11 Winter Skincare Essentials You Need For Healthy Skin
Do you want to know the winter skincare essentials you need to use in order to keep your skin healthy and glowing during the cold winter weather? We are officially into fall and winter is on its way. There’s so much to love about these colder months. From warm cozy evenings spent indoors, to spending more time with friends and family and of course the fashion. Fall and winter fashion will forever be my favorite. But our wardrobes aren’t the only area that needs to transition into these winter months. The cold weather can wreak absolute havoc on our skin. The drastic changes in temperatures combined with low humidity levels both indoors and outside can completely sap all moisture from the skin. The result of this is oftentimes skin that is dry, red, and easily irritated.
Luckily there are a few changes that you can make to your daily skincare routine that will help prevent this skin damage from happening. By incorporating these winter skincare essentials into your daily regimen you’ll avoid months of dry dull skin. Instead, you’ll be able to keep your skin happy, healthy, and glowing.
Winter Skincare Essentials To Add To Your Routine
Creamy Cleanser
During the winter months, it’s best to cut back on sulfate-based cleansers. Sulfates break down the skin barrier, which makes it harder for the skin to retain moisture. Once the skin barrier is damaged, you’re more likely to develop dry, scaly skin, that can easily become irritated and inflamed.
Instead, choose a gentle cream formula that nourishes your skin with rich hydrating ingredients.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is a star ingredient in the skincare world, and for good reason. One hyaluronic acid molecule can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. Because it works by attracting and binding to water, it’s incredibly effective at plumping up the skin and helping it retain moisture.
Skincare Tip: Because hyaluronic acid works by binding to water, apply it to your skin while it’s still slightly damp.
Antioxidant Serums
During the winter, retinoids can leave the skin feeling dry and irritated. But it’s important to continue to protect and support the skin with antioxidants serums. Products with vitamin C will help brighten skin, even out your skin tone, protect against sun damage, and promote collagen production. Vitamin C can be incorporated into your skincare routine
Niacinamide is another amazing ingredient to include in your skincare lineup. It minimizes pore size, regulates oil production, helps with acne, and hyperpigmentation, as well as minimizes fine lines and wrinkles.
Skincare Tip: Always apply products in order from the thinnest water-based products first, to the thickest and oil-based products last.
Moisturiser
Obviously, your moisturizer is a step you won’t want to skip. If you have oily skin, you may prefer to use a water-based moisturizer. Look for a formula high in humectants like hyaluronic, ferulic, and lipoic acids to provide deep hydration. If on the other hand, you have really dry skin, look for products with ceramides listed in the ingredients.
Ceramides are a class of fatty acids called lipids and are naturally found in skin cells and make up about 50 percent of the outer layer of the skin. When applied topically, ceramides form a protective barrier on the skin, effectively locking in moisture and preventing dryness, and irritation, while also minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Skincare Tip: Jojoba oil contains up to 96% ceramides, making it an amazing all-natural option. And because it’s so inexpensive, it’s also a good choice for a full-body moisturizer.
Sunscreen
Just because it’s cold or cloudy out, doesn’t mean you can skip the sunscreen. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, as much as 80 percent of the sun’s harmful UV rays come through the clouds and cause damage. And in the snow, it’s even worse as snow reflects the sun’s rays, and multiplies your UV exposure. UV rays are the number one cause of premature skin aging, so make sure to keep your skin protected!
Skincare Tip: Combine your makeup and sunscreen in one step with one of these high SPF skin tints for effortlessly beautiful skin.
Lip Balm
Because lips do not have any oil glands they are super more prone to becoming chapped and dehydrated. The easiest way to prevent this is to keep a good lip balm with you and use it frequently throughout the day and night.
Skincare Tip: For smooth plump lips, gently buff away any dry, flakey skin with a sugar lip scrub 2-3 times a week.
Exfoliator
Exfoliating helps to remove dead skin cells from your body. Because the skin tends to be more sensitive during the cold winter months, it’s a good idea to not be too aggressive with it and risk causing further irritation. Exfoliating your face and body once a week should be enough. Doing this will help keep your skin soft, reduce ingrown hairs, and allow any skincare products to absorb into the skin more effectively.
Skincare Tip: There are many options available for exfoliating your skin. From chemical exfoliants to physical exfoliants like dry brushing, salt or sugar scrubs, as well as washcloths and mitts. Experiment with the various choices to find what works best for your skin type.
Hand Cream
Washing your hands more often during the winter is a must. During the cold and flu season, it is one of the best ways to help prevent catching and spreading any illnesses. However, all that handwashing does take a toll on your skin. To avoid dry cracked hands, reapply a thick hand cream every time you wash your hands.
Skincare Tip: Always wear waterproof gloves when washing dishes or cleaning with harsh chemicals.
Aquaphor
Occlusives, such as Aquaphor and Vaseline, lock in moisture by forming a protective seal over the skin. Although it’s not necessary to slather this on your whole body, if your skin is extremely dry, it will relieve discomfort and help heal your skin.
Skincare Tip: Apply a thin layer over any areas of extreme dryness like your elbows, knees, and heels, as the last step of your skincare routine.
Humidifier
Dry air pulls moisture right out of the skin, leaving it itchy and easily irritated. But if you can keep the humidity levels inside your home at optimum levels, your dry skin issues can drastically improve. This is where humidifiers come in.
Humidifiers are a great way to boost the level of humidity in the room by releasing water vapor or steam. This is especially helpful during cold seasons when indoor heating further evaporates all moisture from the air. If you can, invest in a few humidifiers for the whole house. If that isn’t an option, then keep on in the rooms you spend the most time in. Aim to keep indoor humidity levels between 30 and 50 percent. You can easily keep track of levels with an Indoor Humidity Gauge that only costs about $8.
Pro Tip: A lot of humidifiers have a special tray to add essential oils allowing you to also benefit from aromatherapy anytime your humidifier is in use.
Water
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. Water is always the best option, but unsweetened, herbal tea counts as well. Signs of dehydration will quickly show up on your skin in the form of fine lines, and dry flakey skin. Even though everyone’s hydration needs vary, aiming for eight 8-ounce glasses of water is a good goal.
Pro Tip: Add flavor to your water with fresh lemon or lime slices, mint leaves, or berries.
If you’re still experiencing extreme dryness after trying out these tips, it may be time to visit your doctor to check for underlying skin conditions. Or in some cases for prescription skin creams.
And I’d love to know if you have any tried and true methods of protecting your skin and keeping it healthy during the winter months. If so, please share them with me in the comments below!
Xx Monti
