They say, “To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake, it is necessary to stand out in the cold.” True that! Winter has its own charm. But have you ever realized the havoc it could wreak on your skin? The cold air robs the natural moisture from your skin, leaving it dry and itchy. It can even cause severe dry skin, eczema, and psoriasis. That’s why you need to take care of it. In this article, I have listed 15 tips you can follow to keep your skin super happy during winter.
13 Skin Care Tips For Winters
1. Use Lukewarm Water
It is very tempting to go for hot showers when the temperature is dipping. But if you love your skin, avoid them. Instead, use lukewarm water to shower and wash your face. Hot showers dry your skin quickly, and if you do not moisturize it immediately, your skin can develop cracks and winter eczema. Once you have taken a lukewarm shower, apply a moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid and ceramides. This will keep the moisture barrier intact and prevent dryness.
2. Stay Hydrated
Be it inside your home or outside, the air is drier in winter. And as a result, water evaporates from your body easily. Hence, you need to keep your skin hydrated. You can also install a humidifier to manage the moisture level in your home. This will certainly keep your skin happy.
3. Choose Skin Care Products Wisely
What kept your skin happy during summers can make it sad during winters. And that’s why you need to change your skin care products accordingly. The key to healthy and glowing winter skin is using mild skin care products. Choose cleansers that contain moisturizers to avoid stripping your skin of its natural moisture barrier. If you have acne or breakouts, use products containing ceramides, hyaluronic acid, hydration serums, and glycerin to help in repairing the moisture barrier of your skin.
Avoid masks and peels, astringent lotions, and any product that contains alcohol as they make your skin dry during the winter.
4. Protect Your Skin
You need to protect your skin from the cold wind or snow or rain if you are stepping out in winter. So, wear gloves and caps and do not forget your sunscreen lotion. The warm sun rays feel pleasant, but the UV rays can still damage your skin a lot. Choose a sunscreen that has titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.
5. Do Not Exfoliate Your Skin A Lot
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Exfoliating the skin helps in getting rid of dead cells. You have to be careful during winters because your skin barrier is already compromised due to the dry and cold weather. Exfoliating your skin once a week is fine – this helps in boosting skin regeneration and better product absorption. Also, you should exfoliate depending on your skin type. If you have very dry skin, exfoliate your skin lightly. If you have combination and oily skin, once a week is fine.
6. Don’t Forget The Hands
The skin on your hands has fewer oil glands as compared to the skin on any other body part. That’s why moisture escapes from your hands quickly, making them prone to cracks and itchiness. Apply a moisturizer before you go out.
7. Care For Your Feet
Choose glycerin-based creams and petroleum jelly to moisturize your feet. Also, make sure you exfoliate the skin on your feet occasionally so that it can absorb the moisturizer easily.
8. Do Not Wear Wet Clothes For Too Long
This will irritate your skin further and cause itchiness. Walking and playing in the snow is fine, but make sure you remove the wet socks, pants, and gloves as soon as possible.
9. Avoid Anything That Irritates The Skin
Follow this if you have persistent skin issues like eczema. Winter skin is extremely fragile, and exposure to allergens can trigger your symptoms. Many people are allergic to wool but cannot resist the temptation to wear their winter knits. If this is the same scenario with you, always choose winter wear that is made from high-grade wool. If possible, go for winter wear made from cotton.
10. Don’t Ditch The Sunglass
This is especially for those who live in places where it snows heavily. The glare from the sun and snow can harm the skin around your eyes and cause brownspots, fine lines, and other issues. So, whenever you step outside, make sure that you wear good quality UV protected sunglasses, preferably with wide arms.
11. Follow A Daily Skin Care Routine
It doesn’t need to be elaborate. Here’s a very basic and simple skin care routine that anyone can follow to keep their skin happy during the winter. Cleanse your skin once or twice a day, preferably in the morning and before going to bed. After washing your face in the morning, apply a light daily moisturizer to lock the moisture in. And at night, use a heavy moisturizer or overnight cream. This should be done on damp skin because just-washed skin absorbs moisture better.
12. Take Care Of Your Diet
Consume a lot of seasonal fruits and veggies. Berries are exceptional sources of vitamins and antioxidants that your skin needs to stay healthy during the cold weather. Strawberries, grapes, blueberries, raspberries, or cherries – pick anything you love. Also, if you think that you are missing out on the hydration part (limited water intake), you can cover that up with fruits, veggies, and other food items such as soups, salads, juices, and milk. In this way, your body will get the nutrients to keep the skin healthy.
13. Exercise
Yes! I know it’s hard to leave the warmth and coziness of the blanket behind and get moving on a chilly winter morning. But do it if you love your skin. Exercise will pump up your heart rate, which in turn, pumps more blood to your organs and skin.
During the winter, the oil and sweat glands in your body and the blood vessels constrict a bit. This makes it hard for your skin to keep itself healthy and glowing naturally, and that’s why it needs your help. These tips are not difficult to follow, and you can easily include them in your daily routine.
Do you have any special winter skin care secret? Share it with us by leaving a comment in the comments section below. And keep following us for more such tips and hacks. Till then, stay healthy and keep glowing.