If it weren’t for the cosy sweaters, soothing fireplaces, and warm cups of hot chocolate, winter would not be fun—especially when it comes to our delicate skin. In colder months, where low humidity levels result in dry air, our skin is robbed from its natural oils and begins to beg for more moisture. And yeah sure, it’s easy to slap on some lotion on their way out of the door. But when your skin begins to really dry out and you’re itching, your skin is cracking, and you start bleeding from the sides of your lips to the creases of your forehead, elbows, and knees (groooooss!), you’ll know the harsh winter wind isn’t your friend and you need to take time to moisturise.
So, what can you do during these cold months that wreak havoc on your skin?
Don’t get caught up with your hot showers!
In winter, you’ll long for those calming hot showers to unfreeze the blood in our veins. However, your skin will be better off with a five to 10-minute lukewarm bath or shower. Excessive hot showers can dry out your skin so it’s best to limit your shower time and not go overboard with your water’s temperature.
If you do decide to indulge in a hot bath, make sure to moisturise your body right after your wash and after you dry. Applying moisture seals the dampness and keeps the surface of your skin from losing moisture.
Water, water, water.
Need moisture? It’s simple—drink water! Drinking water is the easiest thing one can do to stay hydrated, but it’s also the easiest thing to forget. Did you know that you’re likely to drink less water in the winter? That’s because the cooler temperatures make you feel like you’re not thirsty at all. You’d probably opt for a hot cuppa or two, but don’t forget that staying hydrated from within is more important than staying hydrated on the outside.
There’s no such thing as too many face masks
Hydrating face masks are lifesavers during winter months. And you don’t even have to splurge on cosmetic brands just to achieve a fully moisturised skin. You can put on some DIY natural moisturising masks. All you need is a trip down your kitchen and find moisture-inducing food such as honey, avocado, jojoba oils, aloe, and almond oil. Mix whatever you like to put together and just leave on skin for 10-30 minutes for lasting hydration. Skip your growling tummy and let your skin eat it all up instead!
Use gentle and fragrance-free cleansers
The kind of soap you use can also influence the amount of moisture on your skin. Regular and fragrant bar soaps typically contain irritating ingredients and fragrances that can dry out your skin even more. To combat that, make sure to use mild, unscented, and moisturising soaps and cleansers that you can lather gently all over your skin!
Don’t forget the sunscreen
Applying sunscreen is still important even on the dreary, grey winter days. Even though you’re just walking through open parking on your grocery run, or you’re outside playing in the snow, your skin’s still at risk to exposure from the sun’s harmful UV rays. The best thing to do before going outside is to apply a moisturising, broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher. Your skin will thank you for it later!
Make winter skin-friendly by following these tips. If you want more content like this, subscribe to our newsletter for all things skin and beauty!
