Winter is that time of the year with snow, a cup of hot chocolate, and huddling in thick scarves. What a magical time that many forget how harsh winter is with its cold weather paired with the hot scorching sun.
While the cold gives you that pretty pink blush across your cheeks, it can cause dry, dehydrated skin throughout the winter. Unfortunately, winter causes more havoc for your skin!
Because of the lack of humidity in the air, the cold sucks up the moisture in your skin. It’s not only the weather outdoors during the winter that can wreck your skin; indoor heating does the same – leaving your skin dry, irritated, and raw.
The good news is that there are ways to prevent your skin from turning into a desert during the winter. Taking care of your skin is not just for appearance’s sake but also for your health. Wouldn’t you want healthy and supple skin all year long?
All it needs is some quick, simple changes in your daily routine and consistency. Read on for tips to protect your skin during the harsh winters, ensuring supple and glowing skin all winter long.
Less is More
From summer to fall and now to winter, your skin might still be getting used to the drastic changes in the weather. That said, when building your winter skincare routine, it is good to remember that less is more!
Don’t get distracted by getting more and more hydrating products but stick to the basics, which are a gentle cleanser, hydrating serum or essence, a moisturizer, and sunscreen. Your skincare routine should also be personalized to your skin type in the winter. For example, dry and irritated skin in winter would need a richer moisturizer – like a balm – compared to oily skin.
During the winter, focusing on hydration is essential because of the air’s low humidity. Think of products containing hyaluronic acid, ceramide, and panthenol. These ingredients help prevent your skin barrier from being damaged by cold weather.
Maximize Moisture by Locking it In
During winter, your love and care should not just be dedicated to your face but also your hands!
Frequent hand washing, added to exposure to the cold air in winter, can cause the hands to be dry and cracked. This can cause your hands to bleed and irritate easily, triggering hand eczema. However, since Covid-19 still hasn’t been entirely eradicated, hand washing is still crucial in our everyday lives.
Maximize moisture by applying hand cream after hand washing or throughout the day while out in the cold. To lock the moisture in, you should wear cotton gloves to allow your skin to absorb the cream.
Protect Yourself from the Sun
The sun is much stronger in winter because of the snow. On sunny winter days, snow reflects the sun’s rays, increasing your UV exposure. Sun exposure in the winter would eventually lead you to experience sunburn – and it is not blushing across your cheeks.
But many people forget sunscreen in the winter because it’s darker and colder outside, that’s not the case. Sunscreen should be worn all year long, regardless of the weather conditions. In the long run, overexposure to sunlight can cause skin cancer, so always remember to protect yourself from the sun with SPF!
Humidify the Air
Dry air in the winter, indoors and outdoors, pulls the moisture out of the air. So, a humidifier comes into the picture to benefit not only your skin but also your overall health.
A humidifier indoors would restore moisture, help keep your skin hydrated, and prevent any colds or sore throats. While your skin remains hydrated and free from irritation, you will also be able to breathe easier. However, always remember to periodically clean the unit and change the water to utilize the humidifier in the long run fully.
Eat and Hydrate Right
Taking care of your skin is not just a physical affair; eating and hydrating right are crucial to maintaining healthy skin. Increasing water intake during winter can help maintain moisture in your skin and overall better health. Your diet also plays a role in increasing your intake of winter fruits, like apples, oranges, and kiwis, for healthy glowing skin.
In addition to that, supplements are also beneficial during the winter. For example, your body naturally produces more vitamin D from daily sun exposure during the summer. However, as winter approaches, this production declines. Therefore, you may achieve the recommended vitamin D levels all year long by taking vitamin D supplements in the winter.
The most important thing is to never keep your skin dry and cracked for a long-time during winter. Let the cold be cruel to you but never your skin. Always remember to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize, and hydrate, hydrate! Only then will you protect your skin from the harsh cold weather during winter.
