Winter Skincare Routine: Keep Skin Healthy & Hydrated
With the cold weather kicking in, it is not only your wardrobe that needs a refresh, you need to shake up your skincare as well.
You can tell it is winter when the silky texture of your skin is home to flakes of dryness. Seeking comfort in moisturizers is all you can think of to combat this but there are many other things you must be mindful of in this case. Here we have suggested for you a skincare regime and tips for healthy winter skin to up your glow game as you step into the changing season.
Fortify your skin barrier
As you transition into winter, be prepared to expose your skin to variations in temperature and humidity levels. These can place stress on your delicate skin barrier thus this time of the year calls to rethink your skincare regime to combat environmental stressors. The main indicators of skin barrier disturbance are taut, scaly, irritated, and flaking skin.
You must understand that your skin barrier is subject to being compromised even when the weather is less unpredictable. This is because of using certain beauty products that strip your skin and certain external aggressors in the environment such as pollution. But winters in particular call for extra care to be given to your skin barrier.
For this, you must invest in ingredients like niacinamide, that facilitate the production of ceramides in your skin and fight pigmentation. Look for masks that are infused with emollients, humectants, and occlusive in your winter skincare routine to keep your skin glowing.
Shift to a rich cleanser
Among the skincare tips for winter is opting for a rich cleanser. Your skin goes into repair mode at night so it is essential that you have your nighttime routine in check. You must cleanse your skin thoroughly with a non-drying-rich cleanser. This will not only hydrate your skin but also keep your skin barrier healthy. Layer up with an active product with peptides and then smear a ceramide-rich hydrator to seal in the moisture.
Get a good exfoliator
No matter how much you moisturize the accumulated dead skin cells and congested pores don’t let it sin in properly. Therefore, it is suggested you gently buff away the top layer of your skin twice every week. That being said, it is important that you avoid the use of harsh scrubs and opt for let's say lactic acid.
Stock up on antioxidants
One of the biggest challenges your skin faces is the continuous temperature changes as you move from the heated rooms to the cold outside. Spending time indoors with no fresh air also affects your skin. This is because recycled air tends to have a high amount of toxins. More so the heating sucks off the moisture content of your skin.
It is important to invest in antioxidant-rich skin care to protect your skin against mycotoxins caused by recycled air and pollution. Vitamin C, vitamin E, niacinamide, and resveratrol should also be incorporated into your skincare regime as these are the best skin care products for winter.
Avoid oils if you are oily
You need not assume that the winter suggests you replace your moisturizers with face oils. Though dry skin types can benefit from using oils, if you have oily skin, you need to steer clear of these. Face oils are generally recommended for those with dry skin since oils sit on your skin's surface, preventing moisture loss. The use of an additional moisturizer may also reach the deeper layers of your skin to soothe the dryness.
For acne-prone skin, it is best to avoid oils as these trigger breakouts by congesting your skin. stick with non-comedogenic formulas containing ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and dimethicone if you have oily skin.
Heavier isn’t better
Just like oils, heavy formulas are not necessarily good for your skin. You can treat your skin to some pamper time with nourishing balms but these will not hydrate your skin. the application of thick products to the skin surface will be registered by your sensors as not requiring proper hydration.
Thus, the required water may not be soaked in the deep layers of your skin. After some time, you will notice more dryness and flakiness as these deep layers become unhealthier and lazier perhaps.
To deal with this, you must opt for hydrating ingredients such as squalene and hyaluronic acid and seal them in combination with good hydration as mentioned above.
Layer up
Just like you layer up your clothes, winters suggest you keep a backup for extra skincare allies. Serums are the most potent here as they are bursting with strong doses of active ingredients to smooth out dehydrated lines. It is best to choose concentrated serums that are infused with hyaluronic acid and soothing ingredients such as niacinamide to retain skin moisture.
The cardinal rule is to layer the products from thinner consistencies to thicker ones making sure your serum sits under the moisturizer for swift absorption. Each product has a different concentration formulated to have a specific impact on your skin.
Apply lotion on damp skin
Skincare experts have always warned against spending long hours in the hot shower since it can strip off the natural moisture from your skin. so, it is advised you keep your showers brief. What’s more? You have only a three-minute window to apply your body lotion to retain the moisture levels before they evaporate from your skin. generally, to make the most of your moisturizer you must apply them on damp skin so they are readily absorbed. Considering the low humidity levels in the winter it is worth smearing on your creams with the closed bathroom door to lock all that steam.
Vitamin D supplements
Most of you don’t get enough vitamin D on regular days let alone on short winter days. Vitamin D is imperative for your skin's defenses against inflammatory conditions such as rosacea, eczema, and acne flare-ups. What’s more? Your moods are likely to get affected by the deficiency of this vitamin resulting in hormonal imbalances suggesting your skin is likely to misbehave even more.
The final verdict
If you don’t wish for your skin to suffer in these plummeting winter months, you can follow our simple guide to skin care tips in winter. With all the winter skincare routine essentials available in the market, they are simpler than you may think. So, what are you waiting for, gear up for the best skincare routine for skin in winter, and let us know your experience in the comments section below.