Now that the weather is getting colder, it’s time to get your skin ready to face the changes in the climate and adjust accordingly. Unfortunately, weather changes can cause skin problems for some people, especially those with dry and sensitive skin. It's essential to change our day-to-day routine, from the clothes we wear and the food we eat to the makeup we apply and the skincare products we use.
The cold, dry, and harsh atmosphere during winter can be frustrating if you don’t make appropriate changes to your skincare routine and prepare your skin to withstand all the skincare challenges that go together with winter. Here are some skincare tips and winter skincare rules to help you through the cold months of winter:
Upgrade Your Skincare Routine - As the weather changes, you need to modify your skincare regimen to meet the varying demands of your skin too. Add and remove skincare products from your routine to adopt the proper skincare routine for the cold season.
If you have itchy, dry, and inflamed skin, skimp on any acids you have used during summer. Acids, including AHAs and BHAs, and retinoids work by speeding up the cell turnover that causes peeling and dryness. In addition, the cold and dry atmosphere can make your skin even more sensitive. So, scale back on these compounds and load on hydrating, soothing, and moisturizing products.
Moreover, avoid using products with alcohol, dyes, fragrances, and other irritants. Find products with humectants, occlusives, and emollients, such as natural oils, shea butter, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and peptides, to help lock in moisture and keep skin hydrated.¹
A quick way to upgrade your skincare routine is by adding an under-eye mask! Sundree’s Bio-cellulose Eye Masks contain copper peptides, white tea extract, glycerin, and CBD to help de-puff and hydrate the delicate under-eye area. It’s super easy! Just apply the masks, sit back and relax for 15 minutes for brighter, well-rested eyes.
Swap Your Moisturizer - The moisturizing cream, lotion, or gel used during the hot summer may not work for your skin as the weather shifts. The air becomes drier and colder, depleting the skin’s natural moisture level. Your previous moisturizer may not be enough to provide the needed moisture to your skin. Instead, switch to a cream, lotion, or gel-based product with a more hydrating and moisturizing formula. For instance, if you have dry skin, opt for a thicker cream-based moisturizer and if your skin is oily, go for a gel-based formula.
Choose a Gentle Cleanser - Although you need to apply a gentle and safe cleanser year-round, it becomes even more important during winter as the dry, cold air can make the skin more sensitive and prone to inflammation. Therefore, switching to milder, cream-based cleansing products during cold weather is recommended to avoid irritating and drying the skin. Also, ensure the cleanser you opt for is free from fragrance and alcohol.
Moreover, avoid using harsh bath soaps as they can contain ingredients that can dry the skin and cause irritation. Instead, find gentle, fragrance-free formulas. Also, find a cleanser, body wash, and soap containing moisturizing and soothing ingredients, such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, natural oils, shea butter, and ceramides.
Don’t Neglect Your Hands - We wash our hands frequently throughout the day to maintain our hygiene. Since the skin on your hands has fewer oil glands than your face and other body parts, it requires intense nourishment and moisture. Simply applying hand cream in the morning and evening may not be enough to keep the dryness under control during winter. Instead, keep your hand cream in your handbag or car and slather it throughout the day whenever your skin is drying out.
Add cuticle oil to your skincare routine to take your winter hand care up a notch and add an extra dose of moisture to your skin. Furthermore, avoid washing your hands unnecessarily during the day.
Apply Serum to Damp Skin - The significance of applying a moisturizing skincare product becomes even more crucial during dry, cold weather. After you’ve found a formula for your specific skin type and problems, the next trick is to use it after washing your face or body when it’s still damp.
When applied to slightly damp skin, your moisturizer will absorb deeper into the skin. Damp skin will trap moisturizing compounds better, locking in additional moisture and allowing the formula to work deeper. This will not only restore your skin’s moisture level but also retain moisture in the skin and inhibit moisture loss through the epidermal layer.
Avoid Over-Exfoliating Your Skin - We all know that regularly exfoliating the skin is quintessential for getting rid of dull, dead, dry skin and revealing healthier, radiant, and fresher skin. However, exfoliating the skin too often during the winter season can cause more trouble than any good to your skin. It can predispose the skin to irritation, dryness, discoloration, and wrinkles.
Therefore, it’s essential that you only exfoliate your skin once a week or twice if needed for your skin and its issues. Also, avoid using exfoliators that can cause dryness and inflammation to the skin. Instead, opt for a gentle, non-abrasive exfoliating product that removes dead skin cells without aggravating the skin.
