Just as you switch up your wardrobe for winter, it’s crucial to make adjustments to your skincare routine for the colder months. Instead of a complete overhaul, a few strategic swaps and additions can keep your skin happy, hydrated, and free from flakiness. Follow these dermatologist-recommended skincare strategies to seamlessly transition into your winter skincare routine.
Ideal Winter Cleansers
The best Winter Skincare Routine is here! To start, it’s crucial to understand how your skin behaves throughout the year. Observe changes in your skin and adjust or switch out products accordingly, advises a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. Generally, opt for gentler cleansers and richer moisturizers
While foaming, bubbly cleansers may provide a pleasant experience, they might not be optimal for your skin. Foaming or salicylic acid-based cleansers effectively remove dirt and oil but can contain sulfates, which may be more drying than other cleanser types, notes another board-certified dermatologist in New York City.
Cleansing creams, balms, and oils can efficiently cleanse the skin, maintaining hydration and preserving the skin barrier you deal with acne, approach acne-focused skincare containing salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide with caution. Overuse of these potent ingredients can worsen dry skin. If you frequently use such products, incorporate them alongside pH-optimized skincare to help maintain a balanced skin barrier.
Skin Conditioner Cleansing Bar
Infused with Job’s tears, a powerful skin-loving superfood, this gentle yet effective facial soap thoroughly removes all traces of makeup and impurities. Its rich lather deeply purifies the pores and conditions the skin. Hydrating properties leave your skin feeling supple and refreshed.
INFINESSE Face Release Cleansing Cream
Gentle yet effective cleansing cream removes all traces of makeup and impurities while protecting the skin’s moisture levels. Its heavenly texture melts into the skin to thoroughly cleanse without stripping. Your skin will look and feel clean, refreshed, and plump.
EXCIA EMBEAGE Cleansing Cream
An ultra-luxe, skin-boosting cleansing cream that thoroughly purifies while restoring your radiance. This rich, non-stripping formula removes all impurities, leaving the skin feeling fresh, supple, and renewed.
Shower Time and Temperature
During winter, despite the allure of long, hot baths, it’s best to resist the temptation. Extended exposure to hot water can strip the skin of its natural moisture, exacerbating dryness. Instead, opt for brief lukewarm showers, limiting them to once a day. After showering, while the skin is still damp, apply generous amounts of rich moisturizers to lock in hydration. Adjust the quantity as needed to ensure your skin feels adequately hydrated, especially considering the increased need compared to summer.
If you’re dealing with flakiness, consider incorporating dry brushing into your routine. This involves gently rubbing the skin with a brush in a light, circular motion. This mechanical action serves as an effective method for exfoliating dry winter skin and promoting lymphatic drainage, offering the additional benefit of a rejuvenating self-massage.
Freshly made in the USA, gentle body scrub, suitable for all skin types, removes dead skin and debris, leaving your skin smooth, radiant, and evenly toned. Free from mineral oil, petrolatum, silicone, artificial fragrance, and color, it restores hydration and moisture for a lasting, healthy glow.
Turbinado Brown Sugar Body Scrub / Tanning Skin Helpers
USA-made, gentle body scrub for all skin types. Removes dead skin, leaving smooth, radiant, even-toned skin. No mineral oil, petrolatum, silicone, artificial fragrance, or color. Restores hydration and moisture for a healthy, radiant glow.
When to Exfoliate in the Winter
The benefits of proper exfoliation are widely acknowledged. Gentle exfoliation aids in the removal of dead skin cells caused by the dry winter air, resulting in a radiant complexion and improved absorption of moisturizers post-cleansing. However, it’s crucial not to overdo it.
While exfoliation can enhance skin brightness by eliminating dead cells, excessive exfoliation may disrupt the outer skin layer, leading to dryness and irritation. It’s recommended to exfoliate once a week initially, and only increase to twice a week if your skin tolerates it well.
Skin Calming & Moisturizing Cream / Winter
- It helps protect and relieve damage related to frequent hand washing. It calms dry, itchy skin and helps protect sensitive skin.
- Stop the dryness effect from popular soaps, detergents, and shampoos that strip moisture from your skin because they are formulated to remove oil.
- Alleviate the itchiness from heaters that reduce humidity.
- Calm skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis. eczema or psoriasis
- It soothes dry, itchy skin and helps heal and protect sensitive skin.
Natural Body Lotion 8 oz / Winter
- This body lotion is made fresh in the USA.
- The gentle formula is safe for all skin types.
- Replenishes and moisturizes for softer, smoother skin.
- For a more radiant, healthy glow with enhanced skin tone.
