Winter can expose your skin to less-than-ideal conditions, from wind to dry air. This can strip your skin of natural moisture and leave it feeling dry and dull.
Although winter skin care takes a little effort, you can improve your skin during winter with a few simple steps.
15 ways to improve your skin in winter
- Avoid overheating: Blasting the heater can further dry out your skin, so try to keep the heater low and keep yourself warm with layers of clothing. Similarly, hot showers can harm your moisture barrier and aggravate your skin, so try to keep your bath or shower temperature warm.
- Invest in a humidifier: During winter, indoor air can be dry and cause your skin to lose moisture. Humidifiers can restore moisture to the air by producing a steady flow of steam, which goes a long way toward revitalizing dry skin.
- Eat nourishing foods: Achieving balanced skin involves more than topical skin care. Moisturize your skin from the inside out by eating foods rich in antioxidants and essential fatty acids, such as salmon and almonds.
- Avoid sugar: Sugar causes water to leave your cells, which can lead to dry skin and an increased risk of premature aging due to collagen breakdown.
- Stay hydrated: Dehydration can have a negative impact on your skin's barrier function. Increasing your water intake can help combat the drying effect of the elements on your skin.
- Choose skin care products wisely: If your skin is dry and irritated, use skin care products that will not further damage your skin. Avoid products containing artificial perfumes, alcohol, or anything that can strip moisture from your skin.
- Moisturize thoroughly: After cleansing, use moisturizing serums and creams containing ingredients like hyaluronic acid to lock in skin moisture.
- Use chemical exfoliants: When your skin is dry and more sensitive in winter, it is important not to use harsh physical exfoliants. Use gentle chemical exfoliants containing glycolic, salicylic, or lactic acid to gently remove dry, flaky skin.
- Add oils to your skin care products: Winter puts a lot of strain on your skin and reduces its ability to defend itself. Fortify your skin barrier and minimize moisture loss by adding non-comedogenic oils, such as jojoba or avocado oil, into your moisturizer. Never apply in concentrated form, and be sure to perform a patch test before applying to your entire face.
- Try soothing masks: Because you lose so much water in your skin due to dry air and indoor heating, experts recommend sleeping in a hydrating mask 2 times a week to seal in as much moisture as possible. Masks can help soothe irritated skin and improve skin elasticity.
- Apply sunscreen: Even though winter days are darker, it does not mean you can skip sunscreen. Sunscreen can protect your skin from ultraviolet-A rays, which are responsible for causing premature skin aging.
- Get regular exercise: Regular exercise not only helps improve the quality of your sleep but also has the added benefit of increasing blood circulation to your skin and enhancing natural glow.
- Massage your scalp: Your scalp is an extension of your face, and it is important to take care of the skin there as well during winter. Massage your scalp with cold-pressed non-comedogenic oil in the shower.
- Use chapstick: Winter can also wreak havoc on the skin of your lips. Apply chapstick or lip balm to protect your lips from chapping in cold weather.
- Wear gloves and socks: After moisturizing at night, wear cotton gloves and socks to help hold in moisture while you are sleeping.
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Medically Reviewed on 4/28/2022
References
Image Source: iStock Image
Reid Health. Winter skin care: Keep your skin in top shape through the cold, dry winter. https://www.reidhealth.org/blog/winter-skin-care-keep-your-skin-in-top-shape-through-the-cold-dry-winter
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. 10 tips for protecting your skin in the cold weather. https://www.nyp.org/patients-and-visitors/advances-consumers/issues/10-tips-for-protecting-your-skin-in-the-cold-weather
American Academy of Dermatology. Your Winter Skin Survival Kit. https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/care/winter-skin-survival-kit
Reid Health. Winter skin care: Keep your skin in top shape through the cold, dry winter. https://www.reidhealth.org/blog/winter-skin-care-keep-your-skin-in-top-shape-through-the-cold-dry-winter
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. 10 tips for protecting your skin in the cold weather. https://www.nyp.org/patients-and-visitors/advances-consumers/issues/10-tips-for-protecting-your-skin-in-the-cold-weather
American Academy of Dermatology. Your Winter Skin Survival Kit. https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/care/winter-skin-survival-kit
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