As someone who has sensitive skin, my skincare routine is always a top-priority. Now with the weather in Hamilton consistently dipping into the 30s, you too may be looking to give your skin extra T.L.C. A drop in the temperature also means a drop in humidity, which causes more frequent dry skin. Fortunately, my skincare trials and tribulations have taught me that cold weather skincare doesn’t need a lot of steps to be effective. Here a few of the simple dermatologist-approved tips I’ve learned for keeping your skin looking its best in the colder months:
1. Continue using sunscreen daily
While summer is synonymous with sunshine, the sun’s rays don’t have a winter break! Ultraviolet rays that cause sunburns and skin cancer are still hard at work in the more graymonths. If anything, your skin is even more at risk for sun damage; ice and snow reflect UV rays, making the world brighter. If you’re still not convinced, know that wearing sunscreen can also prevent wrinkles and discoloration, leaving you looking younger for longer. No matter your complexion, sunscreen is an important product to keep as a go-to!
2. Stay hydrated
Keep your skin moisturized by working from the inside out! Ensuring you get enough ounces of water every day for your body size keeps your skin looking fresh. And don’t forget—making sure you stay hydrated has plenty of health benefits beyond helping out your skin.
3. Shower in lukewarm water
Although hot showers are an easy, comforting way to combat the winter chill, they are actually detrimental to your skin. Hot water increases inflammation, which can lead to skin conditions such as eczema, and strips your skin of its healthy oils. These two unfortunate consequences mean that while your muscles may be more relaxed after a hot shower, your skin will be significantly drier. So do you skin a favor and turn down the heat!
4. Resist the urge to lick your chapped lips
Increasingly chapped lips are an unmistakable sign that harsher weather is upon us. While licking your lips may seem like a quick fix for dry lips, the act will actually make your skin even drier. The enzymes in your saliva break down the skin of your already damaged, thus making the problem worse. Additionally, when the saliva on your lips eventually evaporates, it also evaporates what little moisture was present on your skin. Turn to lip balms, moisturizes, or ointment instead. Look for products high in emollients, such as petrolatum or dimethicone. Vaseline, both the petroleum jelly and lip therapy lines, is a favorite lip solution among dermatologists.
5. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize
The most tried and true way to keep your skin at its best during the winter is, of course, moisturizing. Lotions and creams help to both add water to your skin and lock in whatever moisture your skin already had. Moisturizing right after bathing—or washing your hands—and patting the skin dry seals in a maximal amount of moisture. Although a bit more time consuming to apply, considering switching from a lightweight lotion to much more effective creams during the wintertime. If you’re still searching for the perfect product, dermatologists recommend turning to the brands Aquaphor, AmLactin, Aveeno, Cetaphil, and Eucerin.
6. Ultimately, skincare is selfcare, so do whatever works best for you!