Whether some of us would like to admit it or not, (I know I don’t want to), cold weather is well on it’s way here.
Shorter days, colder temps, and drier air can all put a total damper on our plans, health, and skin.
But your skin doesn’t have to suffer all winter long. Here are 6 cold weather skincare tips to keep your skin healthy and glowing throughout these colder months!
Cold Weather Skincare Tips
Lather Up!
Cold, dry air equals dry skin! Even if you’re the type of person to typically skip applying lotion, you’re definitely going to feel the need to apply some to keep your skin well hydrated and soft during the colder months.
The absolute best times to apply lotion are right after a shower, or bath, to help lock in moisture, and right before bed, to keep your skin hydrated throughout the night.
Pro Tip: keep a bottle of lotion in key places so you don’t forget to apply it. Think the bathroom, next to your bed, and throwing one in your car or purse isn’t a bad idea either!
Exfoliate often
When your skin is extra dry, like during the cold winter months, you’re going to want to exfoliate often, especially before moisturizing, to remove the dead skin cells, bacteria, and dirt.
How often to exfoliate depends on your skin type and sensitivity, but you do want to aim for at least once a week. Want to know more about exfoliating? Check out 5 Tips for the Smoothest Legs Ever.
Switch out your products
Sometimes your skin changes with the weather. Your skin may become more dry, more sensitive, and more prone to irritation when the weather starts to get colder.
One easy fix, and one of the most effective cold weather skincare tips, is to swap your products out when the weather changes.
If you find that your skin does tend to go from oily to dry in the winter months, switch over to a moisturizer that provides extra hydration to avoid flaking, irritation, or excessively dry skin.
Take extra care of your hands
You may find that during the colder months you’re washing your hands a lot more to keep all those winter germs away. Either way, your hands are going to need a little extra love.
Make sure you’re using hand lotion frequently to avoid excessively dry or cracked hands, which are common when it’s cold out.
If you have super sensitive skin, or if your skin has become cracked or broken, skip the fragrance-fueled lotions and instead use a non-scented and extra moisturizing one like the Cetaphil Intensive Moisturizing Cream or the Eucerin Advanced Repair Hand Cream, which are both designed to relieve extremely dry skin.
Pro Tip: if your nails are suffering as well, invest in a cuticle oil to keep the skin around your nails hydrated and smooth!
Take care of your lips too!
Lips suffer just as much as hands do in the colder months so make sure you’re taking good care of them!
Regularly exfoliating and keeping them moisturized are key. (I love the elf Lip Exfoliator and one of my fav lip balms is the Dr Bronner’s Naked Organic Lip Balm).
If your lips are really dry you can try doing a lip mask a couple of times a week to help keep lips extra hydrated, and super soft and smooth too.
Don’t skip the spf!
Don’t even think about it.
Sunscreen is just as important in the winter as it is in the summer. UV rays don’t just disappear because it’s cold out, (in fact, sometimes they’re stronger), and you can still catch a sunburn during the winter.
So don’t make a major skincare mistake and forget to apply sunscreen daily during the colder months! (Read more about other skincare mistakes you need to avoid here)
What are some of your top tips for keeping skin healthy and hydrated in the winter?
Amazing tips, thank you so much! Always need a reminder of the care of you skin!
Of course!! 🙂
xo a
As someone who has atopic dermatitis, it is really difficult to find a skincare routine that works even for a few months. These tips are pretty great though. I’m going to try taking more care of my lips.
Lips are pretty easy. Exfoliate, mask, and moisturize!
xo a
These are such great tips! I’m so terrible at looking after my skin during the cold months so I definitely needed the reminder. B x
http://www.babblesnbooks.wordpress.com
It’s tough, but so important! So happy you found this helpful 🙂
xo a
I have such dry skin during the Winter time. Exfoliating is such a good tip when it comes to flaky skin. I also just wrote a post about skincare for dry skin!
Erika Marie | https://imerikamarie.com
Yes, exfoliating all the way! Leaves your skin feeling so much softer and smoother!
xo a
Love these tips! My skin definitely gets drier in the winter and I have been applying moisturiser more often.
Mine too! I go through so much lotion in the winter, but I truly can’t stand dry skin!
Mine too! I go through so much lotion in the winter, but I really can’t stand dry skin!
xo a
The ‘Don’t Skip SPF’ step is an important one for me to read because in winter around here, I tend to start ignoring my SPF when the days are so short!
Yes, wear it every single day! No exceptions! 🙂
xo a
Winter skincare is so difficult! My skin gets so dry and flaky. Winter is definitely all about covering myself with hydrating creams!
Laura / https://www.laustworld.com/
Yes! Winter takes such a toll on my skin, but making sure my skin is properly hydrated really makes a huge difference!
xo a
I spent about an hour in Target the other day trying to pick a facial moisturizer and make-up remover. And then I thought, maybe I should try a mask? Or maybe an exfoliant? Or maybe…? And it was just so stressful. But I really appreciate these tips! So thank you!
Skincare shopping can be totally stressful, there’s just so much to choose from! Focus on your skin’s needs and start there. You can always add to a routine as you start to get a better understanding of your skin and skincare in general!
xo a
Hand care is something I always forget, thank you for reminding me and thank you for this helpful post!
Hand care is often overlooked, but its still so important to take good care of them!
xo a