How to Protect your Skin in Winter
Photo by Anna Tarazevich from Pexels
While the snowfall and cold temperatures can make the outdoors feel like a winter wonderland, it can also come with unwelcomed side effects to your skin. Dry skin, or dehydration of the skin, is an issue many women face when the temperatures drop. This can be uncomfortable and also leave the skin with a rough, textured appearance. Protecting your skin in the winter, however, can actually be really easy!
There are a few key steps in keeping dry skin at bay during these colder months and helping your skin stay soft and soothed. The main takeaway is moisture. Keeping your skin moisturized, and keeping yourself hydrated, can help decrease the likelihood of having dry, irritated skin on your face and body. Here are a few tips to help prevent the effects of the winter weather on your skin:
Maintain Your Natural Moisture
Your skin naturally produces oils to help hydrate your skin, so helping to protect those oils can play a large part in preventing your skin from drying out. Hydrating moist skin is great, as your skin is better able to absorb more moisture at that time, however, you do want to avoid excessively washing your face.
Definitely Break Out That Humidifier!
One thing that can be forgotten is that indoor heating can play a factor in drying out your skin. Running a portable humidifier or using one that connects to your heating system can help add moisture to the air that your skin can easily absorb.
Drinking Water is Huge
We all know that drinking water can benefit us in a variety of ways, but it’s also important for our skin as well. By keeping yourself internally hydrated, you are also helping your skin stay hydrated. Increasing your water intake during this time can definitely help!
Take Up A Winter Skincare Plan
If your normal cleanser contains drying ingredients such as salicylic acid, switching to more moisturizing cleansers and skincare products can be really beneficial. Ingredients such as hyaluronic acid help to retain water and keep tissues moist. You can also include an overnight treatment or oil-based moisturizers.
Here are a few skincare items you may want to add to your winter skincare routine:
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel ($25)
This is a great drugstore moisturizer you can use daily! It’s very lightweight and easily absorbs into the skin without leaving it feeling sticky or thick. This moisturizer also contains hyaluronic acid.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration ($42)
First Aid Beauty is known for creating numerous products fit for sensitive skin and this one is no different. This cream contains colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, and ceramides for a feeling of instant relief to dry, flaky skin.
The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane ($7.90)
Ulta offers a moisturizing oil that is sure to help replenish lost moisture in the skin. Squalane oil is a natural oil produced by our skin cells that helps protect the skin and create a coating on the outer layer of the skin. This oil is non-comedogenic and helps to prevent on-going loss of hydration.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream ($18.49)
This night cream is recommended by dermatologists and works with your natural circadian rhythm to help restore moisture to your skin overnight. The product is fragrance-free and contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid to hydrate and protect skin, along with niacinamide to help calm skin.
Kristen Miller is a current senior from IUPUI working on completing her BA in English with a concentration in writing and literacy. While working on her internship here and awaiting graduation, she enjoys writing fiction and just having a nice cup of coffee.
