Although Davis doesn’t have the most extreme winters when compared to some places, it still gets cold enough here for the weather to really take a toll on your skin. The dry climate during the colder months can totally suck the moisture out of your skin, leaving you feeling dry and crusty. Plus, the cold wind doesn’t do anyone’s hair any favors. On top of that, illness and infection seem to be more common in the winter, and overall can have detrimental effects on your physical appearance. Thankfully though, there are fairly easy ways to upgrade your beauty routine that make a big difference and make your winter as painless and comfortable as possible.
Focus on hydration
Properly hydrating your skin is by far the most important step in a winter routine. The dry climate makes it harder to keep your skin moisturized, and irritation is more common during the colder months. Focus on using gentle, hydrating products on your skin, and try to stay away from any harsh exfoliants or astringents to avoid causing unnecessary stress to your skin. Look instead for hydrating and calming ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, aloe, and oatmeal. If you wear makeup, also consider the formulation of the products you’re using. Heavy, matte formulas tend to look cakey after a full day of wear, especially if your skin is already extra dry form the weather. Winter is a great time to switch from these drying concealer and foundation formulas to something lighter. Not only will a more hydrating product help your skin look its best, but it can also add another small dose of hydration to improve your overall skin health.
Layer your products
Slapping on a super-heavy cream and calling it a day is probably going to do more harm than good, even if your skin isn’t ultra-sensitive. Instead, try layering lighter products on top of each other. Consider using hydrating toners; serums with hyaluronic acid, gel, or water-based moisturizers; and a lightweight, non-comedogenic oil like jojoba, tamanu, or rosehip to seal everything in. Especially if you really struggle with dryness during the winter, use lighter layers of several products and really focus on allowing them to soak into the skin barrier to keep your skin as hydrated as possible.
Always have lotion with you
Your face isn’t the only part of your skin that will be feeling the effects of the dry weather. Especially if you’re trying to be careful about washing your hands and then going out in the cold, dry air, it won’t take long for your hands to start feeling gross. Because of this, make sure to always have lotion with you, and make a habit of immediately applying it after you wash your hands or any time they start to feel dry. Dry hands are uncomfortable and can even become painful if they get too dry and start to crack, so definitely try to remember this tip and keep up with it. It will be much easier to keep these areas consistently hydrated rather than try to combat dryness and chapped skin once it’s already happened.
Give your hair some extra love
Not only is winter exhausting for your skin, but it can wreak havoc on your hair as well. The dry climate will suck the moisture out of your strands, and cold wind won’t do anything but turn your locks into a frizzy mess. If you don’t already take steps to nourish your hair outside of just using shampoo and conditioner, winter is definitely the time to start. Consider investing in pre-wash masks, hair serums, and oils to lock in moisture and keep your hair as frizz-free as possible. Also, stay away from heat as much as you can, and instead try keeping your hair in protective styles (such as braids and buns) overnight in order to protect your hair from breakage and style it at the same time.
Don’t neglect your overall health
As always, even the most detailed beauty routine won’t make a difference if you are unhealthy overall. This is especially important since illness is on the rise during the colder months. Not taking care of your overall health can lead to both sickness and more skin problems, so doing your best to stay healthy during this time is essential. Make sure to sleep when you can, drink lots of water, and eat as healthy as possible. Warm tea is a good option if cold water is unappealing due to the temperature outside, and a hearty soup packed with vegetables is a great way to eat well while also staying cozy. Even if the weather outside is bad, taking time to exercise and getting fresh air will also help improve your overall health and skin health as well.