Snow started falling a few days ago. You know what that means! Winter has finally arrived. Now that the coldest season is finally here, your skin will probably need more extra love and care. Winter being cold means your skin will definitely react to the sudden change of temperature. What changes you ask? Your skin interacts with the environment every day. This includes daily weather, climate conditions, pollution, environmental toxins, and even man-made environments like air-conditioning and central heating. So, when the seasons change from fall to winter, your skin notices since itâs the organ that interacts directly with the elements. Dryness and dehydration are some of the top concerns when it comes to winter skin, which makes sense since low humidity dries out the skin. Coupled with the cold temperatures, that nip away at the skinâs surface, and winter skin becomes an issue. When youâre outside in the harsh winter conditions, your skin is exposed to chilling temperatures with virtually no moisture available to replenish the lost moisture. To make matters worse, pollution is worse during winter, increasing the chance of free radical damage causing premature aging. If all of this sounds less than ideal during the holiday season, donât worry. A proper winter skin care routine can address all of the winter skin problems you want to avoid. Here are a few easy steps in to taking care of your skin during this winter.
- Change your cleanser to a hydrating one. Water-based cleansers are great for oily skin, but in the winter, your skin needs all the moisture available to it since thereâs none available in the air. This is the best time to experiment with cleansing oils and cream cleansers, which help restore the natural oils in the skin while cleansing away impurities. If you have oily skin and worry this may be too much for you, try a gel cleanser, which uses both water and oil ingredients to cleanse skin without stripping moisture. There are many different types of cleansers, donât feel as though you have to stick to your regular oil-free face wash.
- Exfoliating your skin comes a long way. Your winter skincare routine would not be complete without regular exfoliation. Since the skin barrier function slows in winter, dead skin cells are more likely to build up. This is what gives your skin the dry, flaky appearance thatâs notorious in winter. An exfoliating brush or exfoliating scrub is a great way to gently exfoliate on a daily basis to remove winter skin buildup.
- Adding moisturizer and serum. Applying a nourishing serum before sealing it in with a moisturizer has become a winter skincare step you canât skip. Using serums or oils before your cream is a great way to pack in extra moisture and key ingredients, and your skin will take all that it can get in the winter. If you have naturally dry skin or fear youâre on the brink of dehydrated skin, you can upgrade your serum to a facial oil. Plus, serums and oils are usually high in vitamins, antioxidants, botanicals, and other skin-nourishing and -hydrating ingredients that will boost your winter skin care routine.
- Using some eye cream helps. As you probably know, the skin around your eyes is extremely thin. So, during winter, this area of the face is especially affected by the harsh winter conditions. If you donât normally apply an eye cream, winter is the time to do so. Not only does an eye cream minimize dark circles and under-eye bags, they also pack in some anti-aging action to protect against crowâs feet. Look for eye creams with Peptides, Ceramides, and fruit oils like Avocado Oil.
- Sunscreen is still needed. Winter is the time that your skin needs a little bit extra of everything: hydration, moisturization, protection, and nourishment. Overall, skin needs regeneration. Since winter is nipping away at the surface, creating a buildup of dead skin cells, and causing discomfort from dryness to redness, skin needs some relief. Thatâs where a good moisturizer comes. Youâve probably heard that winter calls for an extra heavy cream. That may be true for some people, but pay closer attention to ingredients than heaviness. Look for face creams containing ingredients that winter skin needs: Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides, Jojoba Oil, and Shea Butter to name a few.