How to Take Care of Your Skin in Winter

Winter's harsh climate and cold air tend to have an adverse effect on the skin. The cold air affects the skin's structure, and low humidity steals moisture from your skin. At the same time, indoor heating will blast the skin and cause it to bleed or crack. Therefore, you will need to pay extra attention to your skin during the winter. Here are tips to get you started.

Keep Hydrated

The combination of central heating and colder weather reduces the amount of moisture in the air. This increases your skin's sensitivity and dryness. As a result, you need to drink a lot of water and certain fluids throughout the day. For instance, you should reduce your coffee intake and drink more tea.

Gentle cleansing can also help your skin to retain more moisture. If your cleanser is not gentle enough, your skin will feel dry after washing.

Go for a Water-Based Moisturizer

Winter dryness can affect anybody, including those with oily skin. When your skin becomes too dry, it may start producing excessive oil to rectify the situation. Unfortunately, oil overproduction will lead to a cycle of breakouts.

The solution is to use a water-based moisturizer or cream. Unlike oil-based moisturizers, a water-based moisturizer seeps into the skin without blocking skin pores. This ensures that the skin doesn't become dry or produce excessive oil.

Select the Right Accessories

Once the cold weather sets in, you will need cozy accessories, such as beanies and scarves. However, some of the winter fabrics can scratch and irritate the skin. While you are protecting yourself against the elements, your skin will become itchy and uncomfortable.

The solution is to go for accessories that use breathable and natural materials. These clothes will boost air circulation and enhance heat distribution. In addition, the chosen accessories should be cleaned so that they don't host bacteria and germs.

Use an Exfoliator

Since winter's cold air may increase the skin's sensitivity levels, you may be tempted to avoid exfoliation. However, exfoliation is important because it removes dead skin cells.

Remember, you should use a gentle exfoliator and do the exfoliation less often. For instance, you should stay away from exfoliators that use classic retinoids and opt for those with bakuchiol. The right exfoliator will refine the skin texture and clear the pores.

Don't Throw Away the Sunscreen

The sun's rays are still present in winter, but the UV rays are weaker than in summer. These UV rays can still interfere with your skin's structure and may cause skin cancer. Similarly, the snow can reflect the sun's rays and cause sunburn on your skin.

Therefore, you will need to apply sunscreen in the morning and any time you go out. The sunscreen should be broad-spectrum and can be part of your daily moisturizer.

Avoid Hot Showers

Taking a steamy shower in winter sounds like a great idea, but the hot water can destroy your skin. Since you may not fancy a cold shower, you can take a 10-minute warm bath. You will know that the water is too hot when your skin turns red. In addition, you shouldn't wash your hands with very hot water. Hot water can cause your hands to be itchy, scaly, and reddish.

Hot water can reduce the number of fats in the skin's top layer. This can exacerbate certain skin conditions, such as rosacea, acne, and eczema.

Protect Your Skin

It is important to take care of your skin during the colder months. That's because the cold air and low moisture can affect the texture and strength of your skin. Contact us for more tips.