Winter is sneaking up on us, and it’s really important to protect your skin, keep it moisturized and hydrated during cooler weather. Even if you don’t live in a climate that gets particularly harsh winters, just cool weather can dry out your skin and strip its moisture, leaving it dry, itchy and irritated.
Skin Tips for Winter:
You need to choose the right products. Use an extra hydrating moisturizer – try thicker lotions and creams, to really create a barrier on your skin to prevent it from losing moisture as fast. Dermalogica’s Intensive Moisture Balance is a great recommendation. It provides essential nourishment for ultra-dry, moisture-starved skin, and acts as a great defense in preventing moisture loss.
Don’t forget about SPF. Just because it’s cold out, doesn’t mean your skin can’t get damaged from harsh sun rays. Always apply SPF products to the parts of your skin that are exposed to the outdoors. Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 30 is the perfect winter SPF product. It’s a medium-weight moisturizer perfect for during the day, which protects against AGEs, UV radiation and free radicals. Skin is hydrated with a restored barrier layer.
Harsh winter winds can also chap your lips, so always be prepared with a lip balm that is especially designed for cold climates. Try Dermalogica’s Climate Control Lip Therapy, which provides protective properties for damaged, sensitized skin. With the convenient lip-shaped applicator, protected lips are just a swipe away! It helps to heal dry, chapped and damaged lips.
Exfoliate to remove dead skin. This will keep your skin soft and smooth. Just remember to only do this one to two times a week, especially during the winter. Too much exfoliation can dry out the skin and cause irritation, and you do not want this during the winter months. Try Dermalogica’s Gentle Cream Exfoliant – it will get the job done, but is still gentle enough to be used during the cold and dry climates. Remember to follow-up with your thick moisturizer or body cream after exfoliating.
If you live in an especially cold climate, be sure to protect your face and body with the appropriate clothing. Layers, thick coats, hats, earmuffs, gloves and boots help shield your body parts from dehydration.
Avoid hot showers. Hot steamy showers might sound great on a cold winter day, but extremely hot water actually dries out your skin, especially when paired with soap. Stick to warm water, and use body wash instead of bar soap, which also tends to dry out skin and leave it feeling tight.
Use a humidifier at night. This puts moisture in the air, and helps to prevent skin from getting dry and itchy.
Take care of your face. Use a gentle cleanser such as UltraCalming Cleanser, which will thoroughly cleanse, but won’t strip skin’s protective barrier. Try to only cleanse once a day if possible, and remember to apply a hydrating face moisturizing after cleansing! Try Dermalogica’s Skin Smoothing Cream, or Super Rich Repair.
Stay hydrated and keep those toes warm!