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Written by Jessica May | While you may think that winter is “the most wonderful time of the year,” your skin may not agree. Between the harsh wind and the cold, dry air, your skin needs some extra TLC. During the cold winter, many people experience symptoms including dry, flaky skin and red, chapped cheeks. Follow these skin care tips to look fresh and rejuvenated during the frigid winter months.
1. Change Up Your Routine
The first step to protecting your skin is customizing your personal skin care routine for the winter. Due to the drastic change in climate, the same moisturizers and creams that worked in the balmy summer months will leave your skin feeling chapped and dry. Look for lotions that contain non-clogging oils that provide a layer of protection for your skin without clogging your pores. For those with dry combination skin, try formulas that contain ‘humectants’. This means that the lotion will attract moisture to your skin.
2. Care for Your Whole Body
Your face isn’t the only area that needs some extra moisture! Make sure to slather on some extra-moisturizing lotion for your hands and feet as well. The skin on your hands tends to crack and flake with exposure to cold, dry air. Look for creams specifically formulated for these areas to combat dryness and keep your hands and feet soft. Lips can also become a problem area during the winter months. To combat this, keep a tube of moisturizing lip balm with you at all times to keep your pout looking kissable.
3. Keep It Simple
When cleansing your face, avoid face washes that over-exfoliate or dry out your skin. When your face is stripped of all of its natural oils, it overproduces oil to keep up, causing even more blemishes. This natural process is expedited in the winter when the skin is already dry and fragile. Look for mild foaming cleansers for daily use and cut back the exfoliating washes and peels to once a week.
4. Protect Your Skin
Just because you aren’t spending your days at the pool during the winter season doesn’t mean you can forget SPF! Your skin is just as susceptible to sun damage during the winter. Sun reflecting off the snow can result in sun burns and general damage to your skin. When spending time outside, be sure to apply a lotion with SPF and consider using a daily moisturizer or foundation with at least SPF 15 to further protect your skin.
5. Stay Hydrated
Sometimes, the best skin care tips are the simplest. To keep your skin looking dewy and fresh in the winter, remember to stay hydrated! Trust me, your skin will thank you. Try to drink roughly eight glasses of water a day. You will notice that your skin does not feel as tight and the dryness and flakiness will disappear.