Winter is always a tough season on your skin. The cold weather and frosty wind can strip the skin’s natural protective barrier, creating gaps in the outermost layer, allowing water to get out and irritants to get in.Â
If you are just going about your day but particularly if you like going for walks all year round, you might start to experience some of the common signs and symptoms of dry skin as the temperatures go down. Look out for…
·       Flakiness or scaliness
·       Redness
·       Rough Texture
·       Itchiness
·       Raw, irritated skin
·       Cracks in your skin
·       Stinging or burning
What to do to prevent dry winter skin?
Dry skin during the winter is inevitable if you do nothing, but just a couple of changes to your routine may help keep your skin looking soft, smooth and moisturized.
Moisturize: Moisturizing is one of the most important things you can do for your skin in winter. Moisturizer helps keep your skin hydrated and soft, and protects it from cold air and wind. You can apply moisturizer right after washing your face with a mild soap.
Wear sunscreen: Wear sunscreen every day, even in the winter. SPF protects your skin from UV rays that can cause skin cancer and accelerated aging.Â
Use overnight treatments:Â these treatments are an excellent way to revitalize or prevent dry skin due to their great moisturizing power, however they can take a bit longer to be absorbed into your skin.
Use a humidifier:Â A humidifier can help keep your skin hydrated and soft, especially if you have very dry skin.Â
Exfoliate gently: Exfoliating is important for all skin types, but it's especially important in winter. Use a gentle exfoliator, as harsh scrubs can strip away natural oils. Moisturize right after exfoliating.
Drink water: Drinking lots of water helps keep your skin hydrated and looking soft and glowing. You need to hydrate your body from the inside.
Avoid hot showers:Â Hot water can strip away your skin's natural oils.
Try adding occlusives to your routine: We mentioned overnight emollients but if you find they aren’t doing enough you may want to consider occlusive ingredients which will help create a physical barrier to lock moisture into your skin. Some examples are petroleum jelly-based products.
Use a protective lip balm:Â Don't forget to protect your lips
Did you know that one of Mason’s Dog oil many uses is skin protection? The rapeseed oil used in its formulation has emollient properties, making it a good choice for dry or dehydrated skin.
As an added bonus, Rapeseed oil is packed with Vitamin E, an antioxidant that can help lighten hyperpigmentation, improve skin tone and reduce the appearance of age spots.
Don’t wait until winter is here to start your cold weather skin care routine. Make the change today and start seeing the benefits sooner.
Comments