5 Tips to Winterize Your Skin

 

When the temperatures start their downward spiral, you might notice your skin doing the same. Even if you had dewy, moisturized skin all summer long, winter has a way of wreaking havoc. Whether it’s suddenly sullen or definitively dry, your winter skin needs some extra care to combat things like cold, dry air and indoor heating. Don’t worry, though: winterizing your skin is simple with these tips to follow as the temperature dips.

 

1. Invest in a Humidifier

Moisturizers help, but they can’t always put back everything the dry winter months take out of you. Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water definitely plays a role, but you can also help your winter skin by investing in a small humidifier. Fill it with distilled water and a few drops of your favorite essential oil and keep it on your nightstand. That way, every night is a recovery period and you’re helping to give your skin the hydration it needs inside and out.

2. Winter Skin Still Means Sticking to Your SPF

It’s tempting to drop your SPF around the same times you store your swimsuits for the season. But while you might not need your favorite bathing suit until next June, you need SPF every single day. UV rays can still do damage during the winter, so make sure SPF remains a prominent feature in your routine. In fact, you might find a thicker formula that combines a moisturizer with an SPF helps give you a double layer of defense against the sun and dry, chapped winter skin. Look for products that have an SPF of 30 or more and remember to reapply every two hours when you’re outside.

3. Skip the Toners

If your skin gets oily during the hot summer months, a toner or astringent might be a staple in your daily regimen. During the winter, however, you likely won’t need the same product. Astringents often include alcohol in their list of ingredients, which is extremely drying to your skin. Try skipping the step altogether, or if you absolutely must tone your skin, opt for an alcohol- and fragrance-free version.

4. Second-Guess Your Serum

Serum-based products definitely have their advantages. Their thin consistency typically means they absorb better and have a quick dry-down time so you can apply and go. During the winter, however, your trusty serum might not have all the ingredients necessary to nourish your skin. If you routinely use a retinoid-based serum, this can be doubly important as many retinoids are infamous for drying skin.

Check to be sure your retinoid serum is designed to not dry out the skin. If it isn’t, swap it out for a cream with the same key ingredients but a thicker consistency. Our SuddenlySmooth Gentle RetinAll serum contains a hydrating retinoid, plus unique technology to deliver results without harshness. In a clinical study, 100% of participants had no irritation. This means you can use RetinAll winter or summer and get all the benefits of a retinoid plus hydration, without needing to redo your skincare routine!

5. Try Oil Cleansing

Your skin already makes its own oil and stripping it away every night as you take off your makeup could be drying it out. In the harsh winter months, oil cleansing may help. It seems a little counterintuitive, but oils can actually help remove oil and makeup from your skin. It’s simple to do: just start your cleansing process with a little warmed oil in your palms (we love coconut, olive, or vitamin E oil) and gently rub it in circular motions to get rid of dirt, makeup, and pore-clogging dry skin. Use a soft towel to wipe the oil away without the tight, dry feeling you might experience after regular cleansing.

Korean beauty trends instruct you to follow your oil cleansing with a traditional cleanser that’s specifically designed to not dry out the skin. Of course, we have a favorite in that category: ComfortBead Cleanser.

Love it or hate it, winter is on its way. After a long summer of beach days and minimal makeup, it might be time to rethink how you care for your skin. For more info about our favorite ingredients for happy skin, click here. Choose your ingredients carefully and even the worst weather won’t stand a chance against your winterized skincare routine.