Ten Winter Skincare Tips
Indulging in hot cocoa by the fire. Rewatching holiday classics during snowfalls. Cozying up with a good book and knitted blanket. We may enjoy the comforting moments winter brings, but your skin isn’t always rooting for what comes with the colder months. Between chilling winds and low humidity, your skin requires extra TLC to keep it soft and supple from head to toe during this time of year. The glowing, good news is that we’ve curated a simple yet effective list of our favourite ten winter skincare tips for comfortably hydrated skin!
1. Switch to a Hydrating Moisturizer
The cold, dry air strips the skin of its natural moisture. Opting for a thicker moisturizer will help lock in moisture and keep skin hydrated. Incorporating emollient-based moisturizers are key as they can soothe irritated, flaky skin, attract moisture, and prevent further moisture loss. Emollient-based moisturizers are also great for those who face skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis, which tend to worsen during the winter.
2. Incorporate Mild Exfoliation
Skin during this time of year is already susceptible to irritation and redness. As much as you may want to slough away at dry, flaky skin, it’s best to keep exfoliation both minimal and gentle. If your skin is already dry, limit your scrubbing to twice if not once a week. Swap out your more abrasive, physical exfoliants for a chemical exfoliant that contains AHAs and BHAs to gently dissolve dead skin cells!
3. Layer Hydration with Oils
Clothing isn’t the only thing we should layer during the winter. Adding a nourishing oil to your routine can work wonders for dehydrated skin! Not only do they nourish and soothe, but oils also help form a protective barrier to shield skin from harsh weather and other environmental pollutants. Whether you incorporate an oil into your moisturizer or work it into the skin on its own, reparative oils make the perfect addition to any winter skincare routine. And if you’re acne-prone, have no fear! Opt. for an oil that is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and non-comedogenic.
4. Avoid Steamy Showers
This may be a winter skincare tip many want to look past, but it’s one of the most important. Steamy showers after a long, frigid day always sound enticing but skin thinks otherwise. Hot shower temperatures should be avoided all year round, but doing so during the colder months is key, as the heat strips both your face and body of its natural oils. Keep your water temperatures lukewarm and your scrubbing time short! You can also incorporate nourishing body products that contain soothing ingredients such as shea butter, oatmeal, and rice milk for an extra hint of hydration.
5. Purchase a Humidifier
You know what they say: if you can’t enjoy humidity outdoors, bring it into the comfort of your own home. When the colder weather approaches, keeping your home toasty is often the goal. But non-stop indoor heating can dry out the air, leading to dehydrated skin. Humidifiers are a great way to restore lost moisture in the air and keep your skin glowing all winter. It’s also important to note that humidifiers should be elevated and not placed on the ground, as this allows for their mist to mix into the natural air!
6. Prioritize Lip and Hand Care
When we say that skin can become dehydrated during this time of year, we mean all skin. Many tend to overlook areas such as the lips and hands, but they too can experience the wrath of winter weather. Keep a nourishing lip balm or oil and hand cream nearby and frequently re-apply throughout the day to prevent any chapping or bleeding.
7. Use Nourishing Overnight Treatments
While you sleep, skin goes into “repair mode,” recovering from the day’s environmental stressors. While you catch some z’s, your skin is hard at work producing vital skin proteins such as collagen and elastin, improving skin barrier function, increasing blood flow, replacing damaged cells with new, healthy ones, and more! This is why this time of day is crucial for any nourishing products. Incorporating overnight treatments into your winter skincare routine will seal in moisture, helping to prevent dryness and flaking. Opt. for treatments that contain soothing ingredients such as aloe vera or chamomile and restorative ingredients like vitamin C and retinol for the ultimate healthy glow.
8. Apply Daily SPF
Another crucial winter skincare tip to remember is applying daily SPF. Even though the sun’s rays are less intense during this time of year doesn’t mean they aren’t lurking behind an overcast sky. In fact, UVA and UVB rays can reflect off surfaces such as snow and ice. Chilling, we know. Sun exposure, regardless of the time of year, can lead to sunspots, wrinkles, and fine lines and increase your risk of developing skin diseases and cancers. And if you’re one to frequent the slopes for winter skiing and/or snowboarding, keep in mind that the higher you are, the closer you are to harmful UV rays!
9. Eat Skin-Loving Foods
Remember: beauty starts from within. Nourishing your body from the inside out is important all-year round, but it’s even more important during the winter. The colder temperatures naturally put more strain on your body so ensuring that you’re fueling yourself with nutrient-rich and skin-loving foods is key. Incorporating foods that are high in healthy fats such as nuts, avocados, and certain fish (salmon, cod, and tuna are all rich in omega-3s) and consuming fruits and vegetables high in citrus and fiber content, help to boost immunity, provide steady energy levels throughout the day, maintain a proper-functioning digestive system, and more!
10. Remember to Stay Active
As much as you may want to hibernate like a bear in the winter, moving your body during this time of year can do wonders not only for your physical health, but your mental health, too. Many struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) when the weather becomes dark and less desirable, so staying consistent with proper, routine exercise can keep you motivated and mentally balanced. Whether it be indoor activities or outdoor winter sports, moving your body during the winter helps to fight off colds and other illnesses, improve overall circulation and sleep quality, reduce fatigue, and more!
The colder months may be dull and dreary at times, but it doesn’t mean your skin has to be. By following these ten winter skincare tips, you’ll be able to keep your skin soft and supple, regardless of how low the temperatures drop. Remember: proper hydration and protection is key. With the right products and a consistent routine, you can keep your skin dewy and healthy all season long. Until next time!
Next Steps
Ready to Quench Your Winter Skin’s Thirst? Check out our top four hydrating heroes to keep your glow going strong during these colder months:
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