9 Winter Skin Care Tips

Human skin is fragile. Human skin can suffer a lot of damage due to sun-exposure, weather and air or water pollution.      

You need to take care of your skin to make sure that it doesn’t get damaged well before its time. And also to repair any damage that is unavoidable.

Especially in the winter season when the weather becomes cold and dry, your skin turns dry and flaky as well.

In such a situation, your regular skin care routine won’t suffice. You need to take extra care of your skin during the winter season.

Given below are 9 winter skin care tips that will help you protect your skin this winter.

1. Follow a winter skin care routine.

Due to weather conditions, the air tends to get super dry in the winter season. And so, you might have to modify your regular skin care routine to cater to the needs of dry winter skin.

Consider simplifying your winter skin care routine. A healthy skin responds well to toners, serums, and certain beauty treatments such as facials and clean-ups.

If your skin gets irritated easily in the winter season, then it is best to stick to a minimum when it comes to skin care products.

Try to avoid skin care products that contain alcohol or strong fragrances. These types of beauty products tend to cause harm if you have sensitive skin, especially in the winter season.

It is best to use a gentle moisturiser and sunscreen in the morning. Include a mild face cleanser and moisturiser in your winter night skin care routine.

People with sensitive skin should use less skin care products in order to maintain a healthy skin in the winter season.

2. Keep indoor temperatures cool and comfortable.

You may be tempted to put the heating on high during the colder months.

However, it is best to keep the temperature cool and comfortable rather than making it all toasty.

If your central heating system is always blasting hot air, then the air in your home could become even drier. Which makes your skin dry as well.

While discussing winter beauty tips, the temperature of your home might be the last thing on your mind, but it is an important part of winter skin care.

3. Know how to moisturise properly.

A key part of winter skin care routine is moisturising. It is not only important to moisturise your skin regularly, it is also essential for you to know how to moisturise your skin properly.

Every time you wash your hands, face or body, your skin loses its natural oils. These natural oils help in locking in the moisture on your skin.

So, when you lose them, it is vital for you to replace them immediately.

In order to do that, you should make a habit of moisturising your skin right after taking a shower or washing your face and hands.

It is a significant part of winter skin care routine for glowing skin.    

4. Keep the use of exfoliants to a minimum.

Exfoliation is very useful in removing dead skin cells from the surface of your skin and making it clearer and brighter.

However, in the winter season, overuse of exfoliants may result in dry and damaged skin.

So, while taking care of skin during winters, it is best to keep the use of exfoliants to a minimum.

If you notice that your skin is raw, cracked or irritated, then avoid using exfoliants until your skin is completely healed.

5. Use occlusives for extra protection.

Trying to find the best ways to take care of your skin during winters? Use occlusives.

Moisturisers and body lotions with occlusive ingredients help in creating a physical barrier that is essential for locking in the moisture on your skin.

Skin care products that contain cocoa butter, shea butter, jojoba oil or rosehip oil are counted as occlusives. Petroleum jelly-based products such as vaseline etc. also act as occlusives.                    

6. Keep your body hydrated.

Keeping yourself well-hydrated is important in any season. It becomes even more vital in the winter season as the air is much drier in cold weather.

Drinking the required amount of water every day would keep your skin healthy. Keeping yourself hydrated also has a number of other health benefits.

If you always end up drinking less water in the winter season, then you can check out these tips to keep yourself hydrated in the winter.  

7. Don’t use hot water for bathing and handwashing.

A nice hot shower on a cold day might seem tempting, but it is really bad for your skin.

Hot water washes away your skin’s natural oils. Thus making it more prone to winter dryness. Hot water can also damage your skin cells.

So, it is best to bathe or take a shower with lukewarm water.

Also take care not to rub your skin vigorously while trying to dry yourself after a shower. Instead, pat yourself dry gently with a soft towel.

This allows the top layer of your skin to remain hydrated and protect you from dry winter skin to a certain extent.          

8. Use a humidifier.

A humidifier is very useful in adding some lost moisture back into the air. Lost moisture can cause dry and irritated skin.

So, it is advisable for you to use a humidifier during the winter months. Especially if you use a room heating system to warm up your home.

Studies have found that a humidifier setting of about 60 percent can help replenish the moisture in the top layer of your skin.          

9. Always use sunscreen.

You may think that you don’t need sunscreen in the winter season as the sun is not that strong, but that is not true.

The UVB rays that cause sunburn are present in the winter sunlight as well. Hence, there’s a very real chance that you might get sunburns in the winter season too.

So, whenever you step out of the house, even if it’s for a few minutes, make sure that it is after you’ve applied sunscreen.  

Winter skin care tips by dermatologists state that using sunscreen with at least SPF 30 is essential for the prevention of sunburns.

Inculcate the above-mentioned easy winter skin care tips in your daily life in order to maintain a healthy skin during winters.