The seasons are changing, and with colder weather comes fuzzy sweaters, pumpkin spiced lattes, and holiday fun. While the holiday season is a great time to relax and spend time with loved ones – over Zoom, Facetime, or safely social distancing or continued quarantining – you’ll also want to make time to adjust your holiday skincare routine for the colder weather. Lower temperatures and harsher elements can quickly damage skin, leaving it feeling dull and dry.
Additionally, as the temperature drops outside, the heat often increases indoors. Electric heaters and fireplaces can make it hard for your skin to stay hydrated. Consider purchasing hydrating products that infuse skinwith much-needed water or moisturizing creams that replenish skin with thicker lipids.
The skincare products you use throughout the winter play an important role in your skin's health. Dry, oily, and combination skin can all change seasonally. Listening to your skin's unique needs and desires will allow your skin to better adapt to the changing weather conditions. To ensure that your skin stays soft and smooth throughout the holiday season, follow these seven simple steps:
Step 1: Invest in a Humidifier
Purchasing a high-quality humidifier is an excellent way to ensure that your skin doesn't dry out during the winter. Humidifiers work to keep moisture in the air and prevent many harsh conditions that cause dry, irritated skin. Turning your humidifier on before bed is an excellent way to restoring your skin and prevent moisture loss.
Step 2: Upgrade Your Face Wash
Switching up your everyday face wash to a lotion-based cleanser in winter months helps keep skin free from makeup, dirt, oils and impurities without over stripping your skin and damaging your natural skin barrier. A face wash like the Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturizing Cleanser is formulated to cleanse and help soothe your skin without causing skin irritation or tightness. Non-foaming, this gentle cleanser is made with a creamy formula that easily removes dirt and impurities while maintaining your skin’s natural moisture.
Step 3: Protect Your Skin From Harsh Weather
If you live in a city where the winters get quite cold, then you'll want to make sure you are protecting your skin from harsh weather conditions whenever you're out and about. Wind and freezing temperatures are two of the biggest dry skin culprits. Exposing your skin to both of these elements at once can cause damage and lead to skin irritation. Hats, face coverings, and scarves are all excellent ways you can protect your healthy skin and keep it feeling its best. When choosing which coverings to use on your skin, we suggest opting for those made of natural materials like cotton, which will ensure that sensitive skin isn't irritated by non-skin-friendly fabrics.
Step 4: Skip the Long Hot Showers
After a day in the cold outdoors, a long hot shower might be just what you're craving. While warm showers can be enjoyed every so often, we recommend steering clear of hot showers if your skin feels the effects of winter weather. Hot water can damage your skin's lipid layer, causing it to dry out [1] If the protective lipid layer is depleted because of hot water, washing your face aggressively will also damage your skin. Instead, we suggest showering in warm water and patting your skin dry and applying a moisturizing cream after showering for optimum moisture.
Step 5: Steer Clear of Harsh Ingredients
To better prevent dry skin in winter, swap out skincare products that contain harsh active ingredients. Many anti-aging products and acne medications are chock-full of harsh ingredients that can have a drying effect. Cutting back on these products or swapping them for a more gentle formula in the winter will keep your skin from drying out and also help to prevent unwanted flaking.
Step 6: Stock up on Skin-Sensitive Products
If you notice that your skin is more sensitive in the winter, upgrade your winter skincare routine to adequately meet your skin's needs. Using gentle ingredients like ceramides or cucumber seed oil is an excellent way to supply your skin with a protective barrier necessary for optimum moisture retention [2]. Dry Skin Saver contains rich botanicals that work to help replenish your skin’s hydration and relieve dryness. These products are also perfect stocking stuffer ideas that your family and friends will appreciate this holiday season.
Step 7: Incorporate Hydrating Serums Into Your Routine
If you find that skin flaking is already an issue for you, it's time to incorporate more hydrating serums into your winter skin routine. Purchasing a hydrating serum like our Quench Hydrating Face Serum will provide intense hydration while leaving your skin with a satiny look and feel. While hydrating your skin, this serum also works to protect against environmental aggressors.
Remember, your skin doesn't have to suffer through the holidays. There are countless ways that you can enjoy the holiday season while still tending to your skin's needs, whether that means upgrading your winter skincare routine or simply swapping your current moisturizer. No matter your skin type, investing in a customized skincare routine is the best way to keep your skin glowing all year long.
Need help keeping skin healthy and hydrated this winter? Our Skin Health Experts are here to help. Visit us in our Los Angeles. And of course you can always shop our entire product line online. We’d love to help you discover how healthy and beautiful your skin can look!
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