Winter and dry skin tend to go hand in hand. They go together like peanut butter and jelly. I tend to get dry skin on my face, legs, arms and my lips always need protection so they don’t get too dry. I’ve already scoured the internet and tried most of the wonderful ways recommended to get rid of dry skin so that you don’t have to. This article is going to tell you everything that you need to know about how to get rid of dry skin in winter.
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Why Is My Skin So Dry In Winter
People are more likely to get dry skin in the winter due to changes in both humidity and temperature. These changes result in less moisture being in the air, and in you having less moisture on your skin. Over time, your skin continues to have less moisture than the day before until it is dry, itchy, and irritated.
Natural Remedies For Dry Skin
If you’re wondering how to moisturize skin in winter naturally, these awesome remedies are for you. They are all natural to make sure that you find the relief that you need without the chemicals and artificial ingredients that you don’t want.
Stay Hydrated With Plenty Of Water
Hydrating your skin from the inside out is always beneficial. Make sure that you’re drinking your eight glasses of water daily. If you’re not a fan of water, consider picking up some fruit juice or flavored water to keep yourself hydrated during the winter months.
Eating fresh fruits and vegetables is another way to stay hydrated. Fruits that are full of water, such as watermelon, can provide your body with most of the water that it needs.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a wonderful moisturizer! It helps moisturize your skin while simultaneously creating a thin layer of protection on the outer layer of your skin to keep moisture locked in.
DIY Olive Oil And Sugar Scrub
To make this recipe, you only need three ingredients:
- 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 tablespoons honey
- 1 cup sugar
Mix all three ingredients together until they form a grainy, paste like consistency. Then, use them as an exfoliating scrub for your face or to help soothe dry, irritated skin. This simple recipe can help eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions that tend to flare up in harsh winter weather.
Don’t Forget Sunscreen
Sunscreen helps protect the skin from the harmful rays of the sun, and most sunscreens have moisturizing properties. Opt for a creamy sunscreen to put on over top of your moisturizer on cold, winter days to help combat dry skin.
Limit The Caffeine
Too much caffeine, and not enough water, will lead to dry, dehydrated skin. This can make your complexion appear dull. If your skin gets further dehydrated, you’ll notice dry, itchy patches of skin.
Stick With Warm Water
It can be tempting to enjoy a steaming hot shower on cold days but resist the temptation. Water that is too hot tends to dry out the skin more. Instead, enjoy a warm bath or shower.
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is commonly used for dry skin on both the body and the face. A topical application of this oil can soothe away irritation and give your skin an instant dose of hydration. Jojoba oil works so well because it has the ability to act like your skin’s natural oils, both moisturizing and acting as a skin barrier at the same time.
Turn The Heat Down
The air that is forced through most furnaces and into our homes is extremely dry air. If you’re prone to dry skin, turning the heat up can make it significantly worse. Instead, invest in weather insulating curtains and a few warm hoodies. You’ll save money on your heating bill and combat dry skin at the same time!
Pick Up A Humidifier
Picking up a humidifier is a great way to put more moisture into a room. This has helped me with both my dry skin and my eczema! You can find them at your local pharmacy. Simply fill them with water, and turn them on every night. This is one of the easiest ways to finally learn how to get rid of dry skin in Winter. This humidifier is both affordable and easy to use!
How To Treat And Prevent Dry Skin On Face In Winter
I get dry skin on my face at a faster rate than anywhere else on my body. In fact, most of us do. That’s because your face is exposed to the dry winter air more than the rest of your body. These tips and tricks will help you both treat and prevent dry skin on your face during the winter months.
Protect Your Face
Protecting your face from the blasts of cold air when you step outside can go a long way in preventing dry skin on your face. Purchase a large scarf, and wrap it around the lower half of your face before you step outside. Picking up a hat and pulling it down over your forehead can help protect a portion of your face, too.
Moisturizer
Apply moisturizer as you do during the rest of the year. If your skin is excessively dry, and you don’t wear makeup daily, consider applying moisturizer throughout the day as well. This can help soothe dry, irritated skin as well as provide additional protection.
Point The Heater Vent Away From Your Face In The Car
The heat in your car is dry air just like the warm air coming from your furnace. It can be tempting to point the heater vent directly on you to get warm, but this can be a disaster for your skin, especially if you do it every day. Instead, turn on the vents that are pointed towards your feet or the defrost to warm up the car.
