With the cold weather now upon us, it’s time to make a few adjustments to your skin care routine. The drop in temperature and dry air associated with the winter months suck out the moisture from your skin, leaving it more vulnerable and prone to flakiness and peeling than usual. If you already have an underlying skin condition such as acne or rosacea, it’s imperative to have a solid skin care routine to prevent these conditions from getting worse during the winter. We at the Clog have compiled a few tips to help you keep your skin healthy, supple and nourished despite the cold!

Switch to a nonfoaming, cream or oil-based cleanser 

It’s time to put your foaming facial cleanser at the back of your bathroom cabinet. These cleansers tend to have a more stripping quality, which isn’t what you want during the winter when your skin is already super dry from the lack of moisture in the air. Instead, opt for a nonfoaming, cream-based or oil-based cleanser, which can be far more nourishing and hydrating. Don’t use hot water to wash your face, either! Use lukewarm water to avoid zapping out all of your natural oils and leaving your face dry and irritated. Additionally, consider cutting back the frequency of how often you wash your face. Once a day may be just the right amount for you during the winter months to prevent your skin from getting overly dry.

Switch from a thin lotion to a thicker moisturizing cream

Moisturizing your skin during the winter months is a vital part of your winter skin care routine. According to Dr. Dray, a board-certified dermatologist turned YouTube sensation for her skin care videos, a good moisturizer should include humectants to bind onto water, emollients to soften dry skin cells and occlusive ingredients to seal in epidermal water loss. In a similar vein to the advice given on cleansers, you should use a moisturizer that has a thick, creamlike consistency instead of a thin lotion. Your skin needs all the moisture it can get during the winter, so don’t be afraid of the thickness; it just means all the more hydration! The best time to apply your moisturizer is a few minutes after you step out of the shower, right when your skin is damp, to truly lock in the moisture and prevent it from escaping.

Use a sleeping mask before bed

Sleeping masks operate in a similar fashion to a regular moisturizer or hydrating serum, but they’re specifically designed to be kept on all night while you sleep (for about six to eight hours). During the night, as you get some good shut-eye in, your skin is busy at work repairing itself from the trials of the day. A sleeping mask can act as a helpful assistant to your skin by providing it with an extra boost of the ingredients it needs to more effectively fight dryness. Sleeping masks aren’t meant to be used every night but try them two to three times a week to spice up your nightly routine!

Exfoliate in the morning

Though overexfoliating can exacerbate skin irritation, moderate exfoliation during the winter months can be useful in sloughing off the buildup of dried skin cells from the surface of your skin, leaving you with a literal fresh-faced glow. Unclogging those pores from old residue will allow your skin care products to penetrate the skin more effectively as well. Make sure you’re conservative with the frequency, intensity and amount of time you are exfoliating, as overexfoliation can strip the skin barrier even further.

Sunscreen

A lot of people have the misconception that wintertime means no longer having to apply sunscreen. But this couldn’t be further from the truth! Especially if you’re in an area where it snows, the snow can actually reflect ultraviolet radiation and make it even more potent. No matter the season, it’s important to always keep your precious skin cells protected from those pesky harmful UV rays.

We at the Clog know how annoying it can be to have irritated, dry and sensitive skin during the winter. But armed with these tips, your skin has no reason to fear!