8 Essential Winter Skincare Tips

 Wintertime can be harsh on all skin types, but especially for skin that is naturally on the dry side. Extremes in outdoor and indoor temperatures, wind, and lack of humidity in the air all take a toll, resulting in irritated, sometimes red, flaky, and dehydrated skin.

Here is what we can do to combat these problems:

1. Change your routine

Yes, you need to update your routine for fall and winter! If you are used to using a gel or foaming cleanser, reach for a soap-free cleanser instead. Add in a facial oil to your daily routine, or look for products with hyaluronic acid, which helps the skin retain moisture.

2. Don’t forget to exfoliate

A common mistake when dry skin appears is to slather on more moisturizer. But the key to moisturizers working is to remove the barrier of dead skin.

Proper exfoliation with a gentle scrub like adding a teaspoon of sugar or sea salt to your cleanser will allow any moisturizer or serum to be more easily absorbed into the skin.

3. Moisturize

Did you know that dry skin and dehydrated skin are completely different?

While dehydrated skin is a condition, it can often be healed by increasing water intake, both internally and topically adding a hydrosol or alcohol-free toner

Dry skin is a skin type lacking oil and usually involves dryness all over the scalp and body. Both dehydrated and dry skin can also lead to irritated or sensitive areas, so nourishing and hydrating products are crucial for wintertime weather.

To learn more about the benefits of Facial oils for skin read here.

4. Apply a hydrating mask weekly

While there are plenty of choices to buy a commercial store face mask I would recommend making your own! It is simple, using ingredients from your kitchen pantry, yet more effective and nourishing for the skin.

This moisturizing mask is a wonderful treat for dry skin that can be applied while enjoying a nice bath soak. Honey is a humectant, which means it retains moisture.

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, and avocado oil builds collagen and treats the dry patches that sometimes pop up during the winter season. The triple nourishing combination of these ingredients makes it an ideal choice for winter skin.

-1 teaspoon vitamin E rich oil (grapeseed, almond, olive)

-1 teaspoon raw honey

-1/4 avocado

Mix well and apply on your skin for 20 min, rinse with lukewarm water.

5. Keep yourself covered

Hide from the elements. When outside, cover your skin from the wind and snow by protecting it using scarves, hoods, and gloves.

6. Resist hot shower

Avoid very hot water, even on those extra cold mornings when it would feel so good to start the day with a steaming hot shower. Hot water saps the skin of moisture, so try to stick with warm instead or start shortly with hot water to finish with a cold shower. And after a bath or shower, always moisturize ideally with body oil as soon as you get out.

7. Get a humidifier

Placing a humidifier in your bedroom will add moisture back into the air and help with not only dry skin but may even help to diminish allergies and sinus problems. If you have a whole-house humidifier, that’s the best, but if not, a regular-sized one in your bedroom will still help moisturize and relieve itchy, dry skin.

8. Drink more water

Hydrate from the inside out and reduce caffeine, alcohol, and sugary drinks. Our bodies are made up of 60% water, and skin is the body’s largest organ. Internal hydration is even more effective than external hydration at keeping skin hydrated.

For those who are not a big fan of drinking water try adding some flavor. Lemon, orange, mint, or rosemary leaves are great ways to add to the hydration benefits.

Now you can see that fortunately a few adjustments can make all the difference, and get you hydrated, glowing skin this time of year.

 Thank you for reading.

Post below any comments or questions you might have on this topic.

With Love, Jasmina