Be good to your Winter Skin

Winter is coming! It’s practically here! Things are getting colder and this weather is definitely having some effects on our skin. Things are starting to feel dry, dehydrated, rough and itchy. The problem is that when things get cold, we crank the heat. But the American Academy of Dermatology tells us that things like turning up the heat in our homes and showers, can have negative effects on your skin. Hot water can strip your skin of its natural oils, therefore causing it to feel tight and dry.

Dryness is just one problem, which can be helped pretty easily with some exfoliation and hyaluronic acid. But the change of season can also cause your barrier function in your skin to be compromised. Wind, indoor heating and changes in humidity levels also affects our skin. When the barrier is no longer intact, the skin also becomes dehydrated because it is losing water. These gaps in the barrier of the skin also allow for pollutants and irritants to affect the skin and can cause sensitivity. These conditions can also encourage dormant skin conditions such as eczema or rosacea to become more visible and irritating during the colder months.

Okay so this all sounds a little scary but I promise you, there are ways to keep your skin looking luminous and healthy this winter season. Here and some tips, tricks and products that you can add to your (already amazing) skin care routine.

A humidifier is a good way to keep your skin’s moisture levels protected. It keeps your skin less irritated and more hydrated but also keeps you clear of congestion as well. It can also assist you with sleep.

Avoid soap harsh and base cleansers. These ingredients strip the skin of its natural oils. If you use a gel cleanser, you may want to switch to using a cream cleanser. Cream based cleansers tend to be more hydrating to the skin as they are usually more oil rich or lipid based. I suggest Aveda Botanical Kinetics Purifying Crème Cleanser or Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser during the winter months to keep your skin hydrated and keep that barrier protected.

Keep your barrier strong, and calm any irritated skin conditions. Ingredients like Oat and Aloe will help soothe irritation. All products from the Ultracalming line have Oat in them, but you know Calm Water Gel is my life saver. Aveda Tulasara Calm Concentrate is also a beautiful serum that helps restore the skins barrier function by using Red Raspberry plant stem cells.

It’s natural for us to want to heat up with a long hot bath or warm shower. But hot water is actually drying out your skin, and stripping it of moisture. It is best (although not ideal) to take a lukewarm shower in the winter.

Don’t forget, the skin around your eyes and lips is also going to become more sensitive this time of year as it is thinner and more delicate. Skin conditions such as eczema can also show up around the eye area with the weather change. Keep eyes and lips hydrated with lip balms and exfoliating scrubs. Keep the delicate eye area moisturized and perhaps using a thicker eye cream will help as well! Also, avoid licking your lips, the enzymes in saliva are drying to the skin.