Winter is coming, and with it, the cold winds. As much as we love snow and the Holidays, we have to be careful. During winter, our skin will require extra effort to protect it from the cold weather. When the air cools down, the outer layers of our skin can easily become dry, which can cause us flakes and cracks. We certainly don’t want that. To avoid this, make sure your skincare routine follows the steps below during wintertime.
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Keep the water temperature low.
We all love a long hot bath, and wintertime might sound like the perfect time to take one. But keep in mind that prolonged exposure to hot water can strip our skin from its natural moisture. Keep the showers short and with a lukewarm temperature. After the shower, apply a moisturizer to lock in moisture.
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Cleanse without drying
Instead of using a plain cleanser, prefer hydrating cleansers such as a balm, oil, or cream cleanser. You might miss the foam and bubbles but you’ll get good hydration in return. During the cold season, we want our skin clean but keep its protective barrier intact without completely getting rid of our skin’s essential oils. So avoid products that have foaming agents and salicylic acid, which will dry out your skin.
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Add a gentle exfoliation
A gentle exfoliator during winter will help us remove dead skin cells that we can accumulate due to the dry winter air. And best of all, it will help our skin to absorb the moisture better. Just look up, don’t overdo it. You can do this step once a week.
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Don’t cut out on moisturizer
During wintertime, the main objective of your skincare routine should be to keep your skin hydrated. Prefer emollients and occlusives over light humectant lotions during the cold low-humidity season. You can also layer your skincare products to address diverse needs, in this case, start applying the lighter toner or lotion first and continue to finish with the heaviest moisturizer on top.
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Please, don’t forget the sunscreen
If you think that there’s “less sun” during winter, let me tell you a harsh truth: This is not more than a myth. We’re not immune from potential UV damage to our skin during winter. We can even get sunburned from the sun reflecting on the snow. So apply as much sunscreen during winter as you would do in summer. Cover hands, neck, and face, even if you don’t feel it’s a sunny day. You’ll thank me when you’re older.
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Incorporate a face mask at night
Skin hydration levels tend to decline in the afternoon. You can use an overnight mask or a practical sheet mask for extra moisture. As the final step of a nighttime routine, leaving the mask on at night helps your skin to better absorb all the good nourishing ingredients and to lock the moisture applied before. Masks are also great to incorporate special treatments into your skin if needed.
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Carry a lip balm with you
Avoid chapped lips by applying a lip balm regularly during winter. Pick a good lip balm with shea butter, almond oil, jojoba oil, aloe vera, or calendula oil, and avoid the ones that are matte effect or have a long-lasting effect, since these are the ones that will probably cause you dryness.
During winter, there is less moisture in the air which can lead to drier skin, so keep your skincare routine with an extra touch of moisture and protect your skin from the cold dry winds of winter. These tips above will help you to keep your skin with a fresh glow when the temperatures go low.