Wind, snow, and rain that come with winter strip the skin of its moisture content. The low humidity and cold can dry your skin causing it to crack. The dryness on the skin can make it flake, itch, and irritable taking off that radiant look.
You are more likely to take a hot bath or shower during the winter, but doing so is not good for your skin. Wash in lukewarm water instead as it will not strip off necessary oils from your skin. Use some essential oils like chamomile, rosemary, and jasmine in your bath water to revitalize and moisturize the skin.
Read the tips below on how to help keep your skin remain in tip-top condition when that harsh winter season comes knocking.
Change Your Cleanser
The cleanser you use during the summer may not be the best option for the winter. Some cleansers can extremely dry your skin, leaving it vulnerable to damage by the harsh conditions. Winter conditions are worse on those with dry skin, so pick a cleanser with allantoin and glycerin as they deeply moisturize and soften skin.
Immediately after cleansing, apply the best face moisturizer and hydrating toner for sealing in the moisture. Leaving the skin bare for some time after the cleanser can dehydrate the skin and increase dryness. Avoid foam-based face washes and instead choose those whose contents lessen water loss, help restore lipids, and are free from irritants and perfumes.
Harsh cleansers strip off moisture from the skin, making it lose elasticity. The skin then becomes susceptible to wrinkles and breakouts. Look for a face wash that will balance your skin’s pH, and with a softening and hydrating formula.
Hydrate the Skin in and Out
Since a moisturizer takes care of the outer skin, you need to moisturize from the inside too. You are more likely to drink hot drinks such as coffee and tea in the winter, but this can dehydrate your skin more. Drinking plenty of water will help hydrate the skin. Drink some warm water with lemon to hydrate and refresh.
Eat the right foods with high water content in them, such as vegetables like celery, carrots, cucumbers; and fruits such as apples, oranges, and watermelons. Flaxseed and fatty fish will also help keep the skin smooth and supple. For the production of elastin and collagen, eat foods rich in zinc and vitamin C.
Applying face masks at home is another excellent way to hydrate the skin. Use ingredients that moisturize your skin and choose natural ones as they are less likely to irritate the skin. Avocado, aloe, yogurt, almond oils, honey, jojoba, and olive oils are some of the ingredients you can use for the masks.
Moisturize the Skin
Sensitive, dry, oily, normal, or combination skin types; all of them need special care during the winter. For every skin type, there’s a moisturizer designed to take care of it, so ensure you choose the right one. Read the labels carefully to avoid buying creams with unnecessary colors, fragrances, or ingredients that can irritate the skin.
For best effects, moisturize the skin right after bathing as the damp skin helps seal in the moisture. During the cold season, avoid petroleum-based moisturizers as they dry the skin faster. Be careful to choose the right moisturizer for dry skin as it needs more attention during this season.
Choose an oil-based over a water-based moisturizer as it will retain the moisture in your skin for longer. Moisturize during the day as well as at night, especially on the feet, hands, knees, and elbows as these parts have thin skin. Deep moisturize them and put on cotton socks and gloves to help seal in the moisture until morning.
Exfoliate Your Skin
You may overlook the need to exfoliate the skin during the winter, but it’s beneficial. Exfoliation removes the build-up of dead cells that hinder moisture from penetrating the skin. Exfoliate the hands, face, and lips gently.
Apply a moisturizer right after exfoliating to maintain the softness. You can also exfoliate your full body to keep the skin supple. Use a gentle scrub and apply it in circular motions throughout the body and rinse it off.
During exfoliation, don’t forget the cuticles and lips as they tend to dry and become scaly in the winter. To soften the lips, use a dry toothbrush and gently remove the scales and apply vitamin E oil on the lips. To care for the cuticles, soak them in olive oil for ten minutes at least twice a week.
Protect the Skin
Wear scarves and gloves to protect the skin from the harsh weather conditions. Winter sun also requires you to apply sunscreen as it has just as damaging effects as the summer sun. Apply it even on those heavily cloudy days as the harmful sun’s rays can still penetrate the clouds and harm your skin.
Consider having a humidifier in the house to help prevent your skin from drying as the heaters tend to dry the air. Regulate the heat from the heating systems as higher heat indoors lessens the moisture in the air. If there’s no humidifier, put a container of water on radiators to add moisture into the air.
Avoid irritants and allergens, especially if your skin has dermatitis, eczema, or psoriasis. Wearing fabrics such as wool can irritate the skin, and use detergents with fewer chemicals to wash your clothes.
Wrap Up
Flaking, dryness, and tightness are bound to occur on your skin during the winter, but with the right skincare regimen, it will still glow and look beautiful. For water routines, like washing hands or bathing, take up the shortest amount of time possible as water has drying effects that upset the skin’s pH balance. Instead of hot water, rinse off with cold water as it will help constrict the pores, moisturizing the skin as it locks in natural oils. There are also great skin care products out there to assist with your routine
Ensure you keep dry during the winter since getting wet can cause the skin to be irritable and itchy. Wear long-sleeved tops, long pants, scarves, and gloves to keep the cold and dry air off the skin. If you have severe skin problems, these can worsen during winter, so consider seeing a dermatologist for advice.
