlit Rest serums, and Foraged Grace whipped facial balm.
The richest of the three, for skin that runs dry or is maturing and needs the most support this time of year.
Any of these sets also makes a thoughtful gift. If you’re giving one, our holiday gift guide explains how to choose.
A few minutes, twice a day, adds up over a long winter. For more ways to care for your skin head to toe this season, read Winter Skin Wisdom from the Prairie.
