Winter is upon us - shorter days and that unmistakeable chill in the air make you long for hot showers and fuzzy PJ’s to snuggle up with on the couch. Warm apple pies and hot chocolate keep you cozy during snowy nights. You’re changing the way you do things to adapt to the weather.
Changing your skin care habits for winter is just as important. Winter strips skin of moisture continuously! Parched skin can feel dry and itchy, looking dull and sallow and put a damper on your winter festivities.
Here are 5 reasons why you need to change your skin care routine for the winter
Changing your skin care habits for winter is just as important. Winter strips skin of moisture continuously! Parched skin can feel dry and itchy, looking dull and sallow and put a damper on your winter festivities.
Here are 5 reasons why you need to change your skin care routine for the winter
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Low humidity leads to dry, cracked skin
Humidity levels take a huge plunge in winter. The cold air outside and indoor heat suck moisture from the outer layers of your skin. This leaves your skin dry and rough, even causing the occasional breakout. Your skin needs adequate hydration to stay supple and comfortable and this cannot be more important than in winter.
What to do: Keep a humidifier around and drink lots of water to stay hydrated. Use winter creams and hydration creams that have moisture locking ingredients. Protect skin well when walking outside with hats, gloves and scarves. Keep a little thermal mist handy and spray away during those long days at work. -
Hot showers dehydrate skin
A long, hot shower can feel wonderful on a cold day. But hot water affects the outer layer of skin (known as Stratum Corneum), pulling moisture and depleting natural oils from your skin’s surface. When compromised, this outer layer of skin will feel dry and tight. It might even crack and cause redness or irritation for those with sensitive skin.
What to do: Take lukewarm showers instead. Moisturize skin while still damp to lock the moisture in and you’ll notice an immediate difference in all-day comfort. -
Ignoring winter sun causes premature aging
What to do: Protect yourself. Use sunblock in winter just as you would in the summer. If you’re planning on winter sports – make sure you take your sun block with you and reapply frequently. -
Soap and hand sanitizers can leave you dry and itchy
Your skin is slightly acidic (~pH of 5.5). There’s a good reason for this: Most harmful bacteria thrive in an alkaline (pH > 7) environment. By staying acidic, our skin keeps us safe from bacterial invasion. This acidic pH also helps keep moisture in. Soaps and sanitizers are highly alkaline and harsh on skin. They affect skin’s pH resulting in moisture loss, dryness and irritation. This is even worse in winter when low humidity exacerbates skin’s sensitivity to harsh, irritating cleansing agents. Many people with eczema or psoriasis find their condition worsen in winter after a shower for this reason.
What to do: Avoid sanitizers if you can or at least take it down a notch and moisturize very soon after with gentle, highly emollient hand or body creams. Use gentle cleansing milks or oil based cleansers on your face. -
Skipping exfoliation in winter makes skin dull and flaky
What to do: Exfoliate regularly in winter. Use a scrub, exfoliating mask or even an exfoliating brush. If you have sensitive skin, opt for gentle exfoliators like apricot shells or gentle peels. Moisturize immediately afterward with a great moisture locking cream like Subtle Green’s Intense Hydration.
It’s really not too hard to develop a few healthy skin habits for winter that can keep your skin looking healthy all season. Start with one thing and build on it. So, don’t let winter get in your way of glowing skin this year. Make a few changes to your skincare routine and you’ll reap the rewards of great skin health through wind and snow.
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