Winter Skin Care
The winter months are fast approaching. This means changes in the weather, which also means changes to your skin. Winter skin care is different from skin care during the other seasons! When the heater goes on inside, our skin starts to dry on the outside. You may feel a decrease in moisture in the air which can bring discomfort and dryness to our skin. There are different characteristics for dry skin; you may experience a tightness or red irritation, and others may experience more flakiness and eczema.
But keep in mind that it’s still possible to have oily skin, even during the driest months of the year. Those of you with oily/combination skin know exactly what that feels like. While it may be less oily than in the more humid months, you are still experiencing excessive oil and shininess due to oil. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered, no matter what skin type you have.
So, how do we combat those dry spells that come around during the coldest months of the year? Here are some tips for taking care of your skin during winter.
10 Tips for Winter Skin Blues
1. Moisturize MORE
It may seem like an obvious solution, but chances are you are already using a daily moisturizer as part of your normal skin care routine. Consider switching it up to a cream moisturizer, especially at night time. Give your skin time to absorb the moisture without exposing it to environmental factors and free radicals.
You may also look for an oil-based moisturizer, as opposed to a water-based one. Those of you with generally oily skin - don’t freak out. You’re often told to stay away from any products with oil in them to avoid adding additional oil to already oily skin, but your parched skin will thank you. And even if you’re skin doesn’t get significantly dryer during the winter months, it’s still a good idea to ramp up your moisturizer to prevent over drying.
If you notice your skin breaking out or looking more irritated than usual after trying an oil-based moisturizer for a couple of weeks, try a different one. You may just find the perfect fit. This daily moisturizer is perfect for oily or combination skin because it adds just the right amount of moisture and powerful antioxidants to nourish your skin with helping to restore a more youthful complexion.
2. Don’t forget sunscreen
Even in the winter months, the sun’s UV rays can still cause damage to your skin and you can still get sunburned. Especially if you’re hitting the ski slopes, the reflection from the snow can be powerful and applying a little sunscreen before you head outside is a great way to prevent damage from UV rays and added dryness.
3. Get handy with lotion
Your hands have fewer oil glands than most other parts of the body and the skin is more prone to dryness. It’s especially difficult to keep hands moisturized during the cold winter months, but keep a small bottle of hand lotion in your car or purse for easy access. Dry hands can be itchy and irritated, worse conditions can even cause the skin to split open, which is extremely painful.
Wear gloves to help keep your hands warm and apply moisturizer regularly. If your hands are easily irritated by wool gloves, consider placing a thin cotton glove on as an under layer to the wool.
4. Humidifiers are your friend
Central heat blasts warm air through your home and office eliminating what little moisture there may be in the air. Bring a small humidifier in to your office for the winter months and set one up in your bedroom at home. The added moisture from the humidifier will help to compensate for the dryness caused by central heat.
5. Drink more water
It’s easy to forget to drink water, even in the winter months. We aren’t parched from days at the pool or beach, but our skin still benefits from drinking enough. The recommended amount of water is 8 glasses per day minimum. When your body stays hydrated, it’s less likely to absorb the moisture in your skin making it even drier. Drinking tons of water doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t have dry skin, but drinking lots of water is good for your overall health, not just your skin.
6. Skip the bath
Soaking in hot water after a day out in the cold feels amazing, but it also breaks down lipid barriers on the skin when can lead to moisture loss. Instead, take a shower where you’re not soaking or turn down the water temp to a more lukewarm temperature.
If you’re looking for a way to add moisture to a lukewarm bath, add some tea tree oil, oatmeal or baking soda. These things will help to relieve dry, irritate skin. But be mindful of dry skin. If you’re concerned it could be something more serious, go to the doctor and get some answers.
7. Exfoliate… gently
Exfoliating your skin regularly helps to get rid of dirt and build-up, helps to keep pores clean and prevent breakouts, and it also helps remove dry skin. Even if you have sometimes oily skin, it’s still important to exfoliate and keep those pores clear. Removing dry skin build up helps to reveal a glowing complexion.
You may notice extra dryness in certain areas of your face if you have more combination skin. Concentrate exfoliating in those areas like your neck, around your jawline and forehead. But be careful, over exfoliating can cause redness and irritation even to the toughest skin. Try this gentle clay mask, which is safe for all skin types.
8. Clarify with toner
Using a clarifying toner will help cleanse your pores without over drying your skin. Amazing, right? Find a toner that helps to remove dirt and excessive oil from the skin, but provides replenishing properties like lavender, witch hazel or rose water. Toners help to protect the skin from environmental sources and help to balance moisture levels, which is especially important during the cold, winter month. Try this clarifying face toner that will remove impurities and reveal smoother, younger looking skin.
9. Go easy on the makeup
You may think the winter is a perfect time to add a few extra strokes of bronzer or blush to bring some extra color to your skin. But applying makeup over dry skin can just aggravate the problem and draw attention to it. Dry skin has a tendency to be more visible when layered on with make-up.
If you really want to bring that extra color to your skin, try a cream blush or bronzer to add moisture instead of drawing attention to the dryness. Or for more oily or combination skin, try using a lighter hand when applying make-up and choose a feature to highlight like a smoky eye or bold lip. This will help draw focus certain features while minimizing the need for additional coverage on your face.
