Facial Care for Dry Skin in Winter

How to Take Care of Your Winter Skin

Do you know that tightness that creeps across your face on a cold winter morning? It’s like a drawn, almost papery feeling that makes you want to reach for moisturizer before you’ve even had your coffee.

Or how about whe you step outside into the biting wind, and your cheeks start to sting. And then back indoors the artificial heat seems determined to finish what the cold started, pulling every last bit of moisture from your skin.

You can bundle the rest of your body in layers, but your face bears the brunt of winter’s assault being exposed to every gust of frigid air outside and every wave of dry heat inside.

Is there something you can do to help your facial skin stay healthy and feel good? Yes! With the right approach to winter facial care, you can restore your skin’s comfort and glow, even in the harshest months.

Let’s break it down.

When it gets colder, your facial skin might feel tighter and drier. The cold, dry air and heaters can take away your skin’s moisture. This leads to dehydration.

It’s important to know how to take care of your skin. In the cold months, your skin has trouble keeping moisture. So, you need to change your skincare routine to fight dryness.

By focusing on hydration and moisturizing, you can keep your skin healthy and moist. A good skincare routine is key to keeping your skin’s natural barrier strong.

Why Your Skin Dehydrates Faster in Winter

Your skin loses more water in winter than in summer. This is because of the cold, dry air. It’s not just the cold; it’s also the air’s humidity.

Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) is a big part of this. It’s when water goes from your skin into the air. In cold weather, the air’s low humidity makes TEWL worse, taking away your skin’s moisture.

Transepidermal water loss happens naturally. But cold air makes it worse. When the air is dry, your skin’s barrier gets weaker. This lets more water escape.

Cold air makes your skin’s barrier weaker. This makes it hard for your skin to keep moisture. This can cause dehydration and other skin problems.

You might not always see when your skin is losing moisture. This “invisible” loss can be as bad as dry skin.

Knowing these things can help you protect your skin in winter.

Dryness is just one sign of dehydration. You might see fine lines more or your skin looking dull. It could also feel flaky or rough.

The Difference Between Dry and Dehydrated Skin

Dry skin is a type, but dehydration is a condition. Dry skin lacks oil, while dehydrated skin lacks water. Knowing this helps fix the problem.

Feeling tight skin is common with dehydration. This happens when the skin’s moisture barrier is broken. It feels tight, mainly after washing.

By spotting these signs and knowing the difference, you can start fixing your skin’s health and moisture in winter.

Common Winter Skincare Mistakes That Worsen Dehydration

The cold winter months bring several skincare pitfalls. These can make dehydration worse. Knowing these mistakes helps keep your skin moist.

Hot showers might feel good, but they harm your skin. Hot water takes away your skin’s natural oils. This makes your skin lose more water.

Exfoliating is key, but too much can dry out your skin. Exfoliating too often or with harsh products damages your skin’s barrier. This makes it hard for your skin to hold onto moisture.

Indoor heating systems dry out your skin in winter. They make the air dry, which dehydrates your skin. Using a humidifier adds moisture back into the air. This helps keep your skin hydrated.

By avoiding these winter skincare mistakes, you can protect your skin. This keeps it moist and healthy all winter.

Building an Effective Winter Facial Skin Care Routine

To keep your skin hydrated and protected in winter, create a skincare routine. It should cover morning protection and evening repair. Our winter skincare essentials deeply hydrate and protect your skin, keeping it glowing all season.

Morning Protection Strategy

Start your morning with a gentle cleansing to remove overnight dirt. Then, use a hydrating toner to balance your skin’s pH. Next, apply a rich moisturizer or serum to keep moisture in. If you wear one, choose a foundation or BB cream that helps moisturize, not dry out your facial skin.

Evening Repair Protocol

In the evening, focus on repair and hydration. Start with a gentle cleansing routine, rmaking sure to remove all makeup if you wear it. Next, use a repair serum or treatment product with ingredients like hyaluronic acid. Seal it all in with a nourishing night cream or moisturizer for extra hydration and protection.

Your winter facial skincare routine can be simple, but needs to be consistent; and if you stick to it, you’ll keep your skin healthy, hydrated, and protected all winter.

Hydrating Ingredients That Save Winter Skin

To keep your skin hydrated in winter, knowing about skincare ingredients is key. The right mix can greatly improve your skin’s look and feel during dry winter months.

Humectants pull and keep moisture in your skin. They are vital for keeping your skin hydrated. Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and sorbitol are examples. They help bring water into your skin, making it look fuller and more moist.

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Daytime and Nighttime Skin Care Brand I Use

I have used one brand of skin care for decades and it has consistently given me results*. I remember when I was younger how my face would get so dry and irritated. The skin under my eyes would flake and it would look horrible all winter. Trying to cover it up made it look even worse. I was so happy to discover products that take care of my skin and I haven’t had to deal with any of those winter challenges when I use Shaklee. They know and can deliver the healthy benefits of nutrition inside the body and outside on the skin.

I use YOUTH® from the Shaklee brand that I trust with my internal nutrition for my facial skin care. .
I use a gentle, natural ingredient-based cleanser that is free of artificial fragrances or any type of questionable chemicals: YOUTH® Luminous Gel Oil Cleanser. We follow that with the YOUTH® Perfecting Skin Toner, to deep clean pores, hydrate, gently exfoliate, nourish, and remove any last traces of grime.
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(Toner Note)
I didn’t always use a Toner and still will take breaks because for whatever reason my facial skin can be a bit sensitive to daily use, at different times of the year. I do like how a good quality skin toner can help remove dull cells and environmental pollutants and help with brightness and radiance. Learning how a good quality toner can help exfoliate and prepare my skin to absorb moisturizer better was what really incentivized me to use it more.
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Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!
It is key to apply a moisturizer each morning after you have washed your face can help keep your skin healthy and glowing throughout the winter months. One of my favorite YOUTH® products is the daytime moisturizer, YOUTH® Moisture Lock Day Cream. It is so light and truly feels cloud soft when you apply it. Moisture Lock Day Cream quenches thirsty skin, replenishes hydration, and protects skin from moisture loss.