- Non-greasy soothing body lotion relieves dry, tight skin all day long.
- Camellia Seed and Macadamia Nut oils are vitamin-rich, long-lasting moisturizers.
Best Winter Moisturizers
If there’s one key takeaway, it’s this: the fundamental rule for winter skincare is maintaining skin hydration. While a lighter lotion might suffice in the heat of summer, it falls short in colder temperatures. During low-humidity conditions, the emphasis shifts to the importance of emollients and occlusives, surpassing the effectiveness of humectants that may have sufficed in humid months.
To break it down:
- Humectants draw water from the air into the skin.
- Emollients, often found in creams and lotions, support the skin’s barrier function.
- Occlusives, comprising oils and waxes, create a protective layer on the skin, preventing water loss.
An ideal winter moisturizer should incorporate all three components. The good news is that these heavier moisturizers can still be non-comedogenic, meaning they won’t clog pores or cause breakouts.
This unique, bestselling balancing milk is Step 2 in the ALBION 4-step Skincare Ritual. In addition to balancing the skin’s moisture content after cleansing, this Hyaluronic Acid-infused formula promotes supple, smooth, bright, poreless-looking skin. Formulated with our proprietary ingredient OSK9 and collagen, it helps firm the look of skin for a youthful, healthy complexion.
EXCIA EMBEAGE Extra Milk
All-purpose balancing milk deeply moisturizes, rejuvenates, firms, and tones the look of skin. Enjoy the blissful sensation of quenching hydration that’ll keep your skin looking smooth and ageless.
How to Layer Winter Skincare
Drawing another analogy between skincare and clothing, consider skincare applications as the outerwear for your skin. Similar to layering clothing for warmth in cooler months, your skin requires a layered approach to prevent overdrying.
Layering allows you to address multiple skin concerns with different products at the same time, explains a dermatologist. For a quick guide on how to layer skincare, a good rule of thumb is to apply products from lightest to heaviest:
- Apply a watery toner first.
- Follow with a serum.
- Finish with a moisturizer.
And don’t overlook the importance of SPF, which is necessary even in winter. Even incidental sunlight exposure adds up over a lifetime, warns the dermatologist. While the sun’s effect may be more pronounced in summer, you are not immune from potential UV damage during winter. In fact, UV light reflects off snow, making you susceptible to sunburn even in the dead of winter.
Why Overnight Masks Are Important in Cold Weather
Not that there’s a need for a reason to apply a face mask, but if you haven’t started, winter presents an ideal time to do so. The realm of skincare masks offers various options, with overnight masks deserving special attention. Positioned as the concluding step in your nighttime skincare routine, overnight masks play a crucial role in sealing in the benefits of products applied earlier.
“Your skin undergoes circadian rhythms,” notes a skincare expert. “Skin hydration levels start to decline in the afternoon and continue overnight, so applying a mask in the evening is extremely helpful to keep the skin hydrated.” If you find yourself in a room with particularly dry heat during sleep, consider complementing your overnight mask with a bedside humidifier to further lock in moisture.
Overnight masking provides an excellent opportunity to introduce more targeted treatments into your skincare routine. For instance, individuals dealing with skin concerns may find relief with specific ingredients, while those aiming for specific benefits may choose a night mask suited to their needs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, adapting your skincare routine to the winter season is a thoughtful approach to combat the challenges posed by colder temperatures and lower humidity. Prioritizing hydration through the use of richer moisturizers, incorporating targeted treatments, and adopting a layered approach can help fortify the skin against the drying effects of winter.
Whether it’s the careful selection of products, the addition of nourishing masks, or the mindful adjustment of your routine, these considerations can ensure your skin remains healthy, radiant, and well-protected during the colder months. Remember, the key is to observe how your skin reacts and make informed adjustments for a personalized and effective winter skincare regimen.
Importance of Vitamins During Winter
During the winter months, ensuring an adequate intake of vitamins becomes particularly crucial for maintaining optimal health. The colder weather often coincides with a decrease in sunlight exposure, which can lead to a deficiency in vitamin D. This vitamin plays a vital role in immune function, bone health, and mood regulation. Additionally, the winter season is associated with an uptick in colds and flu, making immune-supporting vitamins such as vitamin C and zinc essential.
Vitamin C is renowned for its antioxidant properties, while zinc helps fortify the immune system. Incorporating a well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient-dense foods, or even considering vitamin supplements under the guidance of a healthcare professional, becomes pivotal in safeguarding overall well-being during the winter months.
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Note: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Always consult a healthcare professional before taking any supplement or making any changes to your diet or lifestyle.
