Worse weather for your skin this winter is generally colder temperatures and drier air. If you don't have a winter skin care routine, your skin can easily stay soft and hydrated without the harsh elements damaging it. Irrespective of whether your skin is dry, combination, or oily, you can get through a customised routine to cater to your skin’s type.
But in our winter skin care routine guide, we’ll cover each step of it all in succession. In this post, we'll also look at winter skin care routine for dry skin, winter skin care routine for combination skin, and winter skin care routine for oily skin and share some of the winter skincare tips that can be beneficial for all of us to maintain glowing healthy skin in the colder months.
Why We Recommend a Winter Skin Care Routine?
In the winter, the cold air can take your skin's natural moisture away, leaving it dry and red (sometimes even cracked). Elsewhere, indoor heating can also dry our skin further by reducing humidity levels. So it’s important to follow a winter skin care routine that will keep replenishing moisture around your skin, lock it in and guard it from the harsh elements.
Steps to Follow in a Winter Skin Care Routine
There are several steps that lead to a good winter skin care routine step by step - the steps of cleansing, exfoliating, moisturizing and protecting the skin. Let’s break down each step.
1. Cleanse with a Gentle Cleanser
First step to any skincare routine is cleansing. Your skin is more prone to being sensitive in the winter months, so when choosing a cleanser remember to use something gentle and hydrating. Don’t use harsh cleansers that will strip your skin of moisture. Check for fragumce free, and dry or sensitive skin products.
A cream based dry skin winter skin care routine for dry skin will consist of a cleanser that will help in adding moisture as well while cleansing. For combination skin winter skin care routine, you might also be interested in a more mellow gel cleanser that won't strip the skin of its own moisture, nor overly soak up the natural oil. A gentle foaming cleanser good for oily skin can wipe away dirt and excess oil while keeping skin hydrated could be beneficial for winter skin care routine for oily skin.
2. Exfoliate to Remove Dead Skin Cells
Winters can leave your skin dull due to the build up of dead cells that exfoliating helps remove. The problem, however, is that our skin can react to over-exfoliating and end up irritated.
To help prevent that from happening, if you're looking for a winter skin care routine for dry skin then go for a hydrating exfoliant. Salicylic acid is a chemical exfoliant which is good for combination or oily skin to stay receptive to exfoliation while being moisture balanced.
To avoid irritation, exfoliates your skin 1-2 times per week.
3. Tone and Hydrate
Toning helps balance your skin's pH and get your skin ready to better absorb moisturizer. Find a toner without alcohol, and with hydrating elements such as glycerin or hyaluronic acid.
Toner that provide extra moisture is used for winter skin care routine for dry skin. In the case of someone with combination skin a soothing toner can allow oily areas to be calmed while hydrated dry patches. Alternatively, if you have oily skin, you might need a toner that doesn’t dry your skin, but instead, controls oil.
4. Apply a Moisturizer
A moisturizer is the most important part of your winter skin care routine. In colder months, natural moisture barrier of the skin becomes compromised and it becomes dehydrated and flaky. Fundamental to avoiding these problems is a good moisturizer.
If you’re picking out the best moisturizer for winter for face, look for a thicker, more emollient formula that will lock in moisture. During winter, use a heavier one while buying moisturizer containing ingredients like ceramides, shea butter, its equivalent, or a good oil like jojoba, argan etc. For those with combination skin, choose a lightweight oil free moisturizer that best moisturizes without looking greasy. For oily skin, winter skin care routine for oily skin, look for non comedogenic moisturisers that hydrate without clogging pores.
Related : The Best Dermatologist Recommended Skin Care Routine for 60s
5. Protect with Sunscreen
Winter is not as sunny as summer, but sunscreen is still a necessity. Your skin can be damaged from UV rays year round, and you want to protect your skin from that! Regions to look for when choosing a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and also hydration include.
If you have dry skin, make sure your sunscreen has additional moisturizing ingredients— like aloe or glycerin— in it. For oily skin, go for a sunscreen that helps control shine, but is mattifying.
