Why You Need to Change Things Up
The culprit behind winter’s wrath on your skin is moisture (or the lack thereof). During colder months, the humidity drops dramatically. This means less moisture in the air, which translates to your skin losing its own precious hydration faster. Add to that the harsh winds that whip away even more moisture, and you have a recipe for dryness.
But wait, there’s more! Indoor heating systems are another sneaky villain. While they keep us toasty warm, they also suck the moisture out of the air, further exacerbating the problem. The result? Tight, itchy skin, flakiness, and even irritation.
Now you understand that it’s important to modify your winter skincare program to reflect the dryness in the area. You also need the changes to reflect your individual skin type.
What’s Your Skin Type?
While everyone experiences some level of dryness in winter, how your skin reacts can vary depending on whether you have:
Dry Skin: This skin type already struggles to retain moisture, and winter makes things even tougher. Expect increased dryness, flakiness, and possibly even irritation and redness.
Oily Skin: While oily skin might seem less susceptible to dryness, it’s a misconception. Cold weather can trigger your skin to produce more oil in an effort to compensate for the moisture loss. This can lead to breakouts and a combination skin type (oily in the T-zone, dry elsewhere).
Sensitive Skin: Buckle up, sensitive skin warriors! Winter’s harsh conditions can easily trigger irritation, redness, and breakouts.
Changes that are Right for YOU
Now that we’ve identified the enemy (dryness!) and explored factors that influence complexion problems (your skin type), let’s talk key changes you need to make to your skincare routine. But first…
Most people won’t need a complete overhaul of all products when the seasons change. One dermatologist tells Harper’s Bazaar, “…the most important thing is to develop an awareness and understanding of your own skin and how it responds to different environments and products, and to make simple changes to help skin adapt for a change in environment.”
One key to making wise changes is to be aware of potentially irritating ingredients such as exfoliating acids, Vitamin C, and retinoids.
7 Super Winter Skincare Tips
Don’t go overboard with making product substitutions. If you’re not sure exactly what you should be doing, the team at Austin Clinic is standing by to guide you to the best products and best practices. For example:
Creamy Is Dreamy – This is the golden rule of winter skincare. Ditch your lightweight summer product and opt for a richer moisturising cream. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerine, and ceramides, which are all superstars at attracting and retaining moisture.
Gentle Cleansing Wins the Season – Avoid harsh cleansers that strip away your skin’s natural oils. Opt for a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser that will leave your skin feeling clean but not tight.
Give Dead Skin Cells the Boot – Exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells, revealing the brighter, smoother skin underneath. However, be gentle! Over-exfoliating can worsen dryness. Aim for 1-2 times a week with a gentle exfoliating scrub or chemical exfoliant (AHAs are great for winter).
Slather on the SPF – Just because the sun isn’t as intense during winter doesn’t mean you can skip sunscreen. UV rays can still damage your skin year-round, so apply a broad-spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen every day, even on cloudy days.
Say Yes to Serums – Serums are lightweight concentrates packed with beneficial ingredients that penetrate deeper than moisturisers.
Make Showers Short to be Smart – Long, hot showers can be oh-so-tempting on a chilly day but resist the urge! Hot water can strip your skin of its natural oils. Opt for lukewarm showers and limit your shower time.
Go Easy on Your Face and Body – Skip the harsh, fragranced soaps on your body too. Use a gentle, fragrance-free face and body wash, then pat your skin dry instead of rubbing to minimise irritation.
There you have it! With these simple tweaks to your routine, you can transform your winter skincare game and keep your skin glowing all season long. Remember, winter doesn’t have to mean dry, flaky skin. By understanding how the colder weather affects your skin and adapting your routine accordingly, you can keep your skin happy, healthy, and ready to face the elements (and look fabulous doing it!).
Embrace the cosy sweaters and hot cocoa, but don’t let winter steal your radiant complexion. With a little extra TLC and help from the team at Austin Clinic, your skin will win all winter along.
