How To Beat Winter Dry Skin

In this post, we will discuss how to beat winter dry skin and the changes you can make for healthier nourished skin this winter.

While the winter seaons brings christmas lights, pumpkin spiced lattes, warm sweaters, one thing we can all do without is dry flakey skin that gets in the way of our glow game over the festive season. Dry skin can make the skin look dull and fine lines and wrinkles more prominent.

Colder air temperatures mean less humidity, this means the skin cells have less moisturise. When added to indoor heating the skin barrier is compromised making it even harder for skin to retain moisture. For those who already suffer with skin conditions such as eczema or rosacea, the cold weather can cause flare ups and worsen their condition whilst compromising the skin barrier further.

For more on eczema Check out: ECZEMA CREAMS THAT WORK FAST |HOW TO CLEAR ECZEMA PERMANENTLY

1. Swap Your Lotion For Cream

One of the most important yet commonly overlooked steps in your skincare routine is the right moisturiser. Not all moisturisers are created equal. Creams and more hydrating for the cold winter months compared to lotions, look for hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and ceramides and dont skip this step in both your morning and evening routine.

2. Moisturise At The Right Time

While we should moisturise as often as needed, there are some advantages of moisturising at specific times which should not be skipped. Moisturising after a shower or bath when the skin damp is ideal to hydrate the skin and beat winter dry skin.

Also moisturising atleast twice a day as part of your morning and evening skincare routine should be the bare minimum.

For those with oily skin it can feel counter intuitive to moisture but is still essential. Excess oil is a sign of dryness even if the skin does not actually feel dry, the skin produces excess oil when it gets dry and moisturisng more can actually help to hydrate.

3. Use A Moisturiser With The Right Ingredients

Choosing the right moisturiser is key; look for the following ingredients:

Glycerin: When put on the skin it draws water to itself. Putting it on your skin helps draw water to the skin. It is commonly found in dry skin creams for eczema and dry skin conditions.

Hyaluronic acid: This ingredient has taken the skincare world by storm, Hyaluronic acid is amazing at retaining water and is therefore commonly found in products for dry skin. It also helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and keeps the skin feeling soft.

Ceramides: Cermamides makeup the skin’s natural protective barrier. They exist between your skin cells, forming a seal, which both hydrates and protects.

4. Swap Your Cleanser

A gentle cleanser that respects the skin pH is key to a healthy skin barrier that can do its job at keeping moisture in. Avoid soaps that strip the skin and can irritate skin.

5. Use A Sleeping Mask

You can take your nightime skincare routine to the next level with a sleeping mask, this forms a seal on top of your lighter products like oils, serums and lotions allowing the lower layers to penetrate your skin to where they need to be while reducing the chances of transepidermal evaporation. They are a good investment for that extra boost of moisture and to help you get the most out of your current skincare routine.

6. Don’t Shower With Very Hot Water

Whilst a warm soak in the bath sounds after a long day out in the cold, hot temperatures deplete your skin’s lipid layer which is essential for hydrated skin. It is best to keep the temperature warm and quick showers rather than baths. Applying your body cream while your skin is damp helps with absorption.

7. Gloves To Sleep In

If your hands tend to dry up no matter how many times you moisturise, gloves can be a great way to help retain moisture and get the most out of your hand cream.

Apply a generous layer of hand cream before sleeping and cotton gloves on top.

8. Product For Lips

Unlike the rest of our skin our lips don’t contain oil glands making them more susceptible to drying out and becoming chapped. It can feel tempting to try and lick them to rehydrate but this actually makes the problem worse, saliva can strip the lips of moisturize further. Invest in a lip balm and make it a habit to re-apply regularly.

9. Cut Out Drying Actives

Some active ingredients can have side effects such as drying, if you are struggling with winter dry skin it may be best to avoid these or introduce them slowly. Ingredients like retinol, AHA’s such as glycolic acid, salicylic acid and exfoliants have a tendency to dry out skin. Using the sandwich technique is great for mitigiating this side effect, this is where you moisturise wait 3 minutes, apply your active and then moisturise again after 3 minutes.

10. Invest In A Humidifier

Humidifiers help keep moisture in the air and your skin hydrated. The skin does it heavy lifting at night- hence the term beauty sleep, so sleeping in a room where the air if working in your favour can make all the difference.

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