Protect Your Lips - Like the skin on your face, hands, and body, the lips also need added protection during winter. The delicate, thin, and sensitive skin on the lips is at an increased risk of dryness, flaking, and cell damage caused by harsh external elements, including cold, dry air, UV rays, dirt, and other pollutants in the surroundings.
So while it’s crucial to keep the lips moisturized with a nourishing lip balm or moisturizer, don’t forget to find a formula with an SPF of 30 or above to shield the skin from oxidative damage. Some top moisturizing, soothing, and nourishing ingredients to look for while buying your lip balm are shea butter, glycerin, cocoa butter, and honey.
Update Your Nighttime Skincare Routine - Your winter nighttime skincare routine does not need to be elaborate and luxurious. You just need to update your skincare routine to fulfill your skin's changing needs during cold weather. As we know, the skin heals and revitalizes as we sleep, so it’s important to use skincare products that help to repair and renew the skin and reverse any cell damage caused by harsh weather.
A basic routine with the right cleanser, serum, moisturizer, repairing and nourishing night cream, eye cream, and lip balm will do the job and maintain a smooth, soft, and plump complexion.
We love using Sundree’s RYSE+SHYNE Facial Serum to keep skin hydrated and nourished. This facial serum is filled with skin-soothing ingredients hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and aloe to keep skin supple and less dry. In addition, this serum works overtime to help minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while boosting moisture.
Don’t Skip Sun Protection - Many might think of ditching sunscreen on cold, cloudy days when the sun does not shine bright. Well, sun protection is as crucial on gray winter days as on hot summer days. The harsh UV radiations, free radicals, and other toxic environmental elements can still reach your skin and cause cell damage, leading to several skin issues. To prevent wrinkles, brown spots, fine lines, scaling, and inflammation from sun damage, apply and reapply your sunscreen throughout the day. Don’t let dark days fool you into believing that the sun’s rays can’t affect your skin.
Stay Hydrated and Eat Well - Keeping the body and the skin hydrated isn’t only recommended for hot summer days. The skin’s ability to retain moisture reduces during the winter. So, you must also keep your body hydrated during winter because the harsh, drying weather can take a toll on the skin and leave it dry and dehydrated even on the coldest winter days.
Furthermore, eating right is another way to ensure that your skin stays in its optimal health and appearance. Try avoiding sugary and fatty foods.² Instead, add fresh vegetables and fruits to your daily diet to deliver your body all the vital elements it needs, such as vitamins, fatty acids, minerals, and antioxidants.
Avoid Hot Temperatures - It’s natural to turn up the heat around us to fight the cold winter weather. But unfortunately, high temperatures can strip the skin of its natural moisture and cause inflammation and scaling of the skin. Therefore, instead of using a heater, plug in a humidifier at your home, as a central heating system can remove moisture from the air around you. A humidifier, on the contrary, can add moisture back to the air.
Furthermore, don’t use hot water to wash your face or take a shower.³ Hot water can also dry out the skin and damage its protective lipid barrier, making it susceptible to dryness, redness, and itching. Instead, use lukewarm water while washing your face and taking a shower or bath.
Final Thoughts
While winter comes with many reasons to celebrate and be happy, it also brings some hard times for your skin. The drying and harsh air can cause changes to the skin tone and texture, paving the way to a myriad of skin concerns. Nonetheless, you can keep your skin thriving through the cold weather and enjoy your holidays by adjusting your skincare routine. The key is to swap your previous skincare products with products formulated with more hydrating and moisturizing compounds and avoid any ingredient that can lead to dryness or irritation. Also, keep your skin hydrated and nourished from the inside out by eating healthy and drinking more water.
Citations:
- S. Brooklyn. (2021). ‘Copper Peptides 101: Why You Need it in Your Skincare Routine’, Sundree. Accessed December 21, 2022. Available at: https://sundree.com/blogs/news/copper-peptides-101-why-you-need-it-in-your-skincare-routine
- Juber, Mahammad. (2022). ‘Foods High in Fats’, WebMD. Accessed December 21, 2022. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/diet/foods-high-in-fats
- Gupta, Aayushi. (2021). ‘Ditch long, hot showers during winter, or be ready for skin problems’, Health Shots. Accessed December 22, 2022. Available at: https://www.healthshots.com/beauty/skin-care/heres-how-bathing-with-hot-water-can-affect-your-skin/
