Even though winter is fun (with the new year, holidays, snow days, and nights by the fire), the dry air and cold weather can be hard on our skin.
When the seasons change, you skin undergoes a lot of changes too. For example, when it gets colder, a lot of people develop dry skin.
Some signs of dry skin are itching, flaking, and redness. In more severe cases, your skin can also crack and bleed. Our skin often gets dull, dry, flaky, and even dehydrated during the winter.
Read on for some skincare tips, so you don't have to spend the whole winter feeling miserable and uncomfortable in your own skin.
1. Use a calming cleanser
Cleansing is the first (and most crucial) step in any skincare routine. So, when you scrub to get rid of makeup, dirt, and oils, choose a gentle formula on your skin that doesn't take away the moisture it needs.
Our Pick: Angels & Sages Nectar Facial Cleansing Oil is a luxurious facial cleansing oil that melts away impurities and unclogs pores without stripping the skin of its natural oils and pH balance. The Nectar Cleansing Oil is also a great way to get rid of eye makeup, like mascara.
2. Try a heavier moisturizer
In the summer, we like how light gel moisturizers feel on our skin, but in the winter, we need richer formulas to lock in the moisture. Look for a moisturizer that has a heavy cream base. This will prevent irritation and make your skin feel better.
Our pick: Angels & Sages Hyaluronic + Antioxidant Hydrating Daily Moisturizer. It has amino acids, hyaluronic acid, panthenol, rosehip seed oil, botanical antioxidants, and lipid factors that nourish, protect, and really boost the amount of moisture in your skin.
3. Exfoliation is essential
It might be tempting to skip exfoliators when dry, cold air makes your skin feel sensitive. But when you exfoliate, you get rid of dead skin cells that can flake off and dry your skin. Plus, they help your lotion and other skin care products work better. The trick is to use a formula that is gentler and to exfoliate less often. A gentle exfoliant and circular strokes will stimulate blood flow to the skin. This will give it a radiant and youthful look.
Our Pick: Use the Konjac Charcoal Facial Cleansing Sponge for Light Exfoliation. It is a completely natural sponge (made from Japanese Konjac vegetable roots) enriched with charcoal for extra purifying properties. Use it to get rid of dry, flaky skin, lighten your skin tone, clear your pores, and bring damaged skin cells back to life without drying out your skin.
4. Take care of your lips
Your lips have thin skin that easily loses moisture, making them dry, flaky, and chapped. Always bring a good lip balm with you so you can rehydrate and protect your lips on the go. Lip balms not only add a physical barrier between your lips and the dry, cold air but also give your lips the nutrients they need to stay moist from the inside out. Plus, you can quickly rub lip balm on your cuticles and other dry spots.
Our Pick: Nourish Now Lip Balm contains the finest ingredients, including coconut oil, beeswax, shea butter, cocoa butter, and tocopherol (vitamin E). This lip balm will saturate your lips with hydration and give them a pleasant fizz.
5. Use a moisturizing face mask
Despite the benefits of using a mask to eliminate blackheads or breakouts, some of the solutions are too harsh and dry for the winter. Instead, it would be best to try a replenishing sheet mask or cream. Look for masks with moisturizing emollients and more active hydrating ingredients like vitamin E and ceramides.
Our Pick: Angels & Sages Replenishing Mask. This mask is made with natural active hydrolyzed lupine protein, which helps with protein-lipid synthesis and creates a stronger barrier to keep water from escaping.
6. Use SPF all year long
Yes, you've probably heard this before, but it needs repeating: you should always use sunscreen- all year. The sun can still damage your skin even when it's cloudy and dark outside. So, make sure to use your favorite broad-spectrum sunscreen daily and rest easy knowing that those UVA and UVB rays can't hurt your skin.
7. Get a humidifier
Even though the heat in your home is nice and cozy, it can make your skin feel dry. Like air conditioners, heaters can pull water out of the air. Also, going from cold air into a warm room can make your skin feel tight and dry, and it can cause your skin to lose moisture. Using a humidifier will help your skin keep its moisture.
8. Avoid hot showers
A long, hot shower feels great when it's cold outside, but it's not so great if you have dry skin. Your skin will become dry if you wash it too often. The heat in the water makes your skin lose its natural oils. If you're not getting sweaty from exercise, try taking showers for only 5 to 10 minutes every other day.
9. Drink plenty of water.
It can be easy to forget to drink enough water daily when it's cold outside. Healthy, hydrated skin starts from the inside. As part of your winter skincare routine, you should drink enough water to keep your skin moist from the inside out.
10. Adopt a daily skincare routine
It doesn't need to be complicated. Here is a basic and easy skincare routine that you can follow to keep your skin healthy and radiant throughout winter.
● Wash your face once or twice a day, ideally in the morning and before bed.
● Apply a skin toner.
● When you're done, seal in the moisture by applying a daily moisturizer. Plus, before bed, use an intensive moisturizer or nighttime cream. This is best done on damp skin since freshly washed skin is more receptive to hydration.
If you struggle to maintain healthy skin during the winter, keep these tips in mind. Along with taking care of your skin, don't forget to drink a lot of water and eat foods that are good for your skin.
Want the most effective skin care techniques and products? Browse our best-selling collection of all-natural clean products here, or schedule an appointment to have our fantastic staff assess your skin and suggest a customized regimen.
