Adjusting Your Skincare Routine for the Winter
As the temperatures drops during the winters, it’s time for all of us to adjust our skincare routine according to the season. The cold breeze, the dry air can make our skin feel tight, dry and flaky and makes it essential to tweak our skincare regimen to ensure skin stays healthy, hydrated and glowing throughout the colder months. The skincare products that we use during the warm weather will no longer work on the skin during the cold season. Let us understand how to manage our skincare routine during winter months while concentrating on hydration, protection and nourishment too.
Change to a Richer Moisturizer
Why it’s important
During the winter, the air is notoriously dry, and it can strip your skins natural moisture. To fight with dryness, use must use a moisturizer that is rich and nourishing, at the same time stand as a barrier to lock the hydration.
What to do
- Choose a thicker, cream-based moisturizer – When picking moisturizer for winter look for ingredients like shea butter, ceramides, hyaluronic acid as they restore moisture and strengthen skins natural barrier.
- Layer your products – Use hydrating serum or oil underneath your moisturizer for an extra boost for skin hydration, which should be used when the skin is prone to dryness.
Use a Gentle Cleanser
Why it’s important
Cleansing an important aspect to remove dirt, oil and impurities but avoid harsh cleaners as they leave the skin tight, irritated during the winter. Using a gentle cleanser will not strip your skin’s natural oils.
What to do
Opt for cream or oil-based cleansers – These keep the skin hydrating and less likely to disrupt skin’s moisture balance.
Stop using cleaners with harsh exfoliants or alcohol – As they make the skin dry during the winter, it may worsen the skin with dryness and irritation.
Don’t Forget Sunscreen
Why it’s important
Just that the weather is cold doesn’t mean the sun’s harmful UV rays have disappeared, but they still damage your skin, especially when exposed to reflective surfaces like snow or ice.
What to do
- Use a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher – Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 when we are indoors. Applying sunscreen must be a daily habit.
- Choose a moisturizing sunscreen – Choose sunscreens with ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid that provides added moisture during the dry winter months.
Incorporate Hydrating Masks
Why it’s important
When we use face masks in the winter, they add an extra boost of moisture. Hydrating masks help restore lost moisture with a soothing sensation and leaves your skin glowing.
What to do
- Use hydrating masks once or twice a week – Use masks that contain ingredients like aloe vera, honey, glycerin as they hydrate and lock the moisture on to the skin.
- Overnight masks – We can use an overnight mask that we can apply before bed and leave on while you sleep. These masks help in skin hydration and nourishment.
Exfoliate Less Frequently
Why it’s important
When we exfoliate the skin, the dead skin cells are eliminated and when we over-exfoliate during the winter season, the skin becomes too dry and sensitive. With the cold weather the skin is already prone to irritation and redness, we must be cautious when exfoliating.
What to do
- Exfoliate gently and less often – Aim to exfoliate once a week or alternate weeks gently with a mild exfoliator to retain the skin’s natural oils.
- Use gentle exfoliants – Exfoliation with soothing ingredients like lactic acid or enzymes make the skin gentle when compared to harsh scrubs.
Add a Humidifier to Your Environment
Why it’s important
Indoor heat during the winters can also make the air dry in the room that can dehydrate the skin. A humidifier helps maintain moisture in the air as it easily maintains skin’s hydration.
What to do
- Place a humidifier in your bedroom or living area – This can add the moisture in the air while we sleep or do our daily chores of activities.
- Keep your skin moisturized while using the humidifier – Even though we use a humidifier, we must use a rich moisturizer that acts as a protective barrier against skin dryness.
Stay Hydrated from the Inside Out
Why it’s important
Hydration starts from inside and to make this happen we must drink plenty of water. Water is essential to maintain skin’s hydration especially during the winters with dry air.
What to do
- Drink water regularly – Aim drinking 8 glasses of water in a day to maintain skin hydration and functionality.
- Eat hydrating foods – Inculcating hydrating foods like cucumbers, oranges, soups in our everyday helps to nourish the skin.
Conclusion
Winter season is with authentic coolness, where everyone enjoys its coldness. It’s a challenging time for skin where we can make a few simple changes in the skincare routine and keep it healthy, glowing and hydrated throughout the season. Use a rich moisturizer with a gentle cleanser and sunscreen. Exfoliating less frequently and using a hydrating mask with a humidifier in our living space can make a huge difference for the skin health. Skin hydration is important from inside too which can be achieved from dinking plenty of water.
Tweak the skincare routine according to cold months that makes the skin nourished, protected and hydrated with radiance all through the season. Let the skin thank you for the extra care you take during the cold weather.
