As the temperatures drop in Boise and we brace for winter, your skin shifts, too — dryness, irritation, and increased sensitivity are as common as flurries in December. Cold weather presents unique challenges to maintaining healthy skin, but with the right adjustments to your skincare routine, you can glow as bright as the lights on the tree.
Swap Your Cleanser
It’s important to use a gentle cleanser that effectively cleans your skin without stripping it of its natural oils, which can dry it out. Opt instead for a creamy or hydrating cleanser, and look for ingredients like glycerin and ceramides that help maintain moisture while still cleaning the skin.
Glycerin attracts moisture to the skin and is gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin types, while ceramides are naturally occurring lipids that help form the skin’s barrier and retain moisture.
Upgrade Your Moisturizer
Switching to a heavier, more soothing moisturizer is also a good idea. Look for moisturizers that contain hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which help draw moisture into the skin (in fact, hyaluronic acid can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, making it an essential ingredient to keep skin hydrated), as well as ingredients like shea butter or petrolatum, which help lock in moisture.
Don’t Skip the Sunscreen
Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you can skip sunscreen. Even on cloudy, cold winter days, harmful UV rays can cause damage. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and apply it daily. Mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide are often better tolerated for sensitive or irritated winter skin.
Humidify Your Home
Since the air tends to be drier in the winter, using a humidifier in your home, especially in the bedroom, can make a significant difference. It can help reduce redness and irritation. Keeping the air moist also helps your skin stay that way.
Shorten Your Showers
It may be tempting to warm up with a long, hot shower, but unfortunately, this creature comfort can further dehydrate your skin. Keep your showers lukewarm and limit them to 10 minutes. Additionally, apply your moisturizer immediately after getting out of the shower to lock in moisture.
Invest in a HydraFacial
HydraFacial is an ideal treatment for fall and winter because it deeply hydrates, exfoliates, and infuses your skin with essential nutrients. During November, we’re offering a free add-on to any HydraFacial, such as the lip and eye perk to target those often-neglected areas or a dermaplane treatment to remove dead skin cells and peach fuzz for bright, smooth skin that’s ready for a close-up.
Refresh Your Skin With a Chemical Peel
It may seem counterintuitive, but trust us: A mild chemical peel can help slough off dead skin cells, improve skin texture, and allow better absorption of your winter skincare products. Peels containing lactic acid are particularly hydrating and gentle enough for winter use.
Fall and winter don’t have to be the seasons of dull, dry skin. By adjusting your skincare routine with the right products with helpful ingredients and incorporating professional treatments like HydraFacial, you can maintain healthy, glowing skin all winter long.