Winter can often mean dry, itchy or sensitive skin. During the winter months, we need to adjust our skincare routine to help combat some of the changes in the weather, especially if you live in extremely cold climates!
This can often mean dry, itchy or sensitive skin. So, as we head into the winter months, we need to adjust our skincare routine to help combat some of the changes in the weather, especially if you live in extremely cold climates!
Humidity levels tend to be lower in the winter, meaning that the air has a lower saturation of water vapour. By the rules of science, water moves from areas of high to low concentration, and is hence more inclined to travel from the skin's surface (the epidermis) into our surroundings through a process known as trans epidermal water loss (TEWL).
Combine this with how the cooler temperatures tend to mean we sweat less, and our skin produces less sebum, as well as our constant movement between toasty indoor heating and the chilly outdoors... it's no wonder that skin can often feel drier and more stressed and/or dehydrated in the cooler months.
Here are our top tips and tricks to help your skin look and feel its best during the winter months ❄️
1. Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise
Cold, dry winter air can leave your skin feeling dry, itchy and irritated due to trans epidermal water loss. To combat this, it's important to prioritise hydration with moisturisers that contain both humectant ingredients to replenish moisture, as well as emollients to seal it within the epidermis and reduce water loss through evaporation.
To avoid uncomfortable dry skin, make sure you are moisturising twice daily and especially when you get out of the shower to help trap the existing moisture on your skin. You might even consider including a heavier moisturiser into your night time routine if your skin tends to dry out quickly.
Our top recommendation? The Perfector solid face moisturiser. With hyaluronic acid and rich emollients such as jojoba and kokum butter, it’s designed to nourish even the driest skin. Or, if you have balanced to oily skin, you can try our light-weight moisturiser Quench, instead.
2. Add a boost of nutrients and hydration to your routine
Consider adding a serum that is packed full of nutrients to help give your skin a boost of nourishment. Our Saving Face Serum is the perfect oil-based serum full of ingredients with high concentrations of antioxidants and fatty acids to nourish and promote firm, replenished skin. Moreover, its concentration of silky, lightweight oils and butters help seal in moisture and slow the rate of TEWL, without feeling heavy on the skin.
You can also pamper yourself with our DIY Hydrating Winter Face Mask designed to soothe and nourish dry winter skin. It’s also a fantastic way to use over-ripe bananas!
3. Be careful while cleansing and exfoliating
If your skin is feeling irritated, opt for a gentle cleanser. If you have sensitivities to soap, fragrance or essential oils, make sure to keep an eye out for these ingredients!
We recommend Bliss Bar, our soap-free and fragrance-free face cleanser for all skin types that gently cleanses, without stripping even the most sensitive skin.
Don’t forget to exfoliate, but be careful if your skin is feeling super dry or irritated.
Take care not to over exfoliate and hydrate your skin after exfoliating. Try Gingersnap our face scrub for all skin types, or simply massage super sensitive skin with a soft, wet washcloth after cleansing
4. Sunscreen is needed all year round
Just because you aren't on a beach or spending loads of time outside, doesn’t mean you can skip sunscreen. You are still at risk for sun damage from UVA rays in the winter and it’s important to remember that sun damage accumulates over time. Apply a layer of SPF on top of your favourite moisturiser and you’re ready to venture out for wintertime activities.
Heading to a winter wonderland? Snow can reflect as much as 80% of the sun's UV radiation, so do ensure you layer on the SPF and reduce exposure as much as possible if you're hitting the ski slopes.
5. Limit shower time and be cautious of the temperature
Hot water can aggravate already dry, cracked skin by stripping your skin of its natural oils. Have shorter showers and drop the temperature down to something a little more lukewarm to look after your skin.
6. Watch your home’s temperature and humidity
Just like hot water, hot and dry air can also contribute to dry skin by increasing the rate of transepidermal water loss. Try not to crank the heat up too high and monitor the humidity level in your home to make sure it isn’t too low. Instead of raising the heat up even more, snuggle your pets or pop on some comfy layers. Bonus points for warming up cold fingers around a mug of your favourite hot beverage – staying hydrated does wonders for maintaining the moisture levels of your skin from within.
7. Don’t forget about your lips!
Our lips are more susceptible to drying out and becoming cracked or chapped because they don’t contain oil-glands like the rest of our skin. Make sure to apply lip balm before you go outside and don’t forget to take it with you when going out to reapply. Try one of our lip balms, they help improve the appearance of dry lips immediately and are available in 4 flavours and even an unscented lip balm. The packaging is also home-compostable!
While there’s no “one size fits all”, it does always pay to treat your skin with care. Be careful when adding or removing steps in your winter skincare routine (patch test!) and remember to pay close attention to and listen to your skin.
Sources:
- American Academy of Dermatology - How to safely exfoliate at home
- American Academy of Dermatology - Your winter skin survival kit
- World Health Organization - Radiation: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation
