10 Top Tips for Healthy Winter Skin

The cold weather can be harsh on our skin. In fact, many people find that their skin is drier in the winter than it is during other times of the year. This can be due to a number of factors, including the colder temperatures, and harsher winds. If you are struggling with your skin this winter, don’t worry – we have put together some winter skin care tips for you!

• Why Is My Skin Particularly Dry in the Winter?
• Signs of Dry Skin
• How to Take Care of Dry Skin in Winter
• Skincare Routine for Dry Skin in Winter
• Winter Face Tips for Healthy Skin
• Choosing the Best Skincare for the Winter Season

Why Is My Skin Particularly Dry in the Winter?

“Winter is perhaps the most challenging season for your skin,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, an associate professor of dermatology and the director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

Low humidity combined with the cold harsh winter weather means the air is much drier, which constantly draws moisture from the skin. Even staying indoors doesn’t help, as central heating and hot showers or baths can also cause the skin to dry out, crack and peel. What is your skin care routine for dry skin this winter?

 

Signs of Dry Skin

When it comes to dry skin, you might be surprised by how many people have symptoms, especially when temperatures dip. The most common ones include:

• white, flaky skin
• redness
• chapped texture
• itchy
• slight inflammation
• raw, irritated skin
• stinging
• fine cracks in your skin

Xerosis is the medical term for dry skin. It can range in severity and look different depending on the area of your body that’s affected, but typically it will cause symptoms such as scaling or peeling to appear. If you feel your skin health is severe we recommend you speak to a medical professional, such as a board certified dermatologist.

How to Take Care of Dry Skin in Winter

Drink plenty of water

Another way to help keep your skin hydrated is by drinking plenty of water. Protecting your skin against the drop in outside moisture levels is to ensure you’re topped up from the inside. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

If the thought of having a glass of cold water puts you off over winter, hot water with a slice of lemon, or detoxifying herb teas are great alternatives to coffee or hot chocolate. We love ginger or liquorice teas for a digestive system boost and dandelion & burdock tea that supports healthy liver & kidney function.

There are also many foods that can help you stay hydrated. Be sure to include fresh fruit and vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers (with the seeds), melon, or apples in your diet! You’ll also get an added benefit of supporting elastin & collagen production by including these skin-boosting zinc rich ingredients into meals daily – plus they taste great too!!

 

 

Wear gloves

Winter is a tough time for those who struggle with irritated skin on their hands. The harsh winds and extreme temperatures can really take their toll on the skin, causing dryness or chapping – protecting them with gloves are essential for preventing this and keeping them hydrated! If your hands are prone to irritation we recommend using cotton gloves and a thick moisturiser when you get inside.

Step away from the hot tap

A relaxing hot shower or bath can feel wonderful in the winter, but excessively hot water also strips the skin of its natural oils, which can lead to drying, cracking and itchy skin as a result of dehydrated cells getting damaged when exposed to high temperatures over extended periods.

Be sure to apply a thick moisturiser (or hand cream) on damp skin to lock in all the moisture, and where possible, use lukewarm water, especially when you’re washing your hands and face. Top Tip: Try using some rubber gloves to help protect your hands from harsh chemicals and temperature dips when washing the dishes.

 

 

Dial down the temperature

As well as turning the hot tap down, one of the best ways to take care of dry winter skin is to dial down the indoor heat too. Central heating reduces the moisture levels in the house and can dry out your skin.

Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air

The addition of a humidifier in your home can be a great way to increase humidity levels (natural moisture) and help prevent dry skin in the colder months.

Skincare Routine for Dry Skin in Winter

A good skincare routine is key to maintaining healthy and hydrated skin.

1. Choose the right cleanser

“You want to make sure your cleanser puts moisture into the skin, rather than taking it out,” says Joyce Davis, MD, FAAD, a board certified dermatologist practicing in New York City.

Using the same cleanser all year round? You might want to think about choosing a richer, more hydrating product for your winter skincare routine. Oil-based products are more gentle and soothing on drier skin while being equally effective at removing makeup or daily grime!

One option could be to use our healing and replenishing Face Balms, which also double as a skin cleanser. Choose from delicate Shining Rose, fresh Cedar Thistle, or Jojoba Natural – melt a little on the fingers then apply to the face and neck and remove with a warm, damp cloth leaving your face with a healthy glow.

2. Whip up a DIY facemask

Why not pop the ingredients for a DIY facemask into your skin care regimen? Here at Scence, we recommend mashing together 1 tablespoon of skin-soothing, gently exfoliating oats with half a ripe avocado to make a calming, deeply moisturising vegan facemask.