Embrace night time!
One of the best things you can do for your facial skin is to use your beauty sleep to nourish your skin! Besides getting that eight hours of sleep that is important, moisturizing with a rich formula is especially helpful in the colder months. Every night I slathering on the YOUTH® Advanced Renewal Night Cream in my favorite ‘rich’ option which is recommended in the winter, but I use it year-round to hydrate and soften.

Hydrating serum. Yes please!
Serums can be used all year round but can be especially beneficial in the extra-drying winter months. They are designed to be light in texture, fast-absorbing, and highly concentrated to deliver more nutrients to your skin. I like to layer YOUTH® Moisture Activating Serum underneath my moisturizer for ultimate protection against the challenging weather outside and dry conditions inside all winter. NOTE: If you click that link and scroll all the way down the page, you can see ALL the benefits and the clinical proof of the ingredients. All Shaklee product pages have lots of information to better understand the Shaklee difference. There are + signs to click on and written and video information all the way down each page.

BONUS TIP: I keep the Pomifera™Rose Anti-Aging Serum and Complete Moisturizer on hand year-round for different uses, and it was recommended to me for even extra hydration in the morning or evening to add a few drops of it to Moisture Lock Day Cream, Advanced Renewal Night Cream and even my Youth Activating BB Cream. It helps any of these products get into my skin quicker.

Don’t forget to use lip balm. Here are the two I use all year long and extra in the winter months.

In my 64 years I have discovered that there are many lip balms on the market that work during the warmer months, but don’t do as well meeting the challenges of winter. Many lip balms just sit on top of your skin rather than penetrate deeper to help best with chapped lips. I use two from Shaklee. At night I LOVE to use the age-defying, hydrating and plumping lip treatment (not just a lip balm), Renew Lip Serum. It has a clinically proven* blend of botanical oils and extracts plus a natural peptide to help support healthy collagen and plump, hydrate, and soften lips. During the day the lip balm that I keep close by is the Pomifera™ Happy Salve in my favorite Honey Almond flavor. I call it a chunky lip balm and one of the things that sold me is how it glides on so smooth. It has the Pomifera oil in it along with beeswax and botanical oils. I know that you’ll love it as much as I do!

Create a Skin-Friendly Environment at Home

What can you do to create a skin-friendly home this winter, because your home can either help or hurt your skin care?

Keeping the air right is key. Dry air takes away your skin’s moisture. This makes your skin dry.

Using a humidifier helps. It keeps the air moist, even when it’s cold outside.

Temperature matters a lot. Too hot or too cold can hurt your skin. Keep your home comfy but not too hot.

Air Purification

Clean air is good for your skin. Pollutants and allergens can make your skin unhappy. An air purifier can clean the air. We have an AirSource skin purifier that takes pollutants out of the air and drops them to the ground. It was sold by Shaklee years ago, but was discontinued.

Addressing these things can make your home better for your skin, helping to keep it healthy and moist all winter.

Lifestyle Adjustments

Lifestyle is also key to keeping your skin hydrated, more so in winter. A good skincare routine is important. But, making lifestyle changes can help a lot too.

Your diet affects your skin’s hydration. Eating foods with omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon and walnuts, can help strengthen your skin. Also, adding hydrating foods like cucumbers, watermelon, and celery to your diet helps keep your skin moist.

Hydration Habits Beyond Drinking Water

Drinking water is important, but there’s more to hydration. Using a humidifier keeps the air moist, helping your skin stay hydrated. Also, avoid harsh soaps that take away your skin’s natural oils.

Tips for Better Hydration: Use gentle cleansers, moisturize right after bathing, and find healthy ways to flavor your water if it can help you drink more (many people struggle with drinking enough water). I LOVE Shaklee’s blood orange electrolytes and actually begin each day drinking a packet in 12-14 ounces of water. I have found that hydrating with water and electrolytes first thing in the morning, before any caffeine including coffee, really helps me feel the most energized in the morning.

TIP: These electrolytes are FSA and HSA eligible if you have a health plan that can help you get reimbursed for them.

Different Skin Types

Knowing your skin type is key to a good winter skin care plan. Each skin type needs something special, more so in winter.

Solutions for Sensitive and Reactive Skin

If you have sensitive skin, choose gentle, scent-free products. These won’t make your skin worse. Look for “hypoallergenic” or “sensitive skin friendly” labels.

Approaches for Combination and Oily Skin

For combination skin, find a balance. Use light, oil-free moisturizers on oily spots and richer ones on dry areas. If you have oily skin, pick oil-free or gel moisturizers.

Strategies for Mature and Aging Skin

Mature and aging skin needs antioxidants and hyaluronic acid. These keep your skin plump and firm, making lines and wrinkles less visible.

Customize your winter skin care to match your skin type. This way, you can keep your skin healthy all winter.

Keep Your Glow All Winter

I hope this info helps you keep your skin glowing. For me, sticking to a good skincare plan does help. I used to have many nights where I was either too lazy or tired to wash my face before bed and moisturize for the night. My skin showed the lack of care.

I do love using the YOUTH products so much and especially the results* they provide to fight winter’s dryness, and those two things help me spend the few minutes for my skin before I go to sleep.

It also helped me to learn more about the diet connection and the food that are skin friendly. Similarly, it’s good to be reminded to drink more water for your skin and your overall health.

With these tips, you can keep your skin glowing all winter. Any questions about Shaklee skincare, message me anytime.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.