My Best Advice for Winter Skincare
After moving five states north, I’ve learned a lot about winter skincare!
While living in sunny, warm Texas, I didn’t really need to change much of my skincare routine for winter.
In fact, I didn’t change anything other than a heavy moisturizer for my hands and a shade lighter of makeup. It was only after moving north that my skin came to know winter’s fury.
The freezing winter temperatures I found here in the Midwest left my skin dry, dull, and, well, itchy!
I learned I not only had to change my wardrobe for the winter, but I also had to change my skincare routine.
Dry skin can lead to irritation and sensitive areas or, worse – eczema. Read on as I share my best advice for radiant, hydrated skin all winter long.
Related: Creating a Simple Fall Skin Care Routine
Related: 5 Natural Steps to Summer Ready Skin
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Natural Winter Skincare Basics
Cover Up
When you do venture out into the cold air, keep your skin covered. This is especially important for our hands. The skin on your hands is thinner than most areas of our bodies and can dry out quickly. The easiest method to protect our hands is by wearing gloves. The same goes for our face; wear a scarf when needed.
Drink More Water
Your body is made up of 55 to 65 percent water, depending on your age, gender, and fat content. Drinking water is necessary to keep our skin hydrated. Up your intake of water and see what a difference it makes.
Match Your Moisturizer to the Season
Dry winter air can be damaging to our skin, causing it to become dry and flaky. To combat the dryness, moisturize at least twice daily, preferably in the morning and before bed.
And our moisturizer should match the season. Use my recipes for moisture-rich whipped body butter and cinnamon honey lip balm to hydrate parched skin and lips rapidly.
Or apply a leave-on face mask designed for winter skin like this one. It’s handmade in the Netherlands with only clean beauty ingredients.
Take in More Antioxidants
Antioxidants are known for protecting our skin cells from free radical damage. Keep your skin looking youthful during the winter by consuming fruits and vegetables with a high content of antioxidants. Try blueberries, raspberries, and dark leafy green vegetables, to name a few. And don’t overlook essential oils; many are loaded with antioxidants.
Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate
Dry skin can become flaky skin fast in the winter. It’s important to exfoliate to get rid of dead, dull skin allowing our skin to absorb more hydration from moisturizers. Use an all-natural scrub such as my recipe for a sweet caramel pumpkin scrub a few times a week to gently exfoliate and soften skin. And don’t overlook your lips. Remove dry skin with a homemade lavender lip scrub.
Stay Active
One of the best solutions for overall skin health is to stay active. In the months of winter, this can be a challenge if we are shut indoors. Take time to stretch each day, go to the gym, or take a brisk walk outdoors. All with improve circulation and invigorate the skin.
Do you have normal, dry, mature, oily, or combination skin? Take our Skin Type Quiz now to discover yours!
Trade Hot Showers for a Warm Bath Soaks
A piping hot shower can wreak havoc on our skin. Hot water can break down the lipid barriers in the skin, leading to a
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Have the cold temperatures, wind, and indoor heat left your skin dry and irritated before too? Find all my best tips to keep skin nourished and moisturized during the winter months in my Winter Skincare Survival Guidebook.
Emily | The Multitasking Mom
These are excellent tips. My skin especially my lips get so dry in winter. I’m really trying to up my water intake!
lifenreflection
Emily, increasing your water intake will definitely help and lip scrub two to three times a week is great too.
Susanne
I definitely would love to trade my showers for a bath…I love soaking in the tub with a good book 🙂 Great tips, thanks for sharing at Create and Celebrate, we love reading your posts 🙂
lifenreflection
Awe, thanks Susan. Yes, a soak is worth the time, especially if there’s a good book involved!
Michael
I get flaky skin sometimes even not on winter. But I would definitely try this out. Thanks!
Neora
Awesome tips.
Its a really nice post…!! Thanks for sharing..!!
lifenreflection
Your welcome, I know what a difference these for winter skincare made for me!
Rebecca Dillon
Great tips! I’m definitely doing ALL of these things – especially extra water – minus the warm bath soaks. I’m a shower only kind of girl.
lifenreflection
The water really does help, I think many of drink less during the winter and it certainly can take effect on our skin.