Fall time is here and winter's around the corner, and with that brings cold and dry air. Especially if you're in the midwest like me, you are already aware of how it is in cold seasons here.
What Causes My Skin To Be Dry In Colder Seasons?
The most common factor in colder season's skin is lack of hydration. The cold and dry air outside causes the pores in your face to tighten and reduces blood circulation, putting that alongside with low humidity, it can easily lead to dry and dull skin. Heated air inside the house or in the car also dries out the skin, causing it to dry and become cracked.
Also, during the colder months, hotter showers or baths are taken. This strips the skin of it's oil barrier that normally protects from dryness.
To combat this, most people's first thought would be to double up on moisturizers or lotions. However, while it may decrease the dryness, it can be more damaging than helpful. Too many heavy moisturizers or lotions can cause the pores to get clogged, leading to breakouts or greasy skin.
Preventing Dry Skin & Staying Hydrated
Here are my top 5 ways to keeping my skin hydrated during the dry months.
Get a humidifier! This is my favorite method, since it takes no extra steps after set up. Humidifiers are a great way to add moisture back into the air. With the heat running in your home, a lot of the good moisture is gone and will cause your skin to dry out. I like to keep one in the bedroom so when I go to sleep it does its job of adding moisture back into my skin. This is also great for flu season, because it'll keep your nose and throat from being dry as well!
Moisturize immediately after washing. After taking a shower or washing your face, your skin will start to become dry instantly. That's why it is important to have that be the first thing you do right after. Opt for something fragrance-free, lightweight and natural. Avoid "Unscented" products as they may contain chemicals that neutralize/hide the odors of other ingredients. Those chemicals might cause irritation to dry and sensitive skin. Also, avoid products containing: Alcohol, Alpha-Hydroxy Acid (AHA), Fragrance, and Retinoids. This will help to retain your skins natural oils and leave your skin nourished.
Don't skip your SPF!!!!! Just because it isn't sunny and hot out anymore doesn't mean that the sun just disappears and it's safe to go without sunscreen anymore (It never is!). During the colder seasons, the UV rays still beam down on our skin and can cause damage. If they can penetrate through clouds and glass, they can definitely penetrate your skin. Even though they aren't as powerful during the winter, they still can reach and reflect off the snow and ice causing it to do more damage on sunny days. Most SPFs contain Vitamin C which provides anti-aging benefits as well as promote healthy skin- which will aid to retain moisture in your skin.
Get a few Hydrafacials! It's in the name: HYDRATE. This one is a bit pricey, however, it is so worth it especially during the drier months where it seems impossible to retain moisture. Hydrafacials exfoliate dry peeling skin which increases your facial skin's blood flow- this creates a healthy glow and aids in preventing dry skin and as earlier mentioned, the importance of blood circulation. After exfoliation, specific vitamin moisture-rich serums and antioxidants are deposited into the skin. These serums help hydrate and nourish on a deeper level, which helps combat and protect the skin from harsh winter elements such as windburn. Hydrafacials also aid in reducing inflammation and redness. Book one here.
Drink lots of water. This one might seem obvious, but sometimes overlooked. To keep your skin hydrated, your body needs to be too! When your skin dries out, that is water lost from your body- meaning more water must be added. The easiest way to combat that is to make sure you are drinking enough water every day. Warm broths, herbal teas, and soups count towards daily water intake as well and will give you the benefit of added nutrients!
Following these tips will help keep your skin hydrated and feeling good during these depressing colder months. All these can also be applied year round, however- make sure you are most consistent during these winter months to prevent dry and flaky skin.
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