Winter Skin Care Tips

Proper skin care is important in any season – but during the winter months, proper skin care can get a bit more complicated. A combination of blistering cold air outside and dry hot air inside is enough to leave anyone’s skin feeling a little stressed out. So before you decide to hibernate, try these simple skin care tips that are perfect for "winterproofing" your skin.

1. MOISTURIZE!

This is a no-brainer. With all of the drying elements both in and outside of your home, you will need to be sure to moisturize after every shower or face wash. Use an oil-free moisturizer and apply it while your skin is still damp. For those who have normally dry skin, try using a rich, emollient moisturizer on face and body – this will help protect against itchy skin, too. For hands, elbows, calves and other areas of your body prone to dryness, don’t forget to reapply a skin care moisturizer cream as needed.

And don’t forget to continue using sun protection during the winter. Even when the sun is not as strong or as visible, harmful UV rays are still being emitted. And while you may not experience a burn, your skin is still being exposed to skin cancer-causing elements. So when choosing a moisturizer for the face, be sure to choose one with an SPF of 15 or higher.

Finally, be sure to include your lips in your winter skin care regime. Keep a moisturizing lip balm with sun protection on hand and reapply often – especially before and after going outdoors.

2. Ditch the Soap

Believe it or not, many women still swear by soap and water. But if this is your mantra, you may want to reconsider once winter hits. The problem is that soap strips the skin of essential oils that cannot be replaced – leaving it very susceptible to all the harsh effects of cold weather, including dry skin. That is why it’s a good idea to replace the soap with a mild or cream cleanser.

A few other tips for protecting against dry skin are:

• avoid using hot water (use lukewarm instead)
  
• avoid antibacterial soaps
  
• skip the toner – the alcohol strips the skin, leaving it vulnerable
  
• exfoliate once a week

3. Bundle Up

This may sound a little obvious, but exposure to the cold air is still the most common cause of dry skin. So make sure you always have your hands, neck, and face covered as much as possible when outdoors. However, that doesn’t mean you should pile on all your warmest clothes. Instead, try layering so as to avoid overheating, as overheating can intensify dry skin.

4. Use a Humidifier

With the heat on and the windows closed, your home can quickly become dry skin’s worst nightmare. That’s why it’s so important to have a humidifier going all day long – especially by your bed.

For those who are concerned about the cost of installing a humidifying system, don’t worry. You can pick up small, inexpensive humidifiers at most drug and department stores that can be placed throughout your home.