5 Skincare Tips for Harsh Winter Weather

The cold, dry, and incredibly harsh winter air can truly take a toll on our skin. During this period, many people experience dryness, flakiness, irritation, and sometimes even cracked skin that can be quite itchy and painful. But even though these symptoms might be common when experiencing such harsh weather, your skin doesn’t necessarily have to suffer throughout the winter months. With the right skincare routine, you could easily maintain a soft and hydrated complexion during winter, and here are some beneficial tips that will help you achieve just that:

Switch to gentler ingredientsAs our skin tends to be drier, more sensitive, and more prone to irritation during wintertime, it’s important to focus on more mild and gentle ingredients that aim to nourish and repair the skin, without overly stripping it. Whether it’s a cleanser or a body wash, try to avoid fragrances and harsh ingredients, and opt for milkier or oilier formulations that tend to be milder options.
Choose products that contain glycerin and hyaluronic to ensure proper hydration, and focus on beneficial ceramides to help repair your skin’s moisture barrier in harsh winter weather. However, if you suffer from conditions such as extreme dryness, rosacea, or eczema, it might be best to schedule a skin consultation with a professional to find the right winter treatment for your skin.

Improve your moisturiserOnce your skin is hydrated with proper ingredients, it’s essential to apply a good moisturiser that will help to trap moisture on your skin, preventing transepidermal water loss, and leading to soft and supple skin. Instead of more lightweight or even gel-based moisturisers that might have suited you in the summer, switch to slightly thicker and heavier options in the winter, to battle the harsh, cold weather.
When it comes to your body, it’s also recommended to choose ointments and thicker creams over lighter lotions to ensure proper hydration. Your body moisturiser should be applied on damp skin, as soon as you leave the shower or bath, to keep your skin soft and smooth in winter.

Invest in quality productsWhile we might feel free to experiment with different products during the warmer months, dry and sensitive winter skin requires very thoughtful care. Not only are the beneficial ingredients we choose important, but also the quality of these ingredients, as well as the overall formulation of the products.
For this reason, it might be best to only select luxury skin care products when constructing your winter beauty routine. From cleansers and essences to serums and moisturisers, high-end products tend to contain high-quality ingredients that are incredibly potent, helping to efficiently nourish and care for sensitive winter skin.

Stay away from hot waterAlthough taking a hot shower or bath might seem like the perfect solution for warming up in cold weather, this could actually be quite damaging to your skin. Water that is too hot can further dehydrate your skin, leading to flakiness, cracks, irritation, increased sensitivity, and other skin concerns.
Instead, it might be a much better option to use warm or lukewarm water, and only take showers that are 5 to 10 minutes long, in an effort to prevent excessive water loss and dryness. Don’t forget to apply a good moisturiser as soon as you leave the shower, in order to protect your skin’s barrier and maintain soft and hydrated skin throughout the colder months.

Try to keep moisture in the airApart from being quite cold and harsh, winter air also tends to be incredibly dry. And while this isn’t often a concern many people have, such dry air could pull moisture from your skin, leading to dehydration, excessive dryness, and flakiness, among other skin concerns.
To combat this winter dryness, it might be a good idea to use a humidifier in your home, including your bedroom. By keeping the humidity level between 45% and 55%, a humidifier can help bring moisture back into the air, particularly if you tend to blast the heat. Drinking a few extra glasses of water a day might also be helpful when it comes to keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Even though the cold, dry, and harsh winter weather can often wreak havoc on your skin, adhering to the helpful tips mentioned above will allow you to combat winter air, and maintain a soft, supple, and hydrated complexion.