We’re right there with you – the constant hand washing and sanitizing has probably left your poor hands overly dry and sometimes even painful! Your face and body may also be feeling the effects of the colder temps, lower humidity, and dry indoor heat. If you haven’t already transitioned away from lightweight formulas to your winter regimen (or didn’t even know you needed to), now is the time! We’re here to help. Here are tips to combat dry winter skin from head to toe…
Use Gentler Products
It is important to change your skincare routine to protect your skin. As temperatures fall and the air gets drier, your skin pays the price. Use kinder, gentler cleansers that hydrate your skin rather than foaming or exfoliating formulations that can increase irritation in the dry, cold weather.
Product Pick: Alastin Gentle Cleanser
Switch your facial moisturizer to one with a little more weight
Thicker, richer formulas have more hydrating ingredients, providing more moisture creating a barrier to protect your skin from the harsh elements. Consider nourishing moisturizers that seal water in, or those with hyaluronic acid that bind water with the added benefit of plumping the skin. Dry skin does not cause wrinkles, but wrinkles and fines lines appear more prominent if your skin is dry. An instant, efficient way to minimize the appearance of wrinkling in the skin is to moisturize.
Use a humidifier
Humidifiers help to add moisture back into the air, which can be especially helpful when indoor heating is cranked up in the winter months. Using a humidifier can replenish moisture in the top layer of your skin.
Apply Sunscreen Daily
Sunscreen tends to fall off the radar for many people in the winter months, but even in winter it is still important to protect your skin from damaging UV rays. Your skin also needs protecting from blue light, also called High Energy Visible Light (HEV) emitted from electronic devices like smartphones, tablets, and TVs. Look for an antioxidant-rich facial sunscreen that will protect you from both.
Product Pick: Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Face Shield SPF 50
Lower the temperature
Nothing sounds better than a hot shower or bath after coming in from the cold, but try your best to avoid it. Hot water can strip away your skin’s natural oils. If you have dry skin problems, keep your shower as brief as possible and use lukewarm, not hot, water. Incorporate a moisturizing body wash and immediately apply a moisturizer to your body while your skin is still slightly damp to lock in moisture.
Add occlusives to your body moisturizers
We have a lower concentration of oil glands on our extremities, so these areas suffer first when the weather gets cold and dry. Occlusive ingredients provide a physical barrier to lock moisture into your skin. Switch to a heavier moisturizer or ointment for the body containing occlusive ingredients like petrolatum, mineral oil, or plant-based emollients like castor oil or glycerin, which will seal in moisture at the skin’s surface.
Don’t neglect your feet!
Your feet may get dry and crack in the winter. The fastest way to treat this is to help remove the thickened, cracked skin with a peeling agent again. You probably don’t consider foot peels until the summer, but winter is the perfect time to get your feet in shape (plus, socks and shoes hide all of the unsightly peeling). After the peel has done its magic, be sure to moisturize your feet with a heavy cream to maintain the softness.
