Whether you’re dry, normal or oily, we’re all plagued by dry winter skin conditions. No one is unsusceptible. Hide yo’ kids, hide yo’ wife, ya know? Crispy dehydrated skin is coming for us all!!
Today I’m sharing my skin tips for combating dry, dehydrated skin. I have an OG post on taking care of your body in the winter, too.
he good news: it’s fairly easy to combat dry winter skin
More than anything, it comes down to nourishing your skin. When skin is dehydrated, it needs love. You may need to play around with how frequently your skin needs extra nourishment–a combination of your skin type and climate will determine frequency.
When our climate changes we need to make adjustments to our routine. Whether that’s switching up products we use or picking up more yummy skin feeding products.
first things first, tweaking the cleansing step
For the majority of us, we cleanse twice a day. If your cleanser is removing excess oil during colder months, oils your barrier needs to maintain hydration, you may be setting yourself up for a tight and crispy situation.
Or maybe your milk cleanser isn’t nourishing enough to keep your skin feeling soft and supple.
If you’re using gel cleansers and clay masks in the summer, once seasons begin shifting to cooler temps you’ll need to switch it up. For many skin types, an oil cleanser will do the trick by removing excess oil while still leaving the skin feeling comfortable. Think about how your oil production is. A light milk cleanser may be sufficient for someone with combination skin, while if you lean towards being dry a cream cleanser might be a better option.
A caveat to consider: sometimes dehydrated skin will overcompensate with excess oil.
reduce how often you’re exfoliating
Don’t stop exfoliating, just often enough you’re removing dead skin and creating space for products to penetrate thoroughly. Cutting back is crucial though, otherwise, you’ll degrade your barrier. You need your skin’s barrier for several reasons, but when it comes to winter skin having a healthy barrier ensures your skin can maintain proper hydration levels. Take away too much of your barrier and no matter how much hydrating serum you use, your skin will still feel dehydrated.
Take inventory of your products, check labels for exfoliating ingredients. We’re counting retinol here, too. Many brands sneak retinol or acids into their cleansers, masks, serums, toners, etc. You could be exfoliating more than you realize!
For example, using a soft washcloth or Intrinsics wipes is sufficient exfoliation for myself. I only use my precious P50 maybe once a week this time of year. I’m a big fan of enzymes as they only remove dead skin, whereas acids can eat away at both live and dead skin cells.
increase nourishing products in your routine
We’re looking for products without exfoliants unless the product will be your main source of exfoliation through colder months. We want hydrating, replenishing ingredients.
In the ingredient deck, look for replenishing ceramides, hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, sodium PCA, and glycerin. The formula should include complementary ingredients, working together to create deeply hydrated skin.
At the moment, my favorite hydrating serum is Skinceuticals HA Intensifier! Plump, bouncy cheeks in the winter? 100% possible with this one.
For moisturizers, Cerave Skin Renewing Cream is a great affordable option. Cerave’s entire range focuses on replenishing the skin’s barrier, so keep them in mind if you’re budget conscious. If you’re into luxurious formulas, Skinceuticals Triple Lipid is where it’s at. It’s like a fluffy, cushy pillow for your face.
Facial oils are a great supplement to your routine, too! You can look at hydrating mists, masks, or even Korean sheet masks as hydration options. There are so many ways to customize!
extra credit for the skincare overachievers
When I met Stacy last year in Denver, I asked for tips on helping my skin adjust to the climate for when we move later this year. They really apply to any dry conditions, including winter.
1. Place a humidifier in your bedroom, home office, or where ever you spend the majority of your time at home.
2. Up your fish oil intake. I prefer Nordic Naturals, they’re high quality and they add lemon–so no fishy aftertaste!
Maintaining a glowing, dewy complexion during the winter isn’t impossible. Listen to your skin, pay attention to how it responds to what you put on, and make adjustments where needed. It might take a little tweaking, but you’ve got this!
What are your fave ways to beat crispy dry, dehydrated winter skin?? xo