While winter temperatures are a welcome relief from the summer heat, cold, dry air can wreak havoc on your skin. Wind can draw every last ounce of moisture from your skin, leaving you feeling flaky, itchy, and chapped. Take heart, though. With just a few simple tweaks, you can reduce moisture loss, stave off skin irritation, and protect your skin from the elements. Here are five easy ways to make your winter skin care routine more effective.
#1 Take Shorter Showers
When it's cold outside, a long, hot shower sounds heavenly. Unfortunately, the hotter the water, the drier your skin can become. The outermost layer of the skin, the epidermis, is filled with keratinocytes. These cells help your skin stay healthy and retain moisture. Hot water strips away the body's natural oils in the stratum corneum, which is why skin sometimes feels itchy right after showering. To avoid damage, turn down the temperature and shorten the time you spend in the shower. Lukewarm water, 98.6 degrees, is much better for skin.
#2 Moisturize While Still Damp
Humidity levels drop in winter, and if your heater is running nonstop, it could lead to dry, irritated skin. If your regular moisturizer isn't giving your skin enough hydration, try putting it on when your skin is still damp. Wet skin absorbs products more fully, and the occlusive properties in moisturizer trap moisture in the skin and keep it moist and comfortable. Bonus: A medical grade cream or lotion not only makes skin feel better, but it helps it retain moisture longer, even in windy or dry conditions.
#3 Limit Exfoliation
When skin feels rough and dry, or looks dull and lifeless, an exfoliating scrub can work wonders. You can certainly exfoliate in the winter, but it's best to limit that practice to once or a twice a week. If your skin already feels dry, then exfoliating will only irritate it further. Since it can also strip away the natural oils that keep skin soft and hydrated, try switching to a gentle cleanser that contains ingredients that gently exfoliate the skin. IS Clinical Cleansing Complex contains sugar cane extract and white willow bark extract. These extracts help exfoliate the skin with being abrasive or harsh.
#4 Treat and Protect with Vitamin C
Skin is susceptible to damage year-round. Pollution, free radicals, and UV rays don't take a break in winter, so keep up with your anti-aging routine during the cold months. Vitamin C serum improves skin texture, reduces pigmentation from acne or sun damage, and fights off free radical damage thanks to its antioxidants. To get the best results, use your Vitamin C serum daily in the morning, and let it sink in for at least 15 minutes before applying moisturizer and sunscreen. This will give it time to do its work. Vitamin C serum, like Citrix's 15% L-Ascorbic Acid, also supports collagen production, which improves skin's elasticity.
#5 Always Wear Sunscreen
If you've been reading our articles faithfully, then you know that we sing the praises of sunscreen in almost every post. The most damaging UV rays can penetrate clouds, and those rays also reflect off water and snow. Skin cancer doesn't observe Mother Nature's seasons, so applying sunscreen with at least SPF 30 is the best way to protect your skin while enjoying winter activities, like skiing or snowboarding. EltaMD's UV Clear sunscreen is oil-free and works great for people with sensitive skin, and Sunforgettable Brush-on is ideal for those who dislike the feel of sunscreen because it's a powder formula.
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Winter skin care doesn't require any more effort than what you do during the rest of the year. The key to keeping skin healthy is to avoid aggravating it whenever possible and to lock in moisture while blocking out potential damage on a daily basis.
To your skin health,
Team Reflect
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