During winter, the temperature drops, and the air becomes cold and dry, potentially stripping away natural oils and causing facial skin to dry out. Besides which, oil production diminishes, and cell turnover reduces. This combination of factors can lead to dry, itchy skin, made worse by warm central heating and hot baths and showers, so it might be worth adapting usual skin care routines over winter.
- Winter weather, central heating, and hot water can cause the skin to dry out.
- Natural oil production and cell turnover rates also reduce.
- This combination can cause dry, flaky, dull-looking skin.
- Adapting skincare routines can help mitigate the effects of winter weather.
Although we can’t control the temperature of the outside weather, we can try to keep the temperature of hot water down for showers and baths. This should help to avoid loss of hydration and damage to the skin barrier which can increase skin sensitivity and redness.
Because the skin’s natural oil production reduces, it’s worth exfoliating moderately during winter to maintain the skin’s natural protection and moisture barrier.
Creams tend to be thicker, more oil-rich, and more moisturising, as well as being more easily absorbed so it could be worth swapping from moisturising lotion to moisturising cream. Hyaluronic acid helps bind moisture into the skin cells so creams containing it are even better. Either way, moisturising products are more effective when the skin is slightly warm and damp, so try to apply them after a bath or shower.
Surprisingly, the sun’s UVA rays remain at the same strength the same all year while UVB rays can cause damage, so using a minimum of SPF 30 sunscreen is still an essential during winter.
It’s worth paying particular attention to lips in colder weather as they can chap because of the dry air, and then we lick them, and then they chap more. A good lip balm that can be applied frequently is key.
Clearly, facial skin can have quite different needs based on the season. During the colder months our skin needs more hydration because extreme temperature changes between cold frosty air and hot, dry central heating can cause skin to become irritated, sensitive, and even flare up any underlying skin problems.
Taking steps to help combat the negative effects of winter weather by ramping up hydration and protection can help to keep skin hydrated and looking luminous.
