Winter in the Midwest is nothing if not three things: cold, gray, and dry. It’s dark when you wake up and dark again by 4:30. Sometimes a week will go by without the sun peeking out, the snow at the curb is a gray slushy mess, and the air is so dry you get a static shock every single time you touch something. Not to mention, it’s so dang cold the air hurts your face.
When the weather is cold, dry, and miserable, it’s the perfect time to treat your skin with a little extra TLC because it sure needs it.
Exfoliation is so important year-round to get rid of the dead skin sitting at the surface, but this time of year it’s crucial. Without exfoliating, when you moisturize, you’re actually moisturizing dead skin and the moisture doesn’t penetrate to the skin layers that actually need it. When this happens, you can apply all the moisturizer in the world, but your skin will still feel dry because it’s not able to lock in that hydration. You know when you’re so dry and itchy it feels like you can just crawl right out of your skin? Or when your skin starts to look flaky/patchy? These are good indications you need to exfoliate.
Your face will need a really fine grit exfoliator, which can be used on its own or mixed with your cleanser to save yourself a step, one to two times a week. Your lips need something really gentle, like a sugar scrub, which can be done a few times a week, or even daily if needed. The rest of your body can handle a heavier scrub with larger exfoliating elements. Just like there are different washes for parts of your body, i.e. shampoo vs. body wash vs. hand soap, different parts of your body need different exfoliants. A body scrub used on your face will be much too harsh, and a facial exfoliant like microdermabrasion would take too much product on your arms and legs and would not be cost-effective.
Because the super dry air may feel like it’s sucking all the moisture right out of your skin, you may need to use additional or different moisturizing products this time of year. If your normal facial moisturizer isn’t cutting it, consider switching to a richer moisturizer, adding a drop of facial oil to your existing moisturizer, and/or implementing additional hydrating treatments like a gel mask or hydrating gel into your routine. You can also add a few drops of a facial oil to your normal body lotion to give it some more life, or switch to a richer body creme instead of your regular lotion.
If it’s common for you to consistently be oily in the summer and dry(er) in the winter, it may also be beneficial to switch your regular skincare routine as the seasons change. I recommend having a system that comes in both formulas so that when you’re ready to replenish, you simply buy the formula needed for that season so your skin is getting the targeted ingredients it needs, but it will have oil control in the summer and extra hydration in the winter. That certainly doesn’t mean to stockpile and have two sets of skincare on hand – when you need to buy a new set anyway, just simply swap the formula when it’s colder out.
The human body is made mostly of water, so don’t forget to hydrate from the inside out, and drink plenty of water throughout the day. Additionally, sleeping with a humidifier in your room will also prevent the air in your house from getting too dry. I can always tell when my house is too dry because my scalp is so itchy I could scratch right through it, and I’m getting little electric shocks every time I touch something.
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