Soon Jack Frost will be nipping at your nose and dry out your skin from head-to-toe. To show him who’s boss, I put together these 10 skin happy tips to keep happily hydrated throughout the cold snap. From your brows to your feet, here’s how to care for winter skin – starting now.
1) You still need SPF
Just because it is winter, it doesn’t mean you should put away your sunscreen. While there is less UVB around in winter, levels of “UV-Ageing” as I like to refer to it, are still significant enough to age your skin. I advocate a sunscreen like Pretty Girls Ink’s Replenishing Sunscreen SPF 36, specifically formulated with Titanium Dioxide and exclusive botanicals to help prevent the breakdown of collagen and elastin.
2) Consider professional skin treatments
Winter is a great time of year for skin treatments. As an Esthetician I always worry about peels, Fibroblast, DermaPlaning, and Microneedling in the summer months. With sun exposure before or after such procedures there is a higher risk of unwanted post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation. Autumn and winter therefore represents an opportunity. I would however suggest planning ahead, to make sure your skin has time to settle and be at its peak for the holiday party season.
3) How to keep hydrated
Your skin will become drier and often more sensitive with the onset of colder weather and central heating. Making sure you keep hydrated during the day is essential. Consider switching to a gentle milky cleanser in the winter months as a healthy way to retain vital moisture your skin’s barrier needs. Skin should feel calm and hydrated after washing. My personal favorite is of course Pretty Girls Ink's Lavender Cleanser wonderfully formulated with Vitamin E, Lavender Essential Oil, and Aloe Vera for optimal hydration and calming aroma.
4) Tweak your daily skincare routine
If you have to apply a moisturizer during the day it is likely your skin routine needs tweaking. Try swapping your lotion to a cream especially in the evening when your skin is free from makeup and can absorb hydration while you get 8 hours of beauty sleep. I always reach for our Enriched Moisture Crème for it’s luxurious textured, Vitamin E, and Marine Algae Peptides to boost collagen production.
5) Book in for a facial
Winter skin is often dull, so I recommend a professional facial about every 28 to 35 day. That’s how long it takes your skin to move through the full life cycle of skin cell growth. I often advise people to opt for a superficial peel or exfoliating treatment such a power of a Pumpkin Enzyme Mask to slough off dead skin and allow better absorption of active topical skincare. Facials are the ultimate game changer for healthy beautiful skin.
6) Protect lips from extreme dryness
Licking sore lips will only exacerbate dryness. Make sure your lips are sealed with an effective ointment at all times, particularly before eating and drinking as some foods like tomatoes can irritate chapped lips. Lip Benefits is a cranberry-flavored balm that immediately plumps lips while protecting from harmful environmental toxins.
7) Prevent dry, chapped hands
Hands are very high risk for becoming chapped and sore in the winter months. A nice beauty regimen is to apply a rich layer of hand cream under cotton gloves at bedtime 2 – 3 times a week. After a few nights, the skin barrier will start to heal and the difference is often amazing. My personal favorite trick to keep hands hydrated is by keeping Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Hand Balm right next to every sink in the house. This sweet almond oil and Shea butter absorbs quickly into skin so it wont slow anyone down from their busy day.
8) Monitor scaly skin for dermatitis
If you notice scaling around your nose and eyebrows in the winter months you may be developing dermatitis thought to be exacerbated by yeast. Cold winter weather is also a known trigger. Sometimes an anti-inflammatory cream may be needed too for a short time, and your doctor can advise here. As with most skin conditions early intervention often stops them in their tracks.
9) Don’t skip routine pedicures just because toes are hidden
Feet often become dry and cracked in the winter months. Just like summer months a monthly pedicure will not only relax you but the exfoliation in these treatments will help you shed unwanted skin preventing moisture. Keep Earth Therapeutics Foot Repair Therapeutic Balm on the nightstand for a bedtime ritual. Not only does it contain relaxing chamomile, but also it’s formulated with tea tree oil, which combats odor and fungus while making feet soft.
10) Use bath time to hydrate
Baths are a gift to dry winter skin. Not only do they provide the all-important relaxation, baths are a marvelous opportunity to hydrate skin. Adding a bath oil to warm water can hydrate skin and reduce stress levels. For a treat, I love Burt’s Bee Lemon & Vitamin E Bath & Body Oil and for a more indulgent experience try creating you own Oats & Rose Bath Soak. Oats are especially beneficial for dry, itchy skin, and can help sooth skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and acne. Roses are just a personal favorite but any floral signature scent can be substituted for your desired indulgence.
Hydrating Oat & Rose Bath Soak
Combine: 1 cup oats, dried rose petals, and several drops of essential rose in a small organza bag. Drop in and enjoy!
I hope these 10 winter #SkinEssentials help your skin stay happily hydrated. Feel free to share any suggested tips you have to care for winter skin, I'd love to hear them!