All that cold air, dry indoor heat and low humidity levels that come with winter will suck the moisture out of your skin. Which leaves it looking more dry, flaky and a lot less radiant. So adapting your skincare routine to winter weather is a must.
Luckily there are steps you can take today to keep your skin healthy, even when temperatures dip.
- Use a humidifier
- Cleanse less
- Use a cream/milk cleanser
- Use a face mist
- Use a moisturizer rich in zinc
- Use an overnight lip treatment
Let’s dive into each one of those tips in more detail.
1. Use a humidifier
It’s nice to be optimistic, but as long as we’re spending most of our time indoors, investing in a humidifier is a must.
Winter weather is already dry enough, adding indoor heating to that equation results in an absolute nightmare. So help your skin out. Use a humidifier; the moisture in the air will be absorbed by your skin.
Amazon has some really great and affordable options. Here is the link to the best-selling one on the site.
2. Cleanse less
I know, he last thing you want to hear while looking for winter skincare tips is to cleanse less. But hear me out.
Cleansing twice a day is perfect for most of the year. In cold dry weather however, you should probably only cleanse once–at night.
When I used to cleanse twice during winter times, my skin would get so dry and flaky. It didn’t matter how much moisturizer I put on, or how rich and thick it was. My skin would still be dry.
That’s because by over-cleansing, I was not only stripping my skin from its natural oils, but also compromising my skin barrier.
So learn from my mistakes. Cleansing once a day, every night, is enough. It will clean your pores, remove your makeup and not strip down your skin.
3. Use a cream/milk cleanser
Not all cleansers are created equal. If you want to incorporate more moisturizing products into your skincare routine, you should consider switching your cleanser.
A creamy, or milky, cleanser will be much more moisturizing. It will add that nice extra layer of hydration instead of stripping your skin from its natural oils.
A very good, versatile, example would be the Laneige Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer.
I’m generally not a fan of 2-in-1 formulas, but this one just works.
I know it doesn’t say cleanser on the label but bear with me. It’s very creamy so your makeup will be coming right off. It’s also very light and doesn’t leave an oily residue. So you don’t need to go in with a stripping cleanser. Just rub it in, rinse with warm water, pat dry and then go in with your other moisturizing products.
This baby is also fragrance free, making it sensitivity-friendly.
That being said, I wouldn’t recommend it for very oily skin.
4. Use a face mist
Your focus for winter skincare should be continuously add hydration to your skin throughout the day. A very good way to do that is a facial spray (aka a mist or spritz).
A face mist can be used in so many different ways: Just woke up in the morning? Use it to recover that hydration lost throughout the night. Getting ready? Use it to prep your skin before applying makeup. You find toners too harsh? Substitute them with a facial spray. The world is your oyster!
What’s even better is that you can carry them everywhere with you to add in some extra moisture whenever, wherever.
A personal favorite? Avène thermal spring water
It’s a boost of hydration, bundled into a very compact spray!
This baby is not just normal water. It’s formulated with very specific minerals so as to hydrate, soothe and strengthen your skin.
La Roche-Posay also has a very good face mist rich in antioxidants. But I find the Avène one to be more suitable for my sensitive skin; it calms all that irritation and redness down almost immediately.
5. Use a moisturizer rich in Zinc
Yes, you read that right. Not just any moisturizer, but one that is rich in zinc.
Zinc will create a protective layer on the surface of your skin that will keep it hydrated and moisturized. This is because it prevents water loss from the skin to the environment.
Ultimately, we’re not only looking to moisturize the skin but also protect the skin barrier. A broken skin barrier in winter is something you want to avoid at all cost (as someone that had the displeasure of experiencing it, just take my word for it) so adding a suitable moisturizer into your winter skincare routine is a must!
This CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion perfect for this.
Side note: because it so rich in zinc, it may leave a white cast. Which I don’t mind cause I use it at night.
I’m not blind, I can clearly see the “am” written on the label. But using this as a nightly treatment is a game changer! Apply generously as the last step of your skincare and let your skin bask in all that goodness.
It’s perfect for both preventing and treating a broken skin barrier.
6. Use an overnight lip treatment
If you suffer from dry lips or cold sores, even the best lip balm on the market won’t be enough. You need a good lip treatment to make sure that your lips are really holding onto that moisture throughout the night.
A very famous product that does exactly that is Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Mask.
This baby will ensure that your lips are moisturized, supple, and smooth-as-silk by morning. It’s infused with antioxidants and vitamin C so you’re sure to notice a visible difference after just one use.
The jar may seem small, but it lasts even if you’re using it generously (which I can assure you I am).
Final words on winter skincare
If these tips don’t work for you, you should consideration talking to your dermatologist. There could be some underlying health problems, or you may need a prescription-strength moisturizer.
See you next week!
𝐗𝐎𝐗𝐎
𝐅𝐢𝐟𝐢
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