As we bring out our winter wardrobe, fluffy socks and soup-making skills in the colder months, we tend to forget that our skin is also in need of a bit more TLC.
You may notice your skin becoming drier, more irritated and on the dull side compared to the glow of the summer season. Below are our top 5 best tips for keeping your skin happy, and it’s easier than you think!
How does colder weather affect your skin?
As the humidity and warmth in the air drop drastically, our skin must work extra hard to provide sufficient hydration and combat the shock of the quick weather change. Cold, dry and windy weather can impact our skin barrier, causing flaky, cracked skin and increasing already existing inflammation, creating a painful and irritating scenario.
Read on for some useful tips to reduce dry skin woes and help your skin stay hydrated and glowy even in the colder months.
1. Drink More Water
Although simple (and easy to forget) drinking water is paramount for all of the benefits that come with it. Our water intake habits usually shift once it gets colder, reaching for our bottles less because it’s not hot and humid anymore, but that doesn’t mean we should drink less.
Staying hydrated regulates your body temperature, therefore allows your blood to remove toxins and carry oxygen and vital nutrients around your body. Keeping hydrated will also help your skin stay glowy and reduce inflamed skin conditions. Keep a reusable water bottle on you at all times and aim to drink 2 litres a day.
2. Limit Hot Showers
This may be one of the hardest tips to implement, but if you are finding your skin is drying out rapidly, try limiting your hot showers. Extremely hot water will shock your skin and cause excessive dryness and irritation. If you notice your skin turning red, or you spend over 10 minutes in an extremely hot shower, try to reduce the temperature and find a happy medium.
3. Invest In a More Nourishing Moisturiser
Our skin needs our help staying hydrated on the surface during the colder months, and switching to a thicker, richer moisturiser will help skin retain and lock in moisture for longer. For dry skin types, opt for a thick, occlusive night cream to help soothe and repair your skin barrier. For oily skin types, it is still extremely important to keep your skin hydrated. A common misconception with oily skin is that you need little to no moisturiser, but to help the skin stay balanced and stop overproducing oil, you shouldn’t ever skip this step. Look for a super hydrating gel or lotion, some moisturisers even contain technology to maintain hydration levels in the skin throughout the day.
4. Look for Products with Hydrating Ingredients
When looking at your everyday skincare products, there are a few incredibly hydrating ingredients and some irritating ingredients to avoid during Winter. Look out for products with hyaluronic acid, ceramides and natural Chamomile and Green Tea extracts. These ingredients will help hydrate, lock in moisture and soothe your skin. On the contrary, there are a few irritating ingredients that may increase inflammation due to the dry, windy climate. Although active ingredients such as retinol, vitamin C, BHA’s/AHA’s and other exfoliating acids can be great for many skin concerns, be aware of the potential risk that comes with using actives during the colder months. Applying strong exfoliants to already dry skin can create extra inflammation and even burning. Use less potent active products or reduce the frequency of use during these months.
5. Don’t Skip the SPF
Although you may not feel the sun as extremely as we do in Summer, that doesn’t mean we should forget about our sun safety practices. The most prominent UV rays to us on Earth are UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays (the rays responsible for sunburn) may not be as strong in the cooler months, but the UVA rays (responsible for aging, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation) will still penetrate and cause harm. UVA rays penetrate through clouds, easily reflect off surfaces and penetrate through windows. This is why we will always recommend using a Broad-Spectrum sunscreen all year round to keep your skin protected and sun damage free.