6. Use a Night Cream or Face Oil
However, during winter skin can get much drier at night. If you use a rich night cream or face oil you can help lock in moisture while you sleep. Drinks like rosehip oil or marula oil, which can offer you hundreds of vitamins and antioxidants for nourishing the skin are your best choices to look for.
Retinol or peptides in a night cream can help with skin regeneration and beat signs of aging. Choose the heavier night cream for the dry skin and lighter, gel based formula for oily skin.
7. Don't Forget Your Hands and Lips
Never end your winter skin care routine at your face. They often start in the hands and lips. Keep one’s hands soft and hydrated by use of thick hand cream with ingredient such like shea butter or lanolin. Nourishing a lip balm with bees wax or petroleum jelly helps prevent chapping and cracking on lips.
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Winter Skincare Tips for Healthy Skin
In addition to following a winter skin care routine, here are some winter skincare tips that can help you keep your skin healthy throughout the season:
- Stay Hydrated: Drink water to keep you hydrated internally as well.
- Avoid Hot Showers: Long, hot showers can take your skin’s natural oils. Instead, choose lukewarm water.
- Use a Humidifier: If you’re indoors all the time with the heating on, put a humidifier in the air to help add moisture to it and prevent your skin from drying out.
- Wear Protective Clothing: Your skin can be damaged by those cold winds so wear scarves, hats, and gloves to protect your skin.
- Adjust Your Diet: Omega-3 fatty acids in foods such as fish, nuts and seeds can help keep your skin lush and glowing.
Winter Skin Care Routine for Specific Skin Types
Winter Skin Care Routine for Dry Skin
So if you have dry skin, then a winter skin care routine for dry skin should make up for lost moisture. Choose hydrating cleansers, rich moisturizers and face oils. A cream based cleanser with a thicker consistency will help to retain moisture and a heavy moisturiser will seal in moisture. But exfoliate gently so it doesn’t cause irritation and apply a nourishing night cream before going to bed.
Winter Skin Care Routine for Combination Skin
For combination skin, you'll be looking for a routine that keeps oily areas from being oily without dehydrating dry skin. Opt for lots of gentle cleanser, light toner, and non comedogenic moisturizer. Gently exfoliate this area if it tends to get oily — think T-zone.
How to Care for Your Skin in Winter with Oily Skin
It may sound counterintuitive but oily skin winter skin care routine still includes moisturization. The trick is to find a non greasy, light moisturizer that won't clog pores. It’s important to use a foaming cleanser that doesn’t dry out your skin and isn’t overly harsh on your skin but will take away any excess oil that can lead to breakouts. A mattifying sunscreen can also prevent skin from turning too shiney while protecting your skin from damaging UV rays.
FAQ
What is the best skin care routine through the winter?
Cleansing with a gentle, hydrating cleanser, exfoliating 1-2 times a week, toning with a hydrating formula, applying a rich moisturizer, using sun screen and a nourishing night cream or oil is the best winter skin care routine.
For winter skin care, what should you be doing?
For winter skin care, moisturize, use a mild cleanser, protect your skin from the cold, and increase hydration with oils or creams, if you have them, for your face.
What are the 7 steps of skincare?
These 7 skincare steps include cleansing, exfoliating, toning, moisturising, sunscreen application, using a night cream or oil and hand and lip care.
Do I need to wash my face less in the winter?
It’s important to actually wash your face daily so you can remove your dirt and impurities. In winter, however, choose a gentle, hydrating cleanser so your skin doesn’t end up stripped dry.
Final Thoughts
In the cooler months, we need a winter skin care routine. If you have dry skin, oily skin or combination skin, following a specialized winter skin care routine aimed at your type of skin after that can aid in protecting and moisturizing your skin.
Don’t forget to moisturize, sunscreen it, and water it inside and out! If you do these simple steps in your routine, you'll maintain your skin's best appearance all winter long.
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