Winter Skin Care

Winter in Canada means dry skin season for many of us.  The skin care routine you use in the warmer months might not work when the temperature drops.  Cold outdoor temperatures and artificial indoor heat can quickly lead to dry, flaking, itchy skin.  Here are some tips to avoid winter skin.

We all know the 8 glasses of water a day and it's just as important in winter as it is during summer.  Cold weather makes us think about warm tea and hot chocolate.  Be aware of warm drinks with caffeine because it could contribute to dehydration from diuresis (peeing too much).  Dehydration causes skin to dry out and lose hydration.  If you prefer the cosy feeling of a warm drink, try a cup of warm water or add a few drops of lemon and honey for your sweet tooth.  Hot water or hot lemon water count as as part of your 8 glasses per day.  

Your summer skincare routine might not cut it for skin exposed to the cold.  Consider using a heavier night moisturizing cream and add skin serums or products with Hyaluronic Acid during the day to lock in the moisture. Serums and Hyaluronic Acid are thinner and absorb deep into the skin.  Follow up with a moisturizing cream to protect the healing work of the serum or hyaluronic acid and protect your skin from the elements.

Exfoliating your skin is an important part of a regular skin care routine to remove dead skin and promote cell regeneration.  When winter skin is dry or irritated, consider modifying your exfoliating methods or routine.  Change from daily exfoliation to ever other or every third day.  Try wetting your hands and face prior to applying the exfoliant to minimize direct friction.  If you love your two or three minute face scrub, decrease to a minute or less and re-evaluate your skin tolerance daily.  

The more actions or products you need to repair and protect your skin, the more time your skin needs to absorb the product.  Take a few extra minutes and let each product fully absorb before applying the next one.  Try and let a few minutes pass between each application and you'll be amazed how much better your skin will feel.

It's easy to forget protecting all our skin because we think our clothes are protecting it.  Skin is skin and it needs that additional moisture care every day.  Apply lotion to your body after you shower and re-apply to exposed skin frequently throughout the day.

Just because we aren't in direct sunshine, doesn't mean our skin is safe.  Skin damage doesn't happen from sunlight it happens from the dangerous UV rays from the sun.  UV rays are still present even on cloudy days so using an SPF sunscreen is still needed.