10 Things Your Skin Is Begging You To Do This Winter
It’s winter time loves and there are so many things I’ve been looking forward to…
The smell of cinnamon candles, the delicious taste of hot cocoa, the beauty of snow creating a white winter wonderland, the anticipation of the holidays, I could go on and on.
However, winter also brings changes in humidity and temperature that unfortunately create problems for my skin — that I’m not looking forward to!
Sound familiar? If so, not to worry - because in this post im sharing 10 ways you can give your skin the TLC it needs to STAY hydrated, smooth, and radiant throughout these colder months.
So pour yourself a hot cup of cocoa or cyder, bundle up by the fire, and let’s get into it!
10 Things Your Skin Is Begging You To Do During The Winter
#1 STAY HYDRATED
We all know drinking water is a key factor in staying hydrated, but many of us forget to drink enough water in the colder months.
If you get anything out of this post today I hope you hear this… drinking water in the winter is a HUGE factor in preventing dehydrated skin from head to toe. Here’s the reason why… during the winter our skin can’t retain moisture as well, and by drinking water we can help our body replenish some of that hydration.
An article by UC health list some of the key things you will notice from drinking lots of water and staying hydrated:
It keeps you refreshed, hydrated and helps keep your skin elastic.
It helps balance your skin pH level, keeping it healthy.
It flushes toxins from your body that may otherwise cause skin health problems such as acne.
It helps tighten up sagging skin.
PRO TIPS:
To start your day off right - if you’re not one to drink cold water when it’s cold out (I don’t blame you) try swapping your morning coffee for hot green tea - which also has great antioxidant effects!
Also I don’t know if you know this but drinking water from a Yeti is a total game changer. I’ve never been one to drink a lot of water, but ever since Nic got me a Yeti — omg the water taste soooo good and refreshing — I’m constantly filling it up!
Fun Fact: there are sooooo many colors to choose from!!
#2 SKIP THE HOT SHOWER
If you’re like me and love your streaming hot showers is this is gonna be a hard change to adapt to. But unfortunately hot water removes natural oils from your skin more than lukewarm water does.
Here are my thoughts on the matter. If you need to take a steaming hot shower try getting in and out as quickly as you can. The less amount of time the hot water runs down your body, the less time it has to dry out your skin.
I’ve been able to tolerate “warm” vs “steaming hot showers” but to make it less of an agony for me, I like to warm up my towel and bathrobe for 10-15 mins in this towel warmer before getting in the shower. That way at least when I get out I have something warm to wrap myself in — you could do this with your socks too!
Pro Tip: If you are on a budget you can warm up your towel / robe in your laundry room dryer.
#3 EXFOLIATION IS KEY
You might not be “showing as much skin” in the colder months… but exfoliating is still a vital part of taking care of your skin in winter — not only does it help with clearing away any dead skin cells that can flake off and cause dry skin — but it’s also helping your moisturizer and skincare properly absorb into your skin.
As I always say… the better your skin can absorb your products the more efficacy your products will have.
Pro Tip: The key is to simply use more gentle formulas and exfoliate less often. (I like to go by the rule of thumb exfoliating 1-2x per week using this exfoliating mitt with body oil in the shower)
#4 THE THICKER THE BETTER
Swap out your summer body lotion for a thicker BODY BALM
Body balms are heavier with more emollient (hydrating) formulas that help repair the barrier function (the natural shield that keeps your skin hydrated) such as plant oils, butters from nuts and fruit, and waxes such as beeswax. Because my skin is prone to getting super dry I lather myself in this La Roche Posay product (one pump to each body part) twice a day.
PRO TIP: Lather your body in balm directly after you shower / take a bath while your skin is still damp!
Also, some balms tend to feel greasier than lotion, but it’s those oils are doing their job at nourishing your skin. I like to let my body balm absorb into my skin for at least 5 mins before getting dressed.
#5 AMP UP YOUR HAND CARE
We are all already washing our hands now more than ever … add winter into the mix (flu season) and you really need to be washing your hands.
But washing your hands often during the cold weather months can also cause your hands to become cracked dry and irritated.
So rather than skipping the hand washing you just need to amp up your hand care routine… applying hand cream in the morning and calling it a day simply won’t cut it.
