The colder, winter weather has only just begun and my skin is already really feeling it. When the temperature drops and indoor heat goes up, the level of humidity in the air goes down. Add in winter wind, and it’s no surprise that our skin gets so dry this time of your. If you’re at a higher elevation like I am, these effects can be amplified. I have dry skin normally, so over the years I’ve developed some cold weather skincare habits to combat my usual wintertime dryness.
Daily Habits
We’ve heard it before – it’s vital to be drinking enough water all year, but it can be hard to remember when it’s cold out. To help myself stay on top of my water intake, I have a water bottle with times on it that makes it easy to track. My goal is to drink three of these bottles during the work day, along with one bottle before work and at least one bottle after. There are also tons of apps out there that will remind you to drink water. I’ve used Plant Nanny before and it’s a helpful way to keep track. Whatever your prefered tool, find what helps you remember to stay hydrated and stick with it.
As the seasons change, so should our products. For most of us, our skin isn’t as oily in the winter meaning we don’t need strong, harsh cleaners. I love using something gentle and creamy to cleanse without stripping my skin’s moisture. This cleanser is one of my favorites to use on an everyday basis because it’s so gentle and even removes makeup.
This should really be an all the time habit, but no matter how chilly it is, don’t forget the sunscreen! Even in the winter your skin can get sunburnt and dried out from sun damage. If it’s snowy out, sunscreen is especially essential since sunlight bounces off snow and amplifies the damage it can cause. As the last step of my morning skincare routine, I always apply a face sunscreen to my neck and face to protect my skin.
Nightly Habits
Since cold weather means there is less humidity in the air, another important habit is to use a humidifier. Humidifiers add moisture directly into the air to balance out some of the dryness. During the cold, dry months, I use mine most nights. Any night that I forget to refill my humidifier, there’s a noticeable difference in the morning (and not in a good way).
Take advantage of the evenings for your super products that are too heavy for daytime, like ultra-rich moisturizers, serums, and masks. My hands especially get dry in the winter, so I put on an extra hydrating hand cream and cuticle oil each night before bed. Being consistent with this makes such a difference in my hands! Similarly, I love this lip mask and use it each night before bed. For my face, I add in a hyaluronic acid serum during the winter and switch out my lighter nighttime moisturizer for a heavier night cream.
Weekly Habits
Exfoliate! A couple months ago I bought this exfoliating mitt, which has been an absolute game changer. I use it about once or twice a week and my skin is so soft afterwards. I’m also a huge fan of this exfoliating gel. For my face, I use this exfoliating cleanser a couple times a week.
Overnight masks are one of my favorite ways to treat my skin while I sleep. A couple times a week (or more depending on how my skin feels), I apply either this mask or this mask as the last step of my skincare routine. I love the glow that I wake up with the next morning!
Habits to Break
In addition to building new skincare habits during the winter months, there are some habits that can be detrimental to your skincare goals.
The first habit to consider breaking is using soap all over your body (seriously, this is a tip straight from my dermatologist). If you have dry skin, you don’t need to use body wash all over, especially in the winter. Using body wash only in the places that truly need it is sufficient and will help keep your skin from drying out.
Another tip from my dermatologist: cut back on anything that involves soaking in hot water. This includes long baths or showers, and hot tubs. This doesn’t mean that you have to cut them out completely. She recommends that hot tubbing be reduced to once every two weeks or so. For baths and showers, keep them shorter in the winter – like 5-10 minutes if possible, but no longer than 20 minutes max. Also make sure to turn the water temperature down. Even though the near-boiling water feels great, it will suck the moisture out of your skin.
I hope that some of these habits are helpful as you fight against wintertime dry skin. Has the change in weather started to impact your skin too? Let me know your favorite ways to stay on top of it!