Winter is coming! That means cozy blankets, snowball fights and holiday music, but it can unfortunately come with some serious downsides for our skin if we don’t adapt to the seasonal shift. Here are five full-proof tips to get your skin winter-ready in no time.
- Switch to a more gentle cleanser
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Cleansing can be the most damaging part of one’s skincare routine because water can evaporate off the face and leave skin stripped in what is called “transepidermal water loss,” especially when you include the harsh cleansing agents that many formulations have. Face washing is important to get rid of any dirt and makeup that has accumulated throughout the day, though, so this step should be adapted properly to maximize the benefits and minimize the costs. Go for a gentle, hydrating formulation without overly irritating fragrances or complicated ingredients lists. Some of my personal favorites include CeraVe’s Hydrating Facial Cleanser, which has saved my skin from the dry winter on more than one occasion. Another popular winter face wash is LaRoche Posay’s Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Facial Cleanser. This is what I use on a day-to-day basis, but it is great to use in the winter for anyone whose skin gets dry and sensitive around this time, too.
- Incorporate another moisturizing step into your routine
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Most of us cleanse and moisturize our skin throughout the year, but such moisturizing simplicity might not cut it for the colder seasons. When the weather is cold, the skin tends to dry up and get flaky far more quickly, so it is important to incorporate additional hydrating and moisturizing steps as needed.
“Humectant” ingredients hydrate by drawing water to the topmost layer of the skin. Potent humectants include hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid, glycerin, panthenol and lactic acid (which lightly exfoliates, too) to name just a few. While serums of these ingredients may seem like a good idea, many moisturizers and other serums already contain things like hyaluronic acid, so it is best not to overdo it and risk irritation.
“Occlusive” ingredients are all the more important in the winter because they form a skin barrier that is responsible for locking in the skin’s water and keeping it from evaporating. Keep an eye out for ingredients like petroleum jelly and mineral oil for hardcore occlusion, or maybe silicones or shea butter for more lightweight options. One of my favorites is Eucerin’s Skin Calming Itch Relief Lotion, which uses colloidal oatmeal to reinforce the skin barrier as well as calm down inflammation and redness.
- Invest in a humidifier
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When I lived in the dorms, having a humidifier was a game-changer for my skin. The air was very dry and my skin got flaky and painful every day. Investing in a good humidifier alleviated this, but you should definitely avoid putting skin irritants like essential oils in them. Other than the fact that some humidifiers are just not built to filter those, essential oils can be highly sensitizing, especially on fragile winter skin. One popular option is AIRx Ideal Comfort Self-Adjusting Humidifier, which is toward the middle of the price spectrum.
- Dial back on your harsh actives
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Exfoliating has become very popular, but you should definitely keep this to a minimum until you have found out what your skin tolerates. Doing harsh scrubs and chemical peels can exacerbate the sensitivity of your skin barrier in an already dry season and lead to wounds and redness if overdone. Sometimes, doing less is more, especially in skincare.
- Keep your sunscreen game going
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Okay, I’ll admit that this tip is never new in any of my skincare articles, but preventing the appearance of aging is the priority for many people’s regiments. Going through 15 steps but leaving your face wide open to the harsh rays of the sun reverses all that effort. Just because it isn’t hot outside doesn’t mean that the sun disappeared, so keep protecting your skin from it and you will be grateful that you did so in the future.
Winter is a time of holiday spirit and comfort, so don’t let dry skin bring you down. Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and you should take care of its health, too. Incorporating just a few of these steps can do wonders at keeping your skin moisturized and comfortable. Stay healthy and happy this holiday season!