If parched skin is the norm for you come winter, you’re going to want to stick around. The cold, dry winter air strips your skin of moisture, leaving it dry, itchy, and irritated. And the indoor heat doesn’t help either. Luckily, there are a few changes you can make that can totally transform your skin. From upping your exfoliation routine, to using ultra-moisturizing ingredients, and switching up your makeup products, here are the best products and remedies for dry skin in the winter.
5 Best Remedies for Dry Skin in the Winter
1. Increase Your Exfoliation Routine
Winter can exacerbate dry skin, making it even more important to exfoliate on a regular basis. Exfoliation sloughs off dead skin cells, helping to retain a healthy glow and soft, smooth texture. Increasing your exfoliation routine in the wintertime will help your hydrating skin care products penetrate deeper, making them more effective. Aim to exfoliate 3 times a week, or 1 to 2 if you have sensitive or easily irritated skin. Exfoliation should be applied directly after your cleanser during your nighttime skincare routine.
2. Moisturize with Hydrating Ingredients
You should be moisturizing your face day and night after cleansing, and your face and body every time you shower. For your face, use a product like the COSRX Hyaluronic Acid Intensive Cream, which locks moisture into your skin and provides long-lasting hydration. It’s super hydrating without being oily, while also giving your skin a youthful texture. Hyaluronic acid boosts your skin’s radiance, plumps up fine lines, and enhances skin elasticity. It’s a must-use ingredient to keep your skin hydrated, especially in the winter.
3. Hydrate
If you’re not drinking enough water, your skin can become dry, leading to itchiness and flaking. It’s really important to stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of water and eating foods high in water content. This includes cucumber, celery, tomatoes, cantaloupe, and zucchini. You should be aiming for six to eight (8 fl oz) glasses of water everyday. In the warmer months, try tea or hot water with lemon to switch things up.
4. Switch Up Your Makeup
Avoid dry, scaly looking skin by switching up your makeup products during the winter months. Hydrating, lightweight makeup products can totally change the game. Opt for a liquid foundation with a dewy formula, as well as cream bronzer and a cream or liquid blush. Powder products tend to settle into nooks and crannies of dry skin, making flakiness even more prominent. A cream highlighter is also great to brighten up a dull complexion.
5. Don’t Forget Your Lips
Your lips are thinner and more sensitive than other parts of your face, plus they don’t have oil glands to replenish moisture. The cold temperatures, wind, and low humidity can take a serious toll on your lips. Along with using a healing lip balm throughout the day, you can also benefit from an exfoliating lip scrub and a lip mask when they’re feeling extra chapped and dry.
6 Best Products for Dry Skin in the Winter
1. CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion
This light-weight daily moisturizing lotion is perfect to use on your body when you get out of the shower. It contains hyaluronic acid to help retain the skin’s natural moisture, as well as ceramides. Ceramides are naturally found in the skin and make up 50% of the lipids in the skin barrier. The lotion contains three essential ceramides to help restore the skin’s natural barrier, helping to lock in moisture.
2. Grace & Stella Hydrating, Plumping & Anti-Wrinkling Serum
A hydrating facial serum is another must-have in your winter skincare arsenal. This hyaluronic acid serum increases cell turnover, makes skin appear dewier, and is a game-changer when it comes to retaining moisture. It’s like a big gulp of water for your skin, rejuvenating and reviving your tired-looking complexion. Apply it on damp skin after cleansing, and immediately follow up with creams to lock in moisture!
3. Dr. Dennis Gross Gentle Daily Peel Pads
The Dr. Dennis Gross exfoliating pads contain 3 AHA/BHAs plus antioxidants and vitamins to slough away dead skin and impurities. The 2-step treatment gently exfoliates and smooths the skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, minimizing pores, and enhancing your natural glow.
4. Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial
Talk about beauty sleep. This light yet decadent overnight cream works to nourish, replenish, and revive the skin. Formulated with camu camu, a rich source of vitamin C, cocoa butter, and omega 6 and 9, it’s a prebiotic cream that replenishes dry, thirsty skin over night. Skin regeneration and water loss peaks at night, so using formulas that work alongside these process will give you the best results.
5. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
This lip mask is a cult favourite, and for good reason. Enriched with coconut oil and shea butter to nourish and moisturize, vitamin C to protect, and antioxidants to smooth, leave it on overnight to reveal supple lips come morning. Powered by Korean skincare, it delivers intense moisture so you wake up with hydrated lips.
6. Osea Ocean Cleanser Facial Wash
It’s important that your face wash doesn’t strip your skin of moisture, especially during the winter. The Osea gel cleanser is infused with seaweed and removes impurities and excess oils. It unclogs pores without stripping the skin and is made with glycerin to moisturize, smooth, and hydrate. Use it morning and night for soft, hydrated skin all through the chilly season.
If you’re experiencing dry skin this winter, use these products and remedies to moisturize and soothe your skin.
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