Tips & Tricks To Keep Your Skin Healthy All Winter Long
By: Carolina Malis
Temperatures are dropping by the day. Air gets colder and dryer, days get shorter, and with it, our skin may or may not lose its status quo. If your usually obedient complexion suddenly shows symptoms of rebellion —like dullness, dryness, or irritation— it may be time to update your skincare routine to make it suitable for the new season.
But fear not! There are dozens of things you can do to adjust your routine to help your skin transition to winter while staying calm, hydrated, and healthy.
Reach for a calming cleanser
Cleansing is the door to a healthy complexion, so when going for it in times of cold weather, try to reach for a formula that’s gentle and doesn’t strip away the necessary oils your skin needs to stay moisturized. Cleansing balms, rich cleansing oils, and creams-like textures are ideal for winter, to clean the day away from your skin while hydrating your skin.
Don’t be afraid of a thicker moisturizer
Gel moisturizers feel great on the skin, we won’t fight you on that. But winter and all that comes with it calls for creamier formulas that won’t only moisturize but also lock in hydration, so it lasts throughout the day. Try to add highly hydrating formulas to your routine in the form of rich creams or lotions featuring hydration heroes such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and squalane to draw water into the skin, repair its protective barrier, and help decrease the loss of moisture into the environment over time.
Time to bring out the masks
During summer, we use masks mostly to refresh our skin or balance oil production. Still, during winter, it’s ideal to opt for hydrating cream formulas or nourishing sheet masks featuring emollients besides highly hydrating ingredients, such as ceramides, vitamin E, Primrose Oil, and rice ferment filtrate.
Make humidifiers your best friends
While skincare products are essential to keep skin hydrated, supplying the air around us with a moisture boost to keep humidity levels between 40-60% can be a game changer. Humidifiers can make up for the dry air that comes with winter and the even dryer air that surrounds us indoors when heaters are on. Having one —or a few— around you can help reduce the possibility of dry skin by increasing air when temperatures keep getting rid of it.
Exfoliation is a must
There’s a chance your skin feels tighter or not as strong after being exposed to cold temperatures and dry air on a rolling basis, but that’s no reason to skimp on exfoliation. Keeping exfoliation as part of your routine during winter will help unclog your pores and eliminate dead skin cells that may be lying around, making your dry skin even drier.
Additionally, once your pores are clear, it’s easier for all your skincare products to be absorbed into your skin. If you’re afraid exfoliation may irritate, go for a formula milder than what you’d use in the summer. Products with ingredients such as Bakuchiol and PHAs can greatly help without the risk of irritation.
SPF is a year-round commitment
We’ve said it a million times, and we’ll probably say it a million more: sun protection is necessary all year long, no matter the weather. Clouds, rain, thunder, snow, and wind can’t protect your skin from the sun’s UV rays and their effects on your skin. UV radiation is to blame for the accumulative harm that leads to skin cancer, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and premature skin aging, so keeping your SPF handy and reapplying it throughout the day is a must, even on the coldest, cloudiest days.
Boiling-hot showers are a no-no
You may be tempted to take a pipping-hot shower after a cold day, but hot water can draw away the natural oils your skin needs to stay healthy and hydrated. That’s why lukewarm water should always be your temperature of choice, as hot showers can leave your skin more liable to drying out, cracking, and flaking.