8 hot tips against stressed skin in the cold
Does your skin go crazy during the winter months? Is it dry, flaky, red, irritated and sensitive? Welcome to the club. It’s actually the case that many skin types need seasonally adapted skin care. So there’s no need to despair. There are a few simple tips to get your skin through the winter looking beautiful and glowing with adapted skin care.
In the cold and dry winter months, we work in heated rooms, then go out into the cold and possibly sit by the fireplace at the end of the day. That’s when our skin needs more protection and moisture. We need to protect or even increase the natural oils in our skin more, not reduce them through improper skin care.
Switch to a moisturizing and nourishing cleanser
If you use a cleansing foam or even a cleansing gel, now is the time to use a cleansing lotion or milk. Gels and foams have a tendency to dry out our skin and are only suitable for the winter months if you have very oily skin.
Add an extra moisturizer to your routine
Add a nourishing moisturizer to your skin care routine. To do this, choose a rich cream rather than a lotion and apply it in the evening and morning. You may certainly apply it in between if needed. The moisturizer protects its own natural lipids and also builds a barrier against cold. It’s not just our facial skin that needs extra moisture in the winter. Don’t forget the rest of the body. And here’s another tip: moisturizer absorbs best when applied to damp skin. Both on the face and the rest of the body.
Refrain from using toners
Whether using toners in general makes sense can be debated elsewhere. Toners are touted to prepare the skin for better absorption of subsequent ingredients after cleansing. Often toners dry out our skin by removing our natural oils. For this reason, it makes sense to forgo this skin care step in the winter, or at least only do it every other or third day.
Exfoliate less frequently
Peels are wonderful for making our skin look fresher. But unfortunately, they also dry out our skin. That’s why it makes sense to exfoliate no more than once a week in the winter, and then rehydrate the skin with a replenishing and nourishing mask.
Use sunscreen even when the sky is gray
Consistently applying sunscreen on sunny winter days is out of the question. We all know that snow reflects UV rays, greatly increasing the risk of exposure. But even on gray, snowy days, you should protect your skin with sunscreen. UV rays penetrate the gray cloud cover and can cause damage and aging to our skin. The iron rule of thumb: sun or clouds, apply a sunscreen daily. If it’s sunny, use an SPF 50; if it’s cloudy, use at least an SPF 30. And don’t forget the backs of your hands while you’re at it.
Support from the inside
Taking omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids can replenish our skin from the inside, so to speak. Taking fish oil or flaxseed oil daily makes sense not only in winter.
Don’t forget your lips.
In winter, we often have to deal with dry or even chapped lips. Nourish and protect your lips with a rich lip balm. You can also apply this over your lipstick.
Treat yourself to a humidifier
A humidifier can add moisture to the dry winter air, preventing or at least reducing the drying of our skin. One belongs in the bedroom, another in the office. Where you spend most of your time should be a humidifier.
Happy New Year and enjoy the wonderful winter season.