Essential Tips for Surviving Dry Skin Season (Updated 2021)

Posted on January 24, 2021 |

When days grow shorter and temperatures drop, you know dry skin is not too far behind. It’s time to update your skincare routine before the winter season wreaks havoc. Following these essential tips will give you an advantage this dry skin season.

Moisturize Often

Moisture-hungry cold air and dry heat makes our skin dry, itchy, and irritated so moisturize often.

It’s vital that your skin retains its moisture in the winter months to prevent or soothe chafing. Applying a moisturizer throughout the day, especially after showering, helps you do just that.

If your skin leans more toward oily, no problem. Simply choose a moisturizer that won’t block your pores.

Washing our hands often causes raw, dry skin. Keep a bottle of hand lotion at your desk and inside your purse or laptop bag. If your hands are extra dry, apply a layer of moisturizer before bed and slip on a pair of silk gloves.

Consider Getting a Professional Facial

Consider getting a Hydrafacial, the perfect facial to combat dry skin in winter. This facial is not only hydrating, but soothing, refreshing, and rejuvenating.

The Hydrafacial removes dead skin cells, hydrates, brightens skin, deeply cleans pores, and helps flush toxins from beneath the skin.

Pause the Hand Sanitizer

During a pandemic, this can be tricky, but frequent use of hand sanitizers can increase the risk of eczema and skin irritation. Hand sanitizers contain alcohol, which seriously dries our skin and irritates it.

Look for a hand sanitizer that has a built-in moisturizer boost. Use a gentle hand cleanser to eliminate bacteria and viruses instead of sanitizer whenever possible.

Pro Tip: Look for a sanitizer with ingredients that are rich in omega fatty acids, such as hemp oil.

Change Your Skincare Routine in Winter

The dry, winter months are a reminder that you shouldn’t be using the same skincare products all year long.

Find a mild cleanser that won’t strip your skin of oils.
Steer clear of added ingredients like dyes and fragrances that might irritate already sensitive skin.
Switch to richer day and night creams to help add extra moisture to your skin.
Avoid harsh exfoliation treatments, as they can damage fragile, dry skin.
Consider adding in a soothing, hydrating mask before bed to calm any redness and treat dry areas.

Choose A Mild Cleanser

To steer clear of germs, especially since the winter months are prime time for cold and flu viruses, most people stock up on antibacterial soap. Unfortunately, doing so can do a number on your skin.

Experts warn that antibacterial and deodorant soaps rob your skin of essential oils, leaving them prone to chafing and irritation in the frigid months.

To save your skin, trade the antibacterial and fancy deodorant soaps for those that are milder and unscented (or at least those with a lighter scent).

Pro Tip: Foaming cleansers are great for deep cleaning pores without stripping skin of all its moisture.

Exfoliate

Gently exfoliating just once a week will remove dead skin cells and allow your moisturizer to sink in better. You can use different exfoliants for your face and body. A finer grade exfoliate will be gentler on your face and sensitive skin.

Our hands and feet easily show signs of dry rough patches due to exposure to cold. Exfoliate the dead cells away to ensure your skin is primed for optimal saturation.

Pro Tip: Most exfoliating cleansers will have an “exfoliant level” on the back of the bottle. This will give you an idea of how deep of a scrub that cleanser will give you.

Shorter Showers

Those long, hot showers to let the stress of the day melt away are nothing short of sumptuously soothing. But they can be the exact opposite of what your skin needs.

Hot water removes the skin’s natural oils at a faster rate than cold water. Those steaming showers remove moisture from your skin, leaving it dehydrated and even more vulnerable when you’re heading out into the winter elements.

To solve this, cut your shower time a little shorter and turn the faucet from hot to warm.

Pro Tip: When toweling off, pat your skin dry instead of rubbing. This combination will go a long way toward retaining your skin’s moisture.

Use Bath Oils

A nice warm bath may be a perfect way to de-stress after a long day, but it’s also a great way to help your skin retain its moisture during winter (win, win!).

When mixed with water, bath oils penetrate deep into skin tissue and provide rejuvenation. The oils strengthen collagen bonds and connective tissue resulting in healthy and glowing skin for a longer period.

Pro Tip: Be cautious when using bath oils – they can make the tub slippery.

Add Hyaluronic Acid to Your Routine

Hyaluronic acid is top of the line for retaining moisture. This miracle moisturizer’s main ingredient can hold 1,000 times its weight in water. Adding it to your skincare routine will benefit your moisture levels and even boost the moisturizer you’re already using.

Pro Tip: Slowly add your new hyaluronic acid serum to your routine to avoid any skin irritation.

Take Care of Your Lips

Even under cloth and surgical masks, our lips are more susceptible to damage in the winter. Due to the thin skin, our lips need extra care to battle the harsh winter elements.

A rich balm can provide protection and relief to your lips almost instantly, so make sure you always have one on hand. Consider applying a lip mask before bed for extra, overnight moisture.

Pro Tip: When choosing lip balms, avoid ones that contain menthol and eucalyptus which dry out the skin.

Add Humidity to the Air

Freezing temperatures outside rob your skin of moisture. While dry indoor heat generated from fireplaces and heaters only makes matters worse.

We all love a good space heater to keep us cozy, but space heaters and central heating systems can be incredibly harsh on our skin. As the heat sucks the moisture from the air, our skin becomes dry and creates itchy, rough patches.

Adding a humidifier makes a big difference in air quality for your skin. Humidifiers add much-needed moisture into the air and help regulate room temperature

Keeping a consistent room temperature means fewer times forced air will move throughout your home. This will allow your skin to stay hydrated while you stay warm.

Pro Tip: Look for a compact humidifier to put on your nightstand or in your bedroom. Use it overnight to wake up with moisturized skin that glows.

Remember to Eat Well

Nutrition is essential for skin health. What we eat can significantly affect the health and aging process of our skin. Consider whether the food you’re eating is adding to your overall skin health. Make sure you are getting the essential vitamins for healthy skin.

Foods or supplements with omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids, such as fish and flaxseed oil, are vital for healthy skin. You can also eat avocados, nuts, sweet potatoes, broccoli, coconut oil, and dark leafy greens, all of which help our skin retain its moisture.

Pro Tip: Add a teaspoon of coconut oil to your daily coffee, tea, or smoothie to give your skin a moisture boost.

Stay Hydrated

We tend to be less conscious of our water intake during the winter. But, well-hydrated skin starts with a well-hydrated body. Be aware of your caffeine intake. All those lattes and coffees can dry out your skin from the inside. Instead drink plenty of water, hot herbal teas, or freshly-pressed juices.

Be aware of your caffeine intake. All those lattes and coffees can dry out your skin from the inside. Instead drink plenty of water, hot herbal teas, or freshly pressed juices.

Pay Attention to What You're Wearing

When skin is dry, clothes can easily create added irritation, causing itchiness and redness. Wear soft fabrics close to your skin like cotton and silks.

Wash all clothes with a gentle, fragrance-free detergent. Make sure to wear layers when going out. Gloves, hats, and scarves all protect the skin.

Use Sunscreen

The sun’s rays are still harmful during the winter. UVA rays reflect off the snow and penetrate the skin, causing aging skin and skin cancer. Select a hydrating and healing sunscreen with SPF 30 and apply throughout the day.

Our skincare experts at Vibrance MedSpa are here to help you survive the winter. Give us a call or stop by to try our products and services for glowing, hydrated, and healthy skin all year long.