Winters can wreak havoc on our skin. Dryness, itchiness, and irritation are some of the major issues most of my clients face once temperatures begin dropping. It makes sense, really! Cold conditions outside leave your skin feeling raw, while indoorsy heat creates moisture… pretty confusing for your skin, if you ask me!
Luckily, there are many simple ways to combat winter dryness on our skin and keep that summer glow going all year. Here are my top tips to keep your skin hydrated and yourself feeling as good as ever all winter long!
-
Use gentle cleansers that are fragrance-free
Avoid using harsh cleansers and toss away any face washers and ingredients that dry your skin such as those with fragrances or additives. Instead, choose cleansers formulated with gentle ingredients like chamomile, which doesn’t strip skin away from its natural oils that help when it comes to moisturizing your skin.
2. Exfoliate
Exfoliating your skin has a ton of benefits all year round, but it becomes even more essential during the winter months. Seriously, no matter how many serums you use in your skincare routine, your skin will stay dry if you don’t do some light exfoliation. Pick an exfoliator that comes with a mild glycolic or lactic acid for the best results.
Tip: If you’re dealing with extremely dry skin, use a wet washcloth instead of an exfoliator. Moreover, I do recommend heading to see a professional if your skin feels severely dry or raw to come up with the best solution for your problem.
3. Keep wearing SPF religiously
Nope, you won’t get a break from SPF during the winter months. Even though it’s cloudy, UV rays still very much exist, and they can actually become even more dangerous when you don’t feel them. During the winter months, I always opt for an SPF of around 30 that has zinc and titanium! Revision Intellishade ® is amazing because it’s a tinted moisturizer that gives your face a bit of color and a healthy glow.
Revision Intellishade ®
Award-winning formula that leaves a healthy, natural glow. Anti-aging daily moisturizer intelligently designed to deliver the power of 5 anti-aging products in 1. Helps to correct, protect, conceal, brighten and hydrate skin to deliver clinically-proven results. This 5-in-1 moisturizer features over 20 age-defying ingredients, broad-spectrum SPF45 protection plus a universal tint for an instant glow.
4. Drink plenty of water
I know drinking water is anything but pleasant when it’s cold, but keeping hydrated from the inside is essential for glowing skin, so make sure you get plenty of H2O whenever you can!
If you’re not feeling down for chugging a bottle of water as you would during the summer months, the best way to go is to carry a bottle of water with you all day long and remind yourself to take little sips here and there throughout the day. Something else that helps me is to challenge myself to drink a glass of water before I dive into a warm drink like hot chocolate! This helps me get plenty of water and get to drink all the amazing winter drinks guilt-free!
5. Keep a balanced diet
One thing we do all love about the winter months? All the yummy food! I know how tempting it can be to eat all the treats, but try your best to keep a balanced diet as much as possible. I’m by no means saying you should skip out on your favorite goodies, but try to maintain a reasonable balance by also eating the right things. Foods like kale, berries, and spinach are a must to ensure you stay healthy and glowing.
6. Use a protective Serum
A protective serum is a must to neutralize radicals and keep your skin protected throughout the day. Bonus points if it comes with a tint of Vitamin C to help your skin prevent redness and inflammation. I use Skinceuticals Phloretin CF and I can’t recommend it enough!
Skinceuticals C E Ferulic
Skinceuticals C E Ferulic is one of the best vitamins for clear skin. This vitamin C serum helps neutralize free radicals induced by UVA/UVB, infrared radiation (IRA), and ozone pollution (O3), which may lead to visible signs of accelerated skin aging. In addition to antioxidant protective benefits, C E Ferulic improves signs of aging and photo-damage, the appearance of lines and wrinkles, and the loss of firmness, while brightening skin’s complexion.
Are you in Atlanta and have questions about skincare during winter?
Come visit us! We have two locations in Atlanta – one in Buckhead and one in Alpharetta and we’d love to help you personalize a skincare routine that is ideal for your skin type!