How to Deal with Dry Skin This Coming Winter

As you contemplate the trees that are losing their leaves and changing their colors, you suddenly realize that winter is just around the corner. This means that you have to start prepping your wardrobe, home and body for the arrival of the cold season. What exactly should you do to protect your skin during this time of the year? Here’s my simplest answer to this question: stick to a more effective dry skin care program to keep your complexion radiant and healthy-looking, and apply the following basic tips that should help you improve the current condition of your facial skin in no time, even during the harshest, freezing winter that you could ever imagine.

Avoid Washing Your Face with Hot Water

I know what you think: nothing compares to a nice, hot bubble bath during winter, when reduced temperatures make you want to stay indoors and explore new pampering rituals and relaxation techniques. However, hot showers and baths are not exactly your best friends, especially if you’re already complaining about dry, flaky or itchy skin. Hot water strips your body of its oil barrier, which normally enables skin to retain moisture and maintain its softness. As a skin care specialist, I always recommend warm baths and showers that don’t take more than 10 minutes. Also, remember to dry your skin by patting it gently and moisturize your face after each shower or bath.

Opt for a Gentler Cleansing Routine

Now would also be a good time to adjust your skin care ritual a bit. Start by getting rid of aggressive cosmetic products, which are overly astringent or contain fragrances and antibacterial additives that could make your skin drier and more vulnerable than it already is. Go easy on peels and toners and keep in mind that you should exfoliate your skin with care, without scrubbing it too hard, to avoid irritations.

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize

During the cold season, your skin is exposed to new stressors that threaten to compromise its balance, including reduced temperatures, rain and harsh winds, which could easily damage the outer layers of your skin. So what should we do to keep this concern at bay? We should moisturize our skin at least twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. Go in favor or a rich moisturizer based on advanced ingredients that will enable your skin to replenish its oil barrier.

Fragrance-free options with a complex formula including stearic acid, glycerin, shea butter or ceramides are excellent picks, if your goal is to nourish, moisturize and soothe your dry skin. Before applying your moisturizer of choice, wash your face thoroughly using warm water and quality non-soap, delicate liquid cleanser (preferably one based on ceramides, the elements that will allow you to protect the exterior layer of your skin). Pat your skin for less than a minute instead of rubbing it with a towel. Also, my advice is to moisturize your skin as often as you can. As a matter of fact, do it every single time you wash your face, to prevent the evaporating water from drawing more moisture from your excessively dry skin.

Does your delicate skin require special care and attention to stay agelessly beautiful? If you feel the need to improve your daily skin care routine or find new cosmetic products that are best suited for your complexion, come see me today and let’s start working on a plan meant to restore and enhance the attractiveness of your complexion at any age.