Winter Skincare: How to Stay Moisturized All Season

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It’s important to take care of your skin all year round for your confidence and health. Winter is a particularly tricky season due to the extreme temperatures that leave your face, body, and lips looking and feeling parched. Luckily, there are a few tips to help you stay moisturized.

1. Clear Up Winter Dehydration

Drinking water is one of the best ways to stay moisturized all winter. Because of how cold it gets, many people tend to forget to take a sip now and then. However, women should drink 11.5 cups of water per day.

Build a habit of drinking a glass before and after meals. You could also set an alarm to remind yourself to hydrate throughout the day. Keeping a reusable water bottle close may be the key to encouraging you to increase your intake.

2. Swap to Simple, Hydrating Skincare

Some skincare is highly effective, but certain ingredients and formulas may be too stripping. They may work for the seasons where you’ll sweat and be more oily, but hydrating is better for the colder months. Here are a few product recommendations:

• Makeup remover: Skip the micellar water or makeup-removing wipes. The extra friction can reduce your hydration levels. Products like the Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm are great because they melt your makeup. This particular one turns into an oil as you gently run it across your skin, maintaining your moisture levels.
• Cleanser: Cleansers should still be able to remove all the dirt and residue on your face without stripping your natural oils. The La Roche Posay Toleraine Foaming Cream contains ceramides and niacinamides that maintain hydration and glow while gently cleaning your face.
• Toner: Toners like Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Facial Sebum Toner are formulated to create a barrier inside and on your skin, which protects it from dryness and other irritants. When applying, add a few drops to your hands and pat on your face.
• Serum: Serums boost specific skincare ingredients as they melt into the skin. The Tatcha Dewy Serum contains plenty of ceramides for protection, hyaluronic acid to plump up the skin and squalane to lock in moisture. There’s also lactic acid, which offers a gentle smoothing effect.
• Exfoliant: Exfoliating during the winter should be done with extreme care. Gentle products like the Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant are great since they’re an oat-based exfoliating powder meant to soothe the skin’s moisture barrier. Its AHAs and BHAs mean you should regulate how often you use it, though.

3. Pick Out a Good Moisturizer

A good moisturizer is the pièce de résistance of a winter skincare routine. Many formulations — like gel or other water-based products — are perfect for oily and combination skin. However, consider investing in a creamy formula as the air becomes drier.

Cream-based products are much more emollient, which draws in plenty of hydration. Those like the Cerave Moisturizing Cream are truly effective. If it seems to dry up too fast on your skin, you may have to explore thicker moisturizers that contain oil for moisture retention. 

4. Avoid Taking Hot Baths

Few things feel better than a hot bath during the winter weather, but the warmth from this water can dry out the skin. Consider swapping it out for shorter hot showers.

Shift to lukewarm water when able, and add a creamy lotion afterward to moisturize your skin again. You can also try other alternatives to keep warm, like wearing a cozy sweater or getting under your favorite blanket.

5. Use Sun Protection

The winter will bring plenty of clouds that hide the sun. However, its rays can still affect your skin health, so ensure you utilize sunscreen with 30 SPF or more for optimal protection.

You can also safeguard your skin from the sun by covering it with clothing. Long sleeves provide both warmth and coverage. Wide-brimmed hats and parasols up your fashion and protect other exposed skin parts.

6. Take Care of Your Lips

In the journey of keeping your skin moisturized, remember to take care of your lips. They’re also susceptible to dryness and chapping, which can be particularly painful. Consider using the Burt’s Bees Overnight Intensive Lip Treatment whenever you need it for extra hydration.

7. Try Slugging

Slugging is a trend that involves applying petroleum jelly to your face every night. Doing so can lock in moisture and improve your skin’s damage resistance.

Experts recommend slugging after your skincare routine so anything that could clog your pores is gone. Ensure your face is dry before applying a dime-sized amount of petroleum jelly and spreading it around.

8. Control Your Alcohol Consumption

While winter is a time for spiked egg nog, wine and other alcoholic beverages, try to keep your intake to a minimum. Most of these drinks will dehydrate you, affecting your complexion in the long run.

Swap them out for a few mocktails from time to time. You should also replenish your hydration levels by drinking water while you’re consuming alcohol.

9. Adjust Your Diet

Stay moisturized by improving your diet. Fish oil is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which could heal dry skin conditions like eczema and acne, though further research is necessary.

You can also be mindful of the food you eat. Vegetables with over 80% water content — such as cucumbers, romaine lettuce, and tomatoes — improve daily hydration. Fruits like strawberries and watermelon are also ideal to consume occasionally.

10. Practice Consistency

Staying moisturized all season takes commitment. Even with the right products and knowledge, you still have to put in the effort to use them frequently. Doing all these on a regular basis — or at least for the winter season — makes a significant difference in your skin.

Keep Your Skin Soft and Supple

Soft and supple skin can improve your confidence and health, and you can achieve it with the right moisturizing techniques. Be intentional about how you take care of your skin and what you use on it — the results will follow.