Winter Skincare Tips – Winter can be a magical time. But, the harsh truth is, winter can also be damaging to your skin. The chilly air, dry indoor heating, and strong winds can strip the skin of its natural moisture, leaving it tight, itchy, or even flaky. This is the perfect time to upgrade your skincare routine to match the season. It’s time to change your products and habits to keep your skin hydrated, soothed, and glowing even in the harshest cold. In this article, you will find important tips to keep your skin glowing and healthy in the winter. Follow these tips to make your skin shine like the snow!
Why Does Your Skin Get Drier in Winter?
In winter months when the temperature drops drastically, there’s not enough humidity in the air. This can make it more difficult for your skin to retain moisture, which then leads to itchy, dry and flaky skin, and even cracked lips. The colder air during winter can even make fine lines and wrinkles more noticeable.
Indoor heating is also a cause for dry skin in the winter. Turning on heating or lighting the fireplace creates dry heat and takes moisture out of the air, which then causes your skin to dry up and become irritated. That’s why dermatologists suggest that you wear warmer clothes and blankets when indoors instead of increasing the heating.
How to Keep Your Skin Hydrated in Winter?
When it comes to skincare, you should adjust your skincare routine to use products that are moisturizing. You don’t need to change every skincare product in your routine, but one thing you should do is swap out your moisturizer with heavier creams. Look for skincare products that feature ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, shea butter, squalane, and ceramides that are all great at hydrating and moisturizing the skin.
Besides skincare, you can also protect your skin from dryness by covering up as much as possible when you’re going outside during winter. Keeping your hands, feet and face protected from the cold is an essential part of preventing dry skin as well as stopping it from worsening. Using humidifiers during winter is also a great way of reducing and preventing dry skin. It’s recommended to use one while sleeping when the skin gets a chance to repair itself overnight.
Do You Still Need Sunscreen in Winter?
Absolutely! Sunscreen is important all year round, even when you don’t feel the sun’s heat. Even during winter, harmful UV rays can still penetrate the clouds and even reflect off of snow. It’s important to apply sunscreen with at least SPF 30 for daily use. It’s especially important to apply sunscreen when you’re doing outdoor activities like skiing for a long period of time.
Winter Skincare Tips
So, after learning all about how to keep your skin hydrated in winter, what are the best skincare tips to keep your skin healthy during winter? Make sure you use hydrating cleansers that don’t strip moisture from the skin, and swap out your moisturizer for rich creams instead of lotion. Avoid harsh exfoliants like physical scrubs, AHAs and BHAs, and retinoids as these can cause irritation and worsen dry skin. Lastly, don’t forget to apply sunscreen daily when you go outside.
Treat your skin with extra care this season, and it will thank you with a soft, glowing complexion all winter long.
Sources:
- https://www.aad.org/news/cold-weather-and-your-skin.
- https://www.dermacaredirect.com/advice/5-skincare-ingredients-that-you-need-in-your-winter-routine#:~:text=Did%20you%20know%20that%20the,and%20resilient%20all%20winter%20long.
- https://innovative-dermatology.com/2024/02/19/why-you-need-sunscreen-in-the-winter.
