When temperatures drop, the battle for healthy skin begins. Freezing temperatures, low humidity and running your furnace can leave your skin itchy, dry and flaking. Luckily there are some steps you can take to help ease the “winter skin”.
- Moisturize More: As weather conditions change, so should your skincare routine. Find a moisturizer that is oil-based, rather than water-based, as the oil will create a protective layer on the skin that retains more moisture. You should also moisturize once in the morning and once in the evening.
- Wear your Sunscreen: No, sunscreen isn’t just for summertime. Winter sun, combined with snow glare, can still damage your skin. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least 30 SPF to your face and hands before going outside.
- Use a Humidifier: Heating systems blast hot, dry air throughout our homes and offices. Humidifiers put more moisture in the air, which helps prevent your skin from drying out. Place several throughout your home to help disperse the moisture evenly.
- Limit your Face Washing: During the summer you should wash your face twice a day, but during the winter months stick to once a day. Switch to washing in the evening to remove your makeup.
- Exfoliate: Exfoliation is necessary for the health of the skin, especially in the winter. Remove the dry flaky skin cells with a gentle dry brush or gloves, then shower and use an exfoliating cleanser. Read more here.
- Use your Lip Balm: Our lips become cracked and chapped easily in the winter because we can’t cover them up. Be sure to apply a good lip balm daily.
So while we can’t control the temperatures outside, we can control how we take care of our skin during the cold weather. Be sure to bundle up and stay warm! 