14 Essential Winter Skincare Tips

As the weather grows colder, it’s time to think about winter skincare. Harsh winds and freezing temperatures can do a number on your face, but there are ways to keep your skin healthy and soft.

1. Create Your Winter Skincare Routine

Since the weather will be colder and drier, you need to revamp your skincare routine. For example, instead of using light lotions, consider switching to a cream or oil to stay moisturized.

Keep in mind that you don’t want to change all your products at once. Instead, focus on replacing your bedtime moisturizer and daily cleanser with more winter-friendly items.

2. Stay Hydrated

You may not sweat as much during the winter, but you still need to drink water. Staying hydrated is one of the best things you can do for dry skin, so make sure you’re still getting your eight glasses a day.

3. Moisturize

When the winter winds start, moisturizing is more crucial than ever. You should moisturize at least twice a day, but don’t be afraid to add more hydrating products to your winter skincare routine if you have dry skin.

4. Drink in Moderation

Drinking too much alcohol can leave you dehydrated. To prevent this, don’t go overboard when you go out.

5. Do a Foot Peel

Foot peels are a popular treatment to remove dry, cracked skin on your soles. Once the dead cells peel away, you’re left with baby-soft feet.

6. Keep Showers Short

Hot showers feel luxurious in the winter, but they can wreak havoc on your skin (and hair). Instead, try to keep showers to 10 minutes, and if you want to take a bath, run the water lukewarm instead of hot.

7. Wear Sunscreen

Even though you may not be outside as much, you still need to wear sunscreen every day. Many people drop sunscreen from their winter skincare routine, but it’s still essential to protect you from UV radiation. Just because the sun is behind clouds doesn’t mean its ultraviolet rays took the day off.

8. Give Your Hands Some TLC

During the winter, your hands can suffer. Between wind, cold and hand washing, they may get red and chapped.

The good news is, there are plenty of ways to soothe your hands and keep them looking smooth. For instance, always wear gloves when going out, as this will protect your hands from the worst of the winter weather.

You can also seal in hydration while you sleep by applying moisturizer, then wearing cotton gloves to bed. This old trick lets your hands absorb the moisturizer overnight and protects them from dryness throughout the day.

9. Use a Lip Ointment

Cold weather leaves lips chapped, and you may be tempted to lick them. However, doing so can exacerbate the problem.

Instead, apply lip ointment when you feel your lips getting dry. Most products are small enough to fit in a purse or pocket, so you can take them wherever you go.

10. Get a Facial

If your skin is flaking and nothing helps, it may be time for a facial. These professional treatments nourish skin and flood it with hydration, helping it recover from frightful weather.

11. Don’t Forget Your Knees and Elbows

Your face isn’t the only body part that can benefit from winter skincare. Your knees and elbows are especially vulnerable to dryness, so make sure you apply moisturizer generously.

12. Keep the Thermostat Low

Heat can dry skin out and cause irritation. Though it may be tempting to ramp up the temperature as the weather outside gets cold, try to keep the thermostat at “just comfortable.”

13. Avoid Drying Ingredients

Many skincare and beauty products include drying ingredients:

• Salicylic acid
• Glycolic acid
• Fragrance
• Denatured alcohol

The last on this list is common in toners, cleansers and mattifying beauty products, so make sure you read the ingredients carefully before trying a product. If you can, use a cleanser that includes hydrating elements such as hyaluronic acid.

14. Buy a Humidifier

Humidity is usually lower during the winter, which is one reason your skin gets drier. Humidifiers pump moisture back into the air. If you’re having dry skin issues, running a humidifier at night may help.

With the proper winter skincare routine, you can conquer dry skin. For more tips to keep your skin plump with hydration, check out LaLa Daisy’s Beauty Resource Center. You can also get some additional winter skincare tips from the American Academy of Dermatology.