As the weather gets colder, there is less humidity, the skin becomes drier, and the skin’s natural barrier can become compromised. Your winter skin care regimen should be more focused on restoring moisture than during any other time of the year. Below are some winter skin tips to keep your skin soft and supple in the cold weather.
1) Wear lip balm
Lips can dry out in windy weather making lip protection a must. Choose a lip balm with sunscreen for extra protection from the sun.
2) Avoid long hot showers
Although long showers are tempting in the winter, they should be avoided. This is because long hot showers can strip the skin of its natural moisture. It is best to take short warm showers. After the shower, pat dry (avoid aggressive rubbing or scrubbing) and then immediately apply a moisturizer to lock in the moisture. For dry winter skin, occlusive moisturizers that contain ingredients like petrolatum are very effective for the body. Petrolatum is typically too heavy for the face. Instead, look for ceramides in your facial moisturizer. They are not as heavy as petrolatum based products and are excellent at restoring the skins’ natural barrier.
3) Use a hydrating mask weekly to restore moisture
In the winter, gentle exfoliation is okay but you may consider switching to a hydrating mask (instead of an exfoliating mask) to combat dry skin and flaking which is very common in the winter months.
5) Use hand cream several times a day
Daily use of a hand cream is essential to prevent dry cracked skin in the winter. Keep it in your purse and reapply after hand washing and before putting on gloves in cold weather. Heavy moisturizers with petrolatum are often required for severe dry skin on the hands. Glycerin has a smooth silky feel and is also one of my favorite ingredients in hand creams.
6) Wear sunscreen with an antioxidant daily
The skin on the face is more vulnerable to environmental damage in the winter due to the damaging combination of wind and sun. Also you may not realize that, even if it is not sunny, sunscreen is just as important because the sun’s harmful rays can penetrate the clouds. Choose a sunscreen with an antioxidant to provide the best defense against the elements. Using a daily hydrating lotion with SPF can be a simple way to work sunscreen into your daily routine. These simple tricks will keep your winter skin tone even and radiant.
