Kansas City’s winter seems far from over with recent lows in the negative two degrees Fahrenheit, and many people are already feeling its toll on our skin. However, with the right tools and products, your skin will be able to bounce right back to normal. Here are my top 3 tips on how to keep your skin hydrated and moisturized throughout the rest of this cold, dry season.
- Cleanse Gently
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Avoiding hot water is crucial to prevent the dissolution of your skin’s protective barrier, and the type of cleanser you use also matters. Even those with oilier skins should consider backing off from their foaming cleanser in favor of a more gentle oil-based or cream-based cleanser. Cleansing can be the most stripping and damaging part of a skincare routine, so it is important to change it according to seasonal needs. Some of my personal favorites have been the Inkey List’s Oat Cleansing Balm which works as a great first step for double cleansers, and the CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser which comes as no surprise to most skincare enthusiasts.
- Moisturize Adequately
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This may seem like the most obvious tip, but if you have not switched out your lightweight moisturizer in favor of a more heavy-duty cream, you should consider it. Creams create more effective barriers to water loss. Additionally, it is important to apply this step of your skincare routine to slightly damp skin to minimize the amount of water loss incurred by washing your face, but do not mistake this as a recommendation to wet your skin every time you apply moisturizer. One of my winter moisturizer staples has been Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Gel-Cream Extra-Dry Moisturizer, which is fragrance-free and contains a great water-trapping ingredient called hyaluronic acid. Another moisturizer I recommend to those with more irritated or eczema-prone skin would be the Eucerin Eczema Relief Body Cream, which contains the skin protecting ingredient colloidal oatmeal.
- Consider a humidifier
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One of the worst parts of winter is that the dry air wicks the moisture out of our skin. Other than dryness, this can cause skin nightmares for those who suffer from sensitive or eczema-prone skin, as this often leads to more itchy and irritated skin. One way to combat these problems is to buy a humidifier. There are a variety of brands, sizes, and types of humidifiers that you can buy based on your personal budget and goals, but two popular options are the LEVOIT Humidifier and the HoMedics TotalComfort Ultrasonic Humidifier.
The cold season can be brutal on your skin, so find products and skincare habits that work for you. Hopefully some of these products work for your skin, but don’t be afraid to experiment and do your own research for your specific skin type and needs. Stay warm and stay healthy!