While winter season brings us relief from hot, sweaty days, there is certainly no relief for your skin in winter. The cold biting winds rob your skin of moisture and make it dry and chapped. But, fret not! We've got you covered with a definitive guide on the most essential winter skincare tips you need to follow. Read on and discover how to get rid of specific winter skin problems!
01Essential Winter Skin Care Tips You Should Follow: The Basics
With changing seasons, your skin's needs keep changing too. You are constantly trying to switch your winter skin care routine at home so that your skin doesn't suffer. From dryness and itchiness to severe conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, the cold winter winds can wreak havoc on your skin. It is, therefore, important to give your skin some extra TLC in winter season. Here are eight effective winter skin care tips and winter skin care hacks that you should commit to memory. Check them all below!
02Essential Winter Skin Care Tips You Should Follow
1. Say no to hot water showers
Hot water is a blessing in the winter months. There is no better feeling than treating yourself to a hot water bath in this season. But, the bad news is that as much as your body feels good after a hot water shower, your skin hates it. Hot water damages the keratin cells present in the outermost layer of the skin. When these cells get disrupted, your skin becomes dry, itchy and irritated. Moreover, hot water strips your skin of natural oils, making it drier than before.
How to Use it
Switch from benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid to gentle moisturisers to prevent dryness. During your winter skin and hair care routine, keep a safe distance from harsh ingredients and acne treatments as much as you can in cold weather conditions.
2. Limit exfoliation
There is more to your skin care routine for winter than just cleansing-toning-moisturising! Exfoliating your skin from time to time is one of the equally important winter tips for best skin. Scrubbing sloughs off dead skin cells, oils, and dirt that build-up on the surface of your skin day after day. When germs and bacteria accumulate, your skin loses its glow and moisture.
How to Use it
Switch from benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid to gentle moisturisers to prevent dryness. During your winter skin and hair care routine, keep a safe distance from harsh ingredients and acne treatments as much as you can in cold weather conditions.
3. Do not skip the SPF
As opposed to popular belief, your skin needs sun protection all through the year, and in equal amounts. Yes, you read that right! You cannot do away with applying sunscreen in the winter months. It is, in fact, the one winter skincare tip most of us don't follow, but need to. Apart from preventing concerns such as sunburn, suntan, pigmentation and dark spots, you are also preventing premature ageing by being a sunscreen loyalist.
How to Use it
Switch from benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid to gentle moisturisers to prevent dryness. During your winter skin and hair care routine, keep a safe distance from harsh ingredients and acne treatments as much as you can in cold weather conditions.
4. Try your hand at dry brushing
Dry body brushing is a technique that helps improve the overall health and well-being of not just your skin but also your body. It not only exfoliates your skin, but also detoxifies your body. In fact, it is the best alternative to scrubbing. This winter skincare tip will protect your skin from looking dull and dehydrated.
How to Use it
Switch from benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid to gentle moisturisers to prevent dryness. During your winter skin and hair care routine, keep a safe distance from harsh ingredients and acne treatments as much as you can in cold weather conditions.
5. Make skincare swaps wisely
Your most trusted products may not work so well in winters. With the changing seasons, your skin's needs change, too. And it is, therefore, important to make skincare swaps wisely.
How to Use it
Switch from benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid to gentle moisturisers to prevent dryness. During your winter skin and hair care routine, keep a safe distance from harsh ingredients and acne treatments as much as you can in cold weather conditions.
6. Give your hands and feet extra TLC
While discussing tips for healthy winter skin, it's important to give your hands and feet a special mention. Do you know that the skin on your hands has fewer oil glands than the rest of your body? Therefore, your hands lose moisture rapidly, making them prone to cracks and itchiness.
How to Use it
Switch from benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid to gentle moisturisers to prevent dryness. During your winter skin and hair care routine, keep a safe distance from harsh ingredients and acne treatments as much as you can in cold weather conditions.
7. Avoid products and clothes that irritate your skin
If you have persistent skin issues such as eczema, then you need to follow these tips to take care of skin in winter religiously. Making small changes in your everyday life can help you keep itchy, irritated skin at bay in the winter season.
How to Use it
Switch from benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid to gentle moisturisers to prevent dryness. During your winter skin and hair care routine, keep a safe distance from harsh ingredients and acne treatments as much as you can in cold weather conditions.
8. Keep a close watch on your acne treatments
Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are commonly used to treat acne. However, these treatments can be a little harsh on your skin in the winter months. If you notice that the treatments that once worked wonders are making your skin flaky in winters, then it's time for you to modify your morning to night winter skin care routine.
How to Use it
Switch from benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid to gentle moisturisers to prevent dryness. During your winter skin and hair care routine, keep a safe distance from harsh ingredients and acne treatments as much as you can in cold weather conditions.
03FAQs about Essential Winter Skin Health Tips to Follow
Q1 What should you apply on your face in winter?
Apart from thoroughly moisturising and glowing skin in winter, it's ideal to go a step ahead and treat your skin to hydrating homemade face masks. Look for the most readily-available ingredients on your kitchen shelf or in your fridge, such as yoghurt, jojoba oil, aloe vera, buttermilk, avocado, honey and banana. Prepare masks using these ingredients for nourished, glowing and healthy skin in winters.
Q2 Why does skin get so dry in winter?
When the humidity levels drop, your skin turns drier. Winter air is cold and dry, which means that the water in your skin evaporates rapidly. In fact, your skin loses more than 25 percent of its ability to hold moisture in the winter season. This makes your skin feel dry, tight and flaky.
Q3 What is the best oil for dry skin?
Using the right natural oils in winters can keep your skin moisturised, smooth and glowing. Some of the best oils to include in your skin care routine for winter season are lavender oil, coconut oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, rosehip oil and safflower oil. If you find these winter skincare tips useful, also check the BB editor's list of winter beauty tips every woman should follow.