Keep a hand cream in your purse, at your desk, in your car, on your kitchen sink … apply it as often as you can!
Also… for the love of your nails don’t neglect your cuticles! Using cuticle oil can help moisturize your cuticle and nails - restoring them to health. There’s nothing worse than having dried out peeling cuticles. They hurt and most of us start to pick at them - causing injury to our skin and sometimes even bleeding.
For the ultimate hydration - at night lather your hands in a rich layer of your favorite hand cream - then apply soft cotton gloves on top and sleep with them on. After a few nights, the skin barrier will start to heal and you hands will be as soft as a baby’s bottom!
#6 PUCKER UP
Our poor beautiful lips really bear the brunt of cold weather! If you’re one to struggle with dry, flaky, chapped lips let me explain why and how you can prevent it from happening moving forward!
Our lips lack the oil glands that naturally lubricate skin — so when they feel dry (from the winter weather) we start obsessively licking them (thinking it’s helping, but it’s not)
Here’s the problem - licking our lips leaves saliva on them — that then evaporates, taking with it whatever minimal moisture our lips did have.
It’s important to carry a good lip balm with you to rehydrate and protect them on the go — your typical lip gloss most likely isn’t going to be hydrating enough because lips balms are formulated to provide an added physical layer between your lips and the cold air.
Added bonus… lip balms deliver essential nutrients to KEEP your lips moisturized from the inside out!
My ride or die product for my lips is this lip masque! If you don’t have it… you need it!
#7 CHECK YOUR SKINCARE FOR HYDRATING INGREDIENTS
The most common question I get asked is do I need to change my entire skincare routine when winter comes? I have a whole post on that here for you, but for the purpose of this post I want you to know what ingredients to look for / add into your winter routine.
Hyaluronic Acid: The superstar ingredient for hydration because it can hold up to 1000x its weight in water providing long-lasting hydration.
Squalane: Boosts skin hydration and locks in moisture for firmer-looking skin.
Ceramides: Strengthen the skin’s barrier to help prevent moisture loss
#8 WEAR MAKEUP THAT DOUBLES AS SKINCARE
With the beauty world ever evolving we now have tons of makeup products with skincare benefits to choose from! Aside from this being a great way of keeping your skin healthy in the winter months - it’s also a key factor in achieving a beautiful makeup look. Using the right skincare during the changing seasons is the foundation to creating a perfect canvas for your makeup year round.
Here are a few makeup products formulated with skincare ingredients that I use and swear by!
Concealer
Kosas - Revealer Brightening Concealer
Tinted Moisturizer and CC Cream
IT Cosmetics - CC+ Cream with SPF 50+
RARE Beauty Tinted Moisturizer
Foundation
#9 SPF IS YOUR BFF
I know I say it all the time… but I’m gonna say it again (and again) your face needs sunscreen protection 365 days a year.
Just because the sky is darker / cloudier and the temperature drops that doesn’t mean your skin isn’t susceptible to the sun’s UV rays! (think skin cancer, pigmentary problems, wrinkles and aging of skin… no thank you!!!!)
Even if the only time you leave the house is for a Starbucks run to grab your Peppermint Mocha (gosh that sounds so good right now) — you still need to wear SPF!
With that being said what you can change due to the cold weather is switching over to a sunscreen product that is hydrating. Look for products that include hyaluronic acid or use a moisturizer with broad spectrum / SPF protection.
My top pick is SUPERGOOP Glow Screen!
#10 INVEST IN A HUMIDIFIER
During the cold winter months, most of us turn up the heat, bundle up in blankets, and get cozy.
However, on the flip side having the heater on pulls moisture from the air —contributing to your skin feeling dry, itchy, and irritated!
But not to worry - you don’t have to freeze in order to show your skin some TLC…
There’s a simple solution. The Mayo Clinic suggest investing in a humidifier for your home — this will add the moisture (humidity) back into the air — allowing you to run your heater without the negative effects on your skin.
A small 2008 study in a Japanese hospital found that using a humidifier in winter boosted humidity from 32.8% to 43.9% - relieving itchy, dry skin symptoms amongst the staff.
Below is a Humidifier that is a top seller on Amazon! Click the picture and it will take you directly to product info page!
PIN IT FOR LATER
