For many, winter is a time of magic and joy. During the holiday season, long walks in the snow or ice rinks offer endless fun for your family and you. Or maybe you prefer to snuggle up in a warm room and enjoy your favorite hot drink. Either way, your skin will pay the price. Cold and dry winter air can easily irritate your skin, but the heated rooms you spend your time in will have similar effects. We have all experienced the unpleasant feeling of tight and dry skin after spending some time in the cold. Chapped lips and skin damage can make every movement or smile painful. Fortunately, there are many ways to prevent the negative consequences of rough skin and keep it smooth and supple all season long. We offer you some winter skin care tips to solve the problems that winter brings.
Healthy diet
Vitamins and antioxidants are your best friends and allies in the daily struggle to keep your skin healthy and beautiful. Eating healthy is of great importance. Berries, cocoa, spices, and legumes are excellent sources of these essential nutrients. Pumpkins and carrots provide beta-carotene, which is necessary for cell regeneration and stimulates collagen production. Therefore, your diet during the winter months must be rich in fruits and vegetables. Other foods that are critical for your skin are those rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish, eggs, and nuts.
Make sure you drink enough water throughout the day.
Hydration
When your main problem is skin deprived of moisture due to wind or cold, the advice to hydrate your body sounds quite logical. But while we’re all aware of the importance of hydration, many people often forget to drink water when it’s cold outside. Make sure you drink enough water throughout the day. You can efficiently maintain hydration with food that contains a large percentage of water. Also, try replacing coffee with green tea, which has excellent antioxidant effects. Avoid using alcohol because it has a powerful dehydrating effect on the body in general.
Physical activity
It is not easy to get out of a warm home and do your workout routine in the cold, but it is of great importance for your overall health. The health of your skin will benefit as well. The increased heart rate and dilation of the skin’s blood vessels during exercise will allow more nutrients and water to reach all parts of your skin. It will also enable the regeneration of damaged cells and the efficient work of the immune system in the skin.
Limit time in hot water
After some time spent in the cold, we dream of a warm bath that we will jump into as soon as we cross the threshold of our house. And although it sounds tempting, it might not be the best idea. Hot water removes the skin’s natural protective oils, causing quick evaporation and dehydration of the skin. If we do not hydrate it adequately and on time, cracks appear on the skin, causing a so-called winter itch. Try keeping the water temperature under 100 degrees Fahrenheit and the shower time under 10 minutes. After showering, apply a moisturizer. That will help your skin to keep the moisture barrier intact and prevent dryness.
Switch up your skincare products
Skincare is different in different environments. Products that worked for you in the summer may not have the same effect in the winter. But don’t overdo the changes. Although the climatic conditions have changed, your skin type has not. Adapt your daily routines to new circumstances. You don’t have to change them entirely at any cost.
Even though winter weather can be harsh, we should not avoid the time we spend outside in the cold. The benefits we can have from it are far greater. Gear up, protect your skin, get out on the snow and enjoy. Spend some time on a mountain or in snow-covered NYC.
Gently exfoliate
Under normal circumstances, exfoliating your skin helps to remove dead skin cells. It will also promote skin regeneration and absorption of skin care products. That is why exfoliating dry skin during the winter may seem like a good idea. But we must be careful. Improper or too frequent exfoliation can cause further aggravation of already damaged. Exfoliating once a week is fine, but you have to take into account your skin type and the degree of damage and problems you have with your skin. This is one of the winter skin care tips you shouldn’t avoid.
One of the most important winter skin care tips is to always wear sunscreen
Use sunscreen
One of the most important winter skin care tips is to always wear sunscreen. Although the sun’s radiation is not as powerful in winter, it can still cause damage to your skin. It’s not just direct radiation that’s dangerous to your skin. The reflection of the sun’s rays from snow surfaces can cause burns. Even though the sun is necessary for making vitamin D, you still have to put on sunscreen every day, regardless of whether you’re on the mountain, skiing, or walking around town.
Winter skin care tips: Moisturize often
Hydration is the key to keeping the skin moist. That’s why it’s important for you to find the right moisturizer to help your skin in winter conditions. Oil-based, rather than water-based, moisturizers are better suited for use during the winter months. The oil they contain will create a protective layer on the skin that retains more moisture than a cream or lotion – the thicker the moisturizer, the better. But even in this case, keep your skin type in mind when choosing. In any case, it is necessary to moisturize your skin daily.
Apply a hydrating lip balm with SPF 30+ daily to prevent chapping.
Protect dry lips
Lips are especially sensitive to winter conditions. The mucous membrane generally produces less protective materials than the skin and therefore requires special care. Apply a hydrating lip balm with SPF 30+ daily to prevent chapping.
Use a humidifier
Dry air is not only a problem from the outside. Even in our homes, the humidity is low and contributes to the drying of the skin. So consider purchasing a humidifier to add moisture to indoor spaces. Keeping the humidity at an ideal level (about 40-60%) will help reduce skin dryness and related problems.
Final words
Even though wintertime is incredible, specific problems occur. Your skin gets more sensitive, which means you should take extra care of it. With these winter skin care tips, we hope we made that job a little easier for you.
