For all of winter’s highly romanticized greats (think: fireside hot chocolate,rainfall hitting your bedroom window lulling you to sleep), there are a few dreaded side effects to note, one that hits home for most of us, is the onslaught of dry, itchy, cracked skin. Fortunately, there’s still time to get serious about a daily routine to ensure a hydrated, glowing complexion until the first bloom of the spring appears. Here, are 9 tips for preventing, soothing, and dealing with dry skin this winter.
1. Simple, Short & Sweet
The drier the air, the drier the skin. While it may seem like welcome relief to enter a hot shower and block out the cold, it can actually be quiet damaging to your skin. Long,hot showers can cause skin to dry out more than necessary and can even irritate your skin. When it comes to ways to prep your skin for winter, its best to stick to short, warm showers.
2. Pay attention to your diet
You should always be mindful of your diet no matter the season, however with the common-known direct connection between the gut and skin health, your daily intake of fats may help with dry skin. Eating a diet rich in walnuts,olive oil, avocados are always a good idea. But with most things-please don’t overdo it. Every spoonful and sipful should be in moderation. Oh! And of course the holy grail, lest we forget- drink tons and tons of water.
3. Buff your skin
You can add serum after serum and creams on top of each other, but the scary truth is dry skin will stay dry without some exfoliation. For those with severely raw or dry skin, skip the exfoliator and incorporate a wet washcloth instead for a gentler option.
Exfoliating your skin not only helps shed dead skin cells but can help moisturisers sink in more effectively as well. When it comes to ways to prep skin for winter, the trick is to immediately moisturise your skin after you exfoliate it so it doesn’t go all dry and flaky.
4. Keep up with the SPF
The importance of sunscreen has be ingrained into your brain by now…if not, shame. Get it together. You may not be able to take a winter break and much like the sun, she doesn’t either. All year she is powerful and dangerous (what woman isn’t) and regardless of the temperature, its important to keep your skin protected. It’s the most beneficial to reach for a natural SPF that doesn’t have chemical additives. Look for an SPF that keeps it as natural as possible with ingredients with pure oils, natural minerals and botanicals that protect and nourish.
5. Serum is your best friend
While most summertime products get swapped out come winter, serums are the one exception to that rule. No matter the climate, the skin can get “attacked” by free radicals, causing sun spots, the breakdown of collagen, and premature fine lines. To prevent the damage, apply a vitamin C formulated serum as a first layer in the morning, before layering on heavier products.
6. Invest in a good, heavy duty moisturizer
Perhaps one of the most important and commonly overlooked steps in the dry skin game is changing to a seriously hydrating moisturizer. Not any old moisturizer will do the trick though, look for creams, rather than lotions, that contain hyaluronic acid that would help with dropping temperature. The more you hydrate the more protection you provide to your skin. Be sure to moisturize both morning and night.
7. Tweak your cosmetics
Winter is coming (if not upon us) but you should know, that it isn’t all about oils and moisturizers. Your makeup plays a major role in how your skin reacts to the harsh conditions. In drier, icier seasons opt for makeup that are cream based and balms. Try skip out on formulas that are mattifying or long lasting as those tend to dry out the skin.
8. Avoid harsh cleansers
Be sure to toss any face washes with extremely drying ingredients, like fragrances or additives, in favor of those with formulated chamomile or oatmeal. A really gentle cleanser, is one that won’t strip skin of its natural oils, which are needed to protect overall moisture.
9. Nighttime routine that sticks
Every night before bed, try sticking to a routine that will ensure healthy skin come morning. Post–face serum and moisturizer, apply a gentle eye cream to the under eyes and lids. Instead of irritating soap bars or harsh body washes, pick up a creamy cleanser and then apply a thick moisturizer to help skin hold on to moisture throughout the night. As a last step, for those who feel overly dry, a hydrating sheet mask may be a good idea once a week at bedtime. For the season try stay away from anything with charcoal or clay, rather get yourself products with calming yet hard-working products that contain plenty of hyaluronic acid.
Here’s to healthy, hydrated, and happy skin this season.
