Winter is coming, and it’s a struggle to keep our skin healthy during this season. The coldness outside leaves our skin vulnerable to issues such as dryness, itchiness, and flakiness. Indoor conditions don't help much either as heating systems may cause your skin to dry out and leave it feeling tight and dull.
We must nurture our skin, especially during winter time, to keep dermal issues at bay. If you’re having trouble maintaining healthy skin, we have some winter skincare advice that will help you keep your dermal layers in good condition.
Start From the Inside
Taking care of your body from the inside is the best way to ensure that your skin is in its finest condition. Drinking enough water will keep your body well-hydrated both inside and outside, while also maintaining the elasticity of your skin.
Following a healthy diet can also fight off the effects of the cold season on the skin. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables give you essential vitamins and antioxidants that your skin needs to stay healthy during the cold weather.
You should also be mindful of your alcohol and coffee intake as these beverages may affect the skin’s hydration levels. The same goes for smoking as it lowers the skin's production of collagen and omega-6 fatty acids, which then affects the moisture content of your dermal layers.
Opt for Lukewarm Water for Washing Your Face and Body
Soaking in a hot bath or cleaning your face with warm water are both tempting ways to wash yourself during winter. However, doing so can strip away the natural oils that protect your dermal layers, causing skin dryness. It will then leave your skin vulnerable to the harsh cold air and leave you with itchy, scaly winter skin.
That’s why it’s best to use lukewarm water when bathing and washing your face instead. Lukewarm water offers the soothing effect that a hot bath can provide while having little impact on your natural moisture barrier.
If you're extra brave, a cold shower helps with skin firming as it tightens the cuticles and pores, thereby preventing them from getting clogged with dirt and conserving the natural oils on the skin. Taking a cold shower can also improve blood circulation, reduce redness, and even enhance the skin’s ability to respond to minor damage.
Use a Gentle, Hydrating Cleanser
Cleansers are an important part of your skincare routine to remove all the dirt, makeup, and other particles that clog your pores. You might already have a trustworthy cleanser in your skincare arsenal, but during wintertime, you may want to switch to one that has hydrating properties on top of its cleaning abilities.
Using a mild hydrating cleanser gently cleans the skin, saves it from further damage, and prevents dryness — all while moisturising it in the process. This type of product is also suitable for different skin types whether it be dry, normal, oily, or a combination of any of these three.
When looking for a hydrating cleanser, ensure that it’s made with a non-irritating creamy formula to ensure that it can remove impurities without damaging your natural skin barrier. One of the finest ingredients to watch out for is argan oil, which contains ingredients that can protect and unleash your skin’s natural glow.
Argan oil also protects against sun damage and improves the skin’s elasticity to reduce physical signs of ageing. What’s more, it contains vitamin E and essential fatty acids that are good for the hair and can also take care of dry eyes.
Layer Your Products
Layering is an effective skincare strategy to follow during the cold season to prevent your skin from over-drying. It’s similar to how you would wear your winter clothing, except you should avoid using too many products at once. Doing so can make it difficult for the skin to absorb them properly.
Just like layering your winter clothes, you should apply your skincare products from lightest to heaviest. For instance, you should start with your toner followed by serum, and end with moisturiser.
During the colder months, it may be best to switch from serums made with lighter, water-based ingredients to richer, more nourishing, oil-based ones. Natural oils can help protect your skin against the elements and trans-epidermal water loss. You can add more items to your routine if you’d like, but make sure to pace out the application for each product to allow the skin to completely absorb them.
The ideal time to layer up on your skincare products is right before you sleep since this is the time when the body is working the hardest to repair itself — thereby helping the skin maximise its rejuvenation.
Don’t Exfoliate Too Much
Exfoliating is an excellent way to get rid of dead skin cells and stubborn debris from your pores and allow other products to easily enter the skin. However, you should be careful doing this part of your skincare routine during winter.
The cold air has already compromised your skin’s natural barrier, and excessive exfoliation can worsen the state of your dermal layers.
If you have sensitive skin, it’s advisable to scale that frequency down to once a week to prevent it from being too susceptible to damage. People with dry complexion are also better off with a once-a-week exfoliation session.
Meanwhile, those with oily or combination skin types can stick to the twice or thrice-a-week mark. Going over that frequency may cause more harm than good for the skin.
You can use gentle manual exfoliants like body scrubs t o control the pressure and level of exfoliation. Leave-on exfoliants also offer effective and non-abrasive removal of dead skin cells and unclogging of pores without damaging your outermost dermal layer. An exfoliating lotion can also do wonders in gently exfoliating your skin while hydrating it.
Take Care of Your Hands Too!
Aside from pampering your facial skin, you should also tend to your hands since they are also exposed to the cold winter air. This body part has fewer oil glands, causing it to lose moisture quickly which could lead to dryness.
Choose hand moisturisers that contain occlusive waxes like sunflower wax and nourishing ingredients like shea butter, which are great ingredients that provide extra weather protection while also hydrating the skin. A solid hand cream that offers long-lasting hydration without leaving a sticky residue can be an ideal choice for keeping your hands moisturised.
Our Magic Hand Balm makes winter hand care not only effective but also a sensory delight. Because of its solid consistency, this balm can be packaged in cardboard "jars," eliminating the need for any plastic containers; it also makes it very travel-friendly.
The product is vegan and made sustainably by an independent, artisanal studio in Brighton, and it has received rave reviews on our website.
Final Thoughts on Winter Skincare
Winter skincare could mean overhauling your usual routine to better fit the season. This applies to both facial skincare and hand care. It may involve replacing lighter, breathable moisturisers with richer, more protective ones or switching your cleanser to one that provides more hydration.
The tips we listed above can help you stay on top of your winter skincare routine to ensure the health of your dermal layers. Don’t forget to follow a healthy diet while keeping up with your regimen to enhance the effects of your efforts.
Consult a dermatologist if you still experience dryness, irritation, or discomfort.