Winter is a magical time of year for most people. With winter comes special holidays, celebrating traditions and cozy indoor nights, and making memories. Winter also means some changes when it comes to our lifestyles and routines. Eating healthier food because we’re more sedentary, taking immune-boosting supplements during cold and flu season, and updating our health routines.
One routine that requires tweaking due to the cold weather is our skincare routine. You may have a minimalist approach to skincare and beauty or your own youtube channel with full tutorials. No matter where you fall on the skincare spectrum, we can all benefit from some winter skin essentials. Keep reading to ensure you’ve got all the products and techniques to keep a radiant complexion through the New Year.
1. Rich Hydrating Creams
Winter weather is known for drying out our skin, so a first-line defense to keeping your skin supple and bright is rich hydrating creams. If you’re prone to oily skin, use a deeply hydrating cream in the evenings. If your skin is naturally dry, it’s best to use these creams in the morning and evening. Knowing your skin type and specific concerns should influence the type of cream you want to target while moisturizing and avoid exacerbating current issues.
2. Eye Creams
It’s common knowledge that our facial skin is more sensitive than the skin on the rest of our bodies, but the skin under our eyes is even more delicate. This thin, sensitive skin needs special care during harsh winter weather. Investing in a high-quality eye cream will prevent fine lines and wrinkles, depuff skin and eliminate dark circles. Eye creams are for morning and evening use, so don’t skip this important step!
3. Acne Cleanser
Even if you’re not prone to breakouts, using a face wash that will help prevent blackheads and blemishes is key in cold weather. With the extra layers of creams and treatments necessary to keep skin hydrated in winter, it’s easy to clog your pores unintentionally. An acne cleanser can help your complexion remain clear, but it has other benefits. Ingredients like Salicylic Acid help reduce puffiness and redness, while Benzoyl Peroxide helps with exfoliation and kills bacteria.
4. Creamy Body Cleansers
It’s not just the skin on your face that needs attention during cold weather. You may get away with a thin gel cleanser during the spring and summer, but it’s a good idea to swap out your body wash with thicker, creamy cleansers for winter. In the same way, facial skin has issues to target; tailor your body cleanser for specific skin issues like Eczema or Psoriasis. Fragrance-free body cream cleansers are the way to go, as they don’t contain irritating ingredients that could further dry your skin.
5. Daily Sunscreen
Sunscreen isn’t something you only put on before a beach or pool day in the summer. Dermatologists agree that the number one thing everyone should do for their current and future skin health is to wear SPF daily. While you’re covered with clothing in winter and can forgo body SPF, your facial moisturizer should always contain SPF. You can protect your face from sun damage and future skin cancer and prevent fine lines and wrinkles.
6. Moisturize Your Lips
Nothing can ruin a beautiful face with makeup like dry, chapped lips. Cracked lips can also be incredibly painful and hard to avoid as we use our mouths for so much, from talking to eating and drinking. While it’s fine to use your typical chapstick during the day, treat yourself to a lip scrub and deep salve as part of your nighttime skin routine. Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you, so invest in your lip health before it becomes a winter skin woe.
7. Don’t Neglect Your Hands
We’re all washing our hands more in the winter than in summer since winter coincides with the cold and flu season. On top of handwashing, alcohol-based hand sanitizers strip our hands of vital moisture. Make sure you’re using a rich hand cream each time you wash your hands and before you go to bed in the evenings. Dry, cracked hands are unsightly, not to mention uncomfortable. A simple, drugstore hand cream is all you need, but make sure you use it!
Taking care of your skin in the winter can include other habits like sleeping with a humidifier, drinking plenty of water, and not using hot water while you shower or bathe. By using the above products, you’re guaranteed to have a soft and supple complexion as you head into the New Year.
