Keep Your Skin Glowing All Winter Long

When the weather changes, so should your skincare routine. Whether you’re hitting the ski slopes, staying in the shelter of indoor heating, or a little bit of both, the winter months can be hard on your skin.

The skin is the body’s largest organ, yet so many people apply a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to their skincare routine. During the winter months, when eczema, dry skin and other types of dermatitis are more common, make sure you’re taking care of your skin. Here are our favorite 4 tips to keep your skin glowing all winter long.

Invest in a humidifier

One of the stealthiest culprits of brittle skin is dry air. One of the more understated ways to combat dry air is with a humidifier. During the cooler the dry air can actually suck moisture from your skin; the technical term for this is trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), but simply put, the dry air dehydrates the skin. Humidifiers help counteract the dryness in the air, making it less likely to evaporate the moisture from your skin. This is an especially good investment for those with sensitive skin or dermatitis. Raw, dry skin is more easily irritated— a humidifier ensures moisturized skin that isn’t depleted of hydration.

Apply sunscreen

Make sure you’re not sleeping on SPF just because it’s cold and a bit grayer outside. Not only can the sun detriment your physical health, but it’s also the number one cause of premature aging and loss of radiance. Be sure to slather on sunscreen of at least SPF 30 as part of your daily skincare routine. If you plan on spending time outdoors, increase your SPF to 50 and be sure to reapply. Even though it may seem cloudy, the sun is still powerful and can damage the skin.

Put down the toner

A lot of toners contain alcohol. While the appeal of alcohol-based products is tempting (a de-greased, weightless feeling) the cons ultimately outweigh the pros. When you’re shopping for product, look out for SD alcohol, denatured alcohol, or isopropyl alcohol. If you happen upon any of these ingredients (particularly listed in the first six ingredients) it’s smarter to pass on the bottle. Not only can the added alcohol contribute to dryness, but it can also cause erosion and make it difficult for the skin to renew and replenish itself. Store these products alcohol-based products away with the swimsuits.

Stock up on Vitamin E and Jojoba oils

As the temperature drops and your skin adjusts, investing in vitamin E oil and jojoba oil can help soften the impact. Vitamin E helps your skin lock in moisture and additionally helps prevent dry, flaking skin. Most notably, the impressive oil helps prevent itchiness and can be used to aid in relieving symptoms of psoriasis and eczema. However, don’t go overboard: stick to doing the treatment once or twice a week. Jojoba Oil is known for retaining moisture, so seal your skin with a protective barrier of this magic ingredient to keep your skin from losing moisture.

The weather may be changing, but that doesn’t mean your skin needs to suffer. For the best products and dermatology in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, give us a call: (603) 742-5556.