Follow Classic Skin Care Tips
Although your skincare will change in the winter, it’s important to follow classic skincare tips. Do your weekly face mask. Follow a skincare routine. Wear sunscreen daily. All of those little things that you do throughout the rest of the year are even more important during the harsh, cold weather.
Double Check Your Products, Especially For Sensitive And Dry Skin
During the winter months, your skin changes. Because of that, your skincare needs tend to change. It’s common for people to have oily skin or combination skin during the summer, and then have dry skin throughout the winter. Make sure that your products are still meeting your skincare needs.
Use Hydrating Makeup Products
If you have dry skin, you want to do everything that you can to keep it hydrated. Use water-based makeup products that are designed with hydration in mind instead of grabbing powder formulas that can dry out your skin more.
The Perfect Dry Skin Care Routine For Your Face
Your skincare will change as the season’s change. When our skin is exposed to different temperatures and humidity levels, it has different needs. Thankfully, the perfect dry skin routine is only four steps!
Cleanse
As always, you need to cleanse your face. Make sure that you’re using a cleanser that is designed for use on dry skin. These cleansers are specially formulated to provide your skin with an extra dose of moisture and keep your skin moisturized.
Treat
Next, you need to treat any concerns that you may have. This can include using serums for acne, under-eye treatments, etc. Remember that skincare products should always be applied in order from the thinnest to the thickest. For example, serums should be applied before thick creams.
Moisturize
Moisturizer is always important, but it’s especially important during winter. Make sure that your moisturizer is specially formulated for dry skin to help combat dry skin on your face this winter.
Provide Protection
Finally, don’t forget your sunscreen! Even though it is not hot during the winter months, the sun’s harmful rays can still do quite a bit of damage to your skin. You should apply sunscreen daily regardless of the season.
Awesome Products For Dry Winter Skin
HAPPY SKIN REGIMEN 4 Piece Set ($70)
Bring the spa to your home using this skin regimen set by juice beauty. Give your skin a fulfilling dose of skin-loving nutrition with Revitalizing Acacia + Rose Powder Mask and PREBIOTIX Cleansing Cream. The perfect option for those who avoid getting expensive skin facials and treatments. Treat your skin with a weekly facial treatment in winter using juice beauty’s skincare set.
Highlights
- Affordable skincare set
- Beginner friendly
- Features a 4-piece essential skincare product like
- Kate Hudson ♥️ Juice Beauty Revitalizing Acacia + Rose Powder Mask
- Masking Brush
- PREBIOTIX Cleansing Cream
- FREE Eco Cleansing Cloth
Dew Kit by OGEE ($172)
Taking care of your dry skin in winter is so tricky. One wrong product and bang! A disaster. You can keep your worries at bay using this dew kit by OGEE. It is a beautiful blend of all the essentials to fix your everyday beauty + skincare needs.
What it comes with:
- LUMINOUS BOTANICAL FACE MIST
- JOJOBA GLOW FACE OIL
- SCULPTED FACE STICK (AMBER)
- TINTED SCULPTED LIP OIL (ROSALIA)
Dry Skin On Legs
Certain areas on my body tend to get drier than other areas, like my legs. Our legs tend to get so dry because we shave them. When you shave your legs, it strips the skin of its natural oils that it needs to hold moisture in the skin.
Increase The Humidity
Increase the humidity in your home to help combat dry skin on your legs. You can do this by sitting a bowl of water by the heater vents in your home or purchasing a humidifier. Another great idea is to vent your dryer inside. This instantly puts more moisture into your home and doesn’t cost a thing.
Pat Yourself Dry
Instead of rubbing yourself dry after a bath or shower, take the time to pat your skin dry. This will help more of the water stay on your skin, and dry skin on your legs can desperately use the extra moisture.
Apply Moisturizer Immediately to Prevent Water Loss
After patting yourself dry, apply moisturizer head to toe. When you put on body lotion as soon as you pat yourself dry, it helps to create a barrier that traps moisture in your skin.
Use Nourishing, Moisturizing Products
It’s always important to pay attention to your products. Make sure that your winter skincare routine consists of products that are designed to help moisturize dry skin. Body creams and lotions are great, but it’s critical to focus on products that help your body both increase and retain moisture. Products with honey, such as honey body wash, are known to be extremely hydrating.
