Beating the Winter Blues: How to Combat the Effects of Cold Weather on Your Skin

Winter is hard on our skin. Low humidity, harsh wind, and low temperatures are the perfect storm of aggravators that contribute to dry, irritated skin. 

On top of that, the constant change in environment from the cold to hot, dry air indoors only adds to the problem, often leaving us with red, itchy, or chapped skin (and for some, all of the above). 

Taking care of your skin is always important regardless of the weather, but in the colder months, we urge you to step up your moisturizing game and show your skin a little extra love — it’ll be appreciated!

We’ve found that these tried and true tips can make all the difference in keeping your skin looking bouncy and fresh over the winter:

Tip 1: Stock Up on Travel Size Products

There’s no worse feeling than having dry skin on the road with no solution in sight to soothe it. While we always advocate for having travel sized skincare essentials handy, it’s extra important in the colder months to be stocked up. A mini tube of a hydrating staple like the Super Rich Cocoa Butter Cream will make all the difference when you’re out and about in the cold! 

Tip 2: Pack Extra Lip Balm

We’ve all been there — it’s cold outside, you go to smile and you feel the sting of your lips cracking from the bitter cold. Even worse, you can’t remember if you transferred your favorite lip balm from your purse/jacket/backpack to the coat you’re currently wearing. In order to avoid the scramble for the closest place to find a remedy to soothe your chapped lips, stock up on your favorite heavy-duty lip balms at the beginning of the season and keep a tube in your most used bags and jackets. 

Tip 3: Invest in a humidifier

The dry winter air causes water to evaporate off of the surface of your skin faster than usual. If you find that your skin is too dry no matter the amount of creams and lotions that you slather on, adding a humidifier to your room while you sleep could be the key to keeping your skin as dewy as it is in the spring.

Tip 4: Sunscreen is still your best friend

You may not be getting your tan on in the dead of winter, but that doesn’t mean that you can let up on your SPF game just because it’s not hot outside. If your skin is going to be in contact with the sun’s rays, you still need to put on sunscreen. This is especially true if you’re planning on participating in snow sports, as the white snow acts as a giant mirror for the sun’s rays and can result in some seriously nasty sunburns. 

Tip 5: Go easy on the hot water

It’s tempting to turn the heat all the way up and bask in the glory of a steamy, borderline scalding shower after being outside in the cold. However, hot water evaporates FAST, and if you’re not immediately moisturizing after your hot shower, your skin can crack due to the swift temperature/moisture change. If you must take a very hot shower, make sure to moisturize with a rich body moisturizer as soon as you dry off so as not to risk cracking. (We’re loving the richness of the Cocoa Butter Petroleum Jelly!)

Tip 6: Amp up your nighttime routine 

Much like you change your wardrobe with the seasons, your skincare routine should also vary based on the temperature outside. Winter calls for more heavy-duty moisturizing, as the cold depletes your skin of those glow-inducing natural oils. Replace them by giving yourself some seriously indulgent PM treatments with heavy hitters like 100% Coconut Oil, 100% Argan Oil or  Vitamin E Super Rich Cream. These deep penetrating moisturizers will help get you through the winter.

The name of the game during the cold is moisturizing, and we hope you’re doing the absolute most to keep your skin happy and healthy while we wait for spring to grace us with its presence. Do you have a favorite winter skincare routine tip that you swear by? Share it with us in the comments!