Apply all over your face (being careful to avoid the delicate eye area) and wash off with warm water after 10-15 minutes.

3. Gently exfoliate

Gentle exfoliating scrubs can be wonderful for skin regeneration, removing dead skin cells and glowing winter skin.
Winter skin tips: it’s important not to overdo the process because harsh scrubs may break down moisture barriers which could lead you to have dry patches or eczema as well! Also, remember to gently exfoliate with your fingers so you can control the pressure on your face more easily.

4. Moisturiser magic

Just as you should consider switching up your winter cleanser, a hydrating moisturiser is an essential part of your skin care routine. We’ve carefully crafted our range of face moisturising balms, hand balms, and body moisturisers to soothe and hydrate you from top to toe, without leaving an oily residue. Read more about why you should moisturise in your daily routine here.

 

 

You’ll find beautiful natural butters and oils in all our vegan, sustainable moisturisers. We’ve chosen ingredients that will melt into the skin, leaving your face, neck, hands, and body feeling soothed and enriched. We also use 100% paper packaging so you can compost or recycle as you go.

5. Don’t forget to use a natural lip balm

We’ve all been there – the combination of chilly, dry UK weather can often mean chapped, flaky, windburned lips. Thankfully there is now an alternative to help soothe your discomfort – Scence’s natural, vegan and cruelty-free lip balms are packed full of nourishing and natural ingredients, such as soothing jojoba and nourishing vitamin E oil, to protect, heal and moisturise. Read more about applying lip balm to look after your lips this winter.

 

6. Crack cold sores

The winter months can be a risky time for people who suffer from cold sores. The dry air and chilly temperatures make it more likely that you’ll feel the tingling sensation of an upcoming outbreak, but if you use an organic lip balm and with good diet habits in place, this won’t happen as often – especially foods rich in vitamin C and the amino acid lysine (think tofu and legumes such as chickpeas, lentils, and beans).

A quick skincare tip: try not to lick your lips, carry water around with you and take a sip when you have the urge! Cut out smoking, alcohol, and late nights and you’ll say cheerio to the cold sore in no time.

7. Apply sun cream daily

SPF is not just for summer, UV rays are weaker in winter in the UK, which is why we don’t burn, but harmful UVA is always beaming down on us, penetrating the deeper skin layers and causing damage to skin cells. Don’t forget to pop some sun cream on when you’re out and about – a minimum of SPF 15 is recommended. We recommend Green People’s Natural SPF Moisturisers.

Winter Face Tips for Healthy Skin

As we said above the best time to moisturise is when the skin is still wet, as this will help lock moisture in and the moisturiser will be absorbed more effectively. Try using an overnight treatment or adding an occlusive to your routine.

8. Use overnight treatments

Overnight treatments, such as thick moisturiser, face balms and sleeping masks are a great way to keep your skin hydrated. They help lock in moisture while you sleep so that when you wake up in the morning with your skin feeling soft, smooth, and radiant – ready for anything!

9. Try adding natural occlusives to your routine

Occlusives are ingredients that help to seal in moisture and, depending on your skin type, can be a great addition to any winter skin care routine. Some good natural occlusive ingredients include cocoa butter, avocado oil, olive oil, and other plant oils and butters that are high in oleic acid.

10. Choosing the best skincare for the winter season

If you’re looking for the best skincare products for the winter season, we’ve got just the thing. Our balms are perfect at protecting your skin from the cold weather, especially if you suffer from a sensitive skin condition, such as eczema and psoriasis – it forms an invisible barrier on the skin to help lock in moisture and protect against external irritants all season long.

Pure Face Balm – use daily after cleansing or as required, take a small pea sized amount on the back of your nail to leave your face and neck feeling soothed and cared for.

Fresh Cedar Body Moisturiser – melting mango butter moisturiser that glides over the skin, with grounding cedarwood and frankincense essential oils, apply just after a shower or bath. We use organic coconut and jojoba oil, mango butter, and essential oils in our super hydrating body balms to help combat a variety of skin conditions.

Perfect Rose Hand Balm – softens and hydrates, we use wonderful mango butter, organic borage, jojoba, and calendula oils for their healing and replenishing qualities. It leaves your hands and nails feeling soothed and cared for without leaving a greasy residue.

Jojoba Pure Natural Lip Balm – apply regularly to help avoid dry lips during the winter months. We have used natural and organic ingredients; jojoba oil, illipe, and mango butter to help smooth and soothe whilst still having a protective layer from the cold.

 

 

Want to find out how our vegan, cruelty-free skincare range can help you enjoy healthy-looking, supple skin this winter? Take a look at our shop and sign up to our newsletter to keep updated.