Improve Your Skin Barrier
Harsh products that are packed with irritants can cause a significant amount of damage to your skin barrier. However, it’s possible to repair your skin barrier to improve it’s function. To do this, eliminate products with harsh irritants from your skin and body care routines. Use the least amount of products possible. Then, make sure that you use a lotion that helps restore the pH balance of your skin.
Shave Your Legs Less
If you’re single, and not ready to mingle, you can deal with stubby legs for a few days. Instead of shaving daily to make sure that your legs feel like satin, only shave your legs every few days. If you can, cut it down to once per week. This can help your skin retain natural oils that will keep your legs moisturized throughout the winter.
Dry Scalp In Winter
Having to deal with a dry scalp during the winter months is more common than dealing with dandruff in the summer months. You’re dealing with this because of the same reasons that the rest of your skin is dry: harsh winter weather, cold air, and less humidity. However, there are several things that you can do to combat dry scalp this winter.
Moisturizing Shampoos
Picking up a moisturizing shampoo is the easiest way to find relief from a dry scalp in winter. These shampoos are designed to gently clean your hair without stripping it of its natural moisture and oils. Instead, they add more moisture to your hair, helping to keep it hydrated and silky smooth.
Our Picks
Oway Moisturizing Hair Bath ($41.95)
Oway Moisturizing Hair Bath is made from a potent blend of moisturizing ingredients to nourish and moisturize every strand of hair, transforming dull, lackluster hair into gorgeous locks you will love! The container is made from recyclable Amber glass and has an aluminum cap, but you can order a pump for your bottle on the website. It’s the perfect solution if you’re trying to figure out how to help your dry hair.
De-Stress
While stress doesn’t necessarily cause dandruff, it can worsen the condition if you already have it. This is because dandruff comes from a particular microbe that lives on your head. This little microbe is always present, especially if you already have dandruff. When you are stressed, this microbe begins to multiple at a much faster rate, making your dandruff and dry, itchy scalp worse than it already is.
Stop Blow Drying Your Hair
When we talk about turning the heat down, it doesn’t just apply to the thermostat or the temperature of our water. Blow drying your hair can contribute to dry skin on the scalp. Instead, use the blow dryer on a cool setting, or toss it in a drawer for the winter. Opt for a hair towel to gently dry your hair instead.
Awesome Products For Dry Skin
If you’re prone to dry skin, it’s critical to use the right products on your entire body. These are some of the best products that you need to add to your dry skin arsenal when the winter months are near.
Hydrating Primer
If you know that you are going to get dry skin on your face this winter, don’t wait for it to rear its ugly head. Instead, switch to a hydrating primer like Illamasqua Hydra Veil as soon as the temperature outside starts to cool down.
Petroleum Jelly
Petroleum Jelly is affordable, and an amazing product for dry skin. Slather Vaseline on dry, cracked heels and put on a pair of thick socks to enjoy smooth feet in the morning. You can also use Vaseline on patches of dry skin, chapped lips to help create a barrier between dry skin and harsh winter weather to prevent excess dryness.
The Best Body Lotion For Dry Skin
The best body lotion for dry skin, including dry skin on your legs, that I’ve ever used was actually Corn Husker’s Lotion. It goes on quickly, is absorbed easily, and is affordable. Eucerin and Cetaphil are also highly recommended by dermatologists, and they definitely do their part to moisturize skin.
When it comes to creating a barrier for your skin, consider picking up a few body creams. These are thicker than most lotions and tend to sit on top of your skin more. This makes them an exceptional choice for repairing the skin barrier.
The Most Nourishing Hand Cream For Dry Skin
Cela Creme de la Creme is one of the most moisturizing hand creams I have ever used. It’s a bit pricey at $30, but a little bit goes a long way. It’s an exceptional choice if you are prone to dry, cracking hands throughout the winter. You can find it at Sephora!
Coconut Oil Based Products
Coconut oil is not exactly jojoba oil, but this miracle product definitely helps combat dry skin. You can use it as shaving cream, a hair mask, or a moisturizer instead of lotion. It is absorbed easily by the skin, helps restore the natural pH balance of your skin, and helps restore the function of your skin barrier to prevent dry skin in the future.
In Conclusion
Dry skin tends to plague a lot of us during the winter months. These tips and tricks will help you find the relief that you need, and learn how to prevent dry skin in the future. To learn how to deal with chapped, dry lips, check out this article!
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