10. Don’t forget the eyes
Some people experience extreme dryness on the eyelids or around the eyes during the winter months. Be sure to use an eye cream morning and night. If you don’t want to apply makeup over heavy cream in the morning, find a gel or serum that will ramp up the moisture levels without causing your eye make-up to smear.
Give your eyes a break, when you can. Maybe skip the eyeliner or eye shadow a few days a week and give your eyelids a chance to recover if they are showing signs of extreme dryness. If your eyelids feel dry, red and irritated, you can also apply a little petroleum jelly for daytime giving your eyes a dewy, wet look while adding back in the much needed moisture.
For even more winter skin care tips, check out this video from Foxy!
Tips by Skin Type
Whether you have dry skin or oily/combination skin, we’ve got an easy-to-use skin regimen for you implementing some of the strategies listed above to let you show off your beautifully, glowing winter skin.
Dry Skin
Dry skin has a tendency to look flaky and irritated during the coldest months. But buying the right products isn’t enough – it’s also using them the right way. There are generally 3 different times a day we take note of our skincare: morning, throughout the day, and evening. Here are some simple steps to combat dry winter skin at different times of day:
Morning:
- Splash fresh, cool water on your face. This will help perk you up before diving in to your day.
- Use a daily cleanser formulated for dry skin. Massage it gently on your face and rinse with warm water.
- Use a good, clarifying toner.
- Add a thin layer of daily moisturizer to your skin in a circular motion and allow it to soak in to your skin before the next step.
- Apply your sunscreen if you are planning to be out in the sun. If not, you may add an additional layer of day cream, depending on how dry your skin is. This step may only be necessary to do every few days, or every day for those with extremely dry skin.
- Top it all off with a fresh, thin layer of makeup or leave your skin bare for a natural look.
Daytime:
- If you have excessively dry skin, keep a small daily facial moisturizer with you in your purse. During your first morning break, apply a thin layer of additional moisture to any areas that are feeling a little tight.
- Apply lip balm or gloss underneath your preferred lipstick to give added moisture to your lips.
- Carry water and drink it throughout the day. This will help to keep your skin hydrated.
- Eat lunch with fruits, vegetables and balanced proteins.
- Using a wet tissue, dab off dirt and sweat accumulated during the day and apply moisturizer or sunscreen, if necessary.
Bedtime:
- Wash your face using lukewarm water to avoid added dryness caused by hot water.
- Use a good makeup remover to remove makeup and buildup from throughout the day. If you don't like waste, try this reusable makeup remover cloth.
- Cleanse using a moisturizing face wash by massaging the cleanser in circular motions for a minute and then rinsing with warm water.
- Apply a thick layer of creamy moisturizer or night cream so your skin can absorb the much needed moisture and have time to be nourished during the night.
- Add your eye cream on your eyelid and around your eyes to prevent redness and irritation near your eyes.
- Keep a water bottle near your bedside.
Oily or Combination Skin
If you’re still experiencing combination or oily skin during the winter, you may spend less time blotting away the excessive oil, however there are still some things you’ll want to change about your normal skin care routine to avoid adding additional oil or creating excessive dryness. Consider the 3 times a day we think about our skin and what you can do to manage your oily or combination skin throughout the day:
Morning:
- Splash fresh, cool water on your face. This will help perk you up before diving in to your day.
- Use a daily cleanser formulated for oily or combination skin. Massage it gently on your face and rinse with warm water. (If you’re currently using a medicated cleanser with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, you may cut back to using it once a day or once every few days to prevent your skin from over drying.)
- Use a good, clarifying toner.
- Add a thin layer of daily moisturizer to your skin in a circular motion and allow it to soak in to your skin before the next step.
- Apply your sunscreen if you are planning to be out in the sun or you may also use a daily moisturizer that contains an SPF to avoid adding an additional layer of moisturizer to your already oily/combination skin.
- Top it all off with a fresh, thin layer of makeup or leave your skin bare for a natural look.
Daytime:
- Apply lip balm or gloss underneath your preferred lipstick to give added moisture to your lips.
- Carry water and drink it throughout the day. This will help to keep you stay hydrated and prevent your skin from feeling overly dry in areas.
- Eat lunch with fruits, vegetables and balanced proteins.
- Using a dry tissue, dab any oil that accumulated during the day, revealing more matte skin.
Bedtime:
- Wash your face using lukewarm water to avoid added dryness caused by hot water.
- Use a good make-up remover to remove makeup and buildup from throughout the day.
- Cleanse using a face wash specifically for oily or combination skin by massaging the cleanser in circular motions for a minute and then rinsing with warm water.
- Apply a layer of moisturizer or night cream. You may notice some dry spots on your face and this would be a good time to add a little extra moisturizer to those areas for a more even skin surface.
Keep this in mind… 80% of people that think their skin is dry is actually just dehydrated. So be mindful as you introduce new products this winter season whether or not you have dry skin or if you just need to ramp up your moisture intake. Maybe try a little of both and see what works for you and if you notice a difference, you’re on the right track.
But don’t get discouraged. Healthy, well nourished, youthful looking skin is headed your way as you implement some strategies and changes to your winter skin care routine to account for the colder months just ahead. Stay warm and stay hydrated!
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