Winter time is full of fun for people of all ages, however, for those who suffer from Sjogren’s syndrome or other autoimmune diseases that affect the skin winter time can be brutal. Several tips are introduced each year for various symptoms, but these 10 tips can help people regardless of diseased or healthy systems.
1. Swap Your Gel/Foaming Cleanser for Cream Cleanser
Why: Since your skin is already lacking moisture, you don’t want to chance to strip it of natural oils with stronger cleansers.
Cream cleansers are gentler on dry skin and have moisture built right in! If you have oily skin, dry winter air may not affect you as severely. However, if you already have dry skin, you may dread cold weather months. If your skin is super thirsty, consider using a cleansing oil to dissolve dirt and makeup without drying out skin!
My Top Picks for Winter Cleansers
2. Swap Your Physical Exfoliants for Chemical Exfoliants
Why: Regularly exfoliating during winter months can be great for skin! It sloughs off all those dry, dead skin cells to banish dull skin and reveal a glowing complexion.
However, physical exfoliants – the kind that use granules to physically scrub off dead skin cells – can be too harsh for already vulnerable winter skin and result in damage or further dryness. Instead, try a chemical exfoliator. Don’t let the name scare you. It’s actually a formula that uses alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), or enzymes to gently dissolve the top layer of dead skin and wash it away. This is a much kinder exfoliation method for dry skin and won’t lead to more flakes. And, you don’t have to overdo it! Exfoliating 2-3 times per week is plenty.
3. Swap Your Astringent for a Moisturizing Toner
Why: If you usually use astringent to control oil, but it’s a little too drying for your winter skin, no prob! You don’t have to sacrifice refined pores and balanced, refreshed skin during colder weather.
Toners can offer many of the same benefits but without the drying effects. And, toners come in a variety of formulas to target everything from acne to aging to, yes, dry skin. There’s a toner for every skin type:
- If you have oily skin and still want to keep your shine down, stick with an astringent or clarifying toner.
- If you’ve got combo skin, you can try an all-over hydrating toner, or just use it to target your T zone (forehead, nose and chin) where skin is most oily.
- For dry skin, definitely look for a hydrating formula.
My Top Winter Toners
4. Swap Not Using Serum for Using Serum
Why: For realsies. If you haven’t already incorporated a serum into your skincare routine, you might be missing out on some uber moisturizing and anti-aging benefits.
Serums are thinner in consistency but contain a potent concentration of active ingredients to pack a punch and target skin concerns. And, this includes dry skin. Serums containing hyaluronic acid use this powerful humectant to grab moisture out of the air and hold it to your skin’s surface to deliver deep, lasting hydration. Serums are applied before your moisturizer to allow ingredients to really absorb into skin and provide max results. A hydrating serum is a perfect way to give some moisturizing and anti-aging benefits to protect against dry winter air!
My Favorite Serums for Winter Skin
5. Swap Your Lightweight Moisturizer for a Richer Cream
Why: If you feel like your face cannot get enough moisture during winter, or you still have dry patches at the end of the day, you may need to step up to a richer moisturizer.
Sometimes the thinner, lightweight formula you used during the warmer months doesn’t quite stand up to the mega dryness of winter. Try a richer cream that will protect your skin and give it lasting moisture. Look for one that contains fatty acids and ceramides, which will help skin lock in moisture and maintain its protective barrier. If you don’t like the feel of wearing heavier formulas all day, you can also just switch out your pm moisturizer for something richer that will nourish skin while you sleep! Even those with oily skin can still dry out in winter and can benefit from regular hydration. Look for an oil-free moisturizer that includes alpha hydroxy acids which will help control oil provide balanced moisture.
My Top Moisturizers to Save Winter Skin
6. Swap Not Using Eye Cream for Using Eye Cream
Why: Much like serum, eye cream is a step in your beauty routine that provides so many skin-boosting and anti-aging benefits!
From lightening up dark circles, to smoothing out those pesky little lines and crow’s feet, eye cream nourishes and moisturizes the delicate skin around your eyes to treat signs of aging (or prevent them before they start!). Eye cream is super important during winter weather for a couple of reasons:
1. Dry and dehydrated skin makes fine lines more apparent and really highlights wrinkles.
2. Delicate skin around the eyes can get easily chapped when those cold, dry winds cause our eyes to constantly water (not to mention, it doesn’t do our eye makeup any favors!).
Look for formulas that include collagen and elastin�to rebuild skin’s structure and fill out fine lines, peptides to support healthy tissue, and antioxidants to encourage cell regeneration and fight free radical damage. Keep eyes healthy and youthful by making sure your moisturizing game is on point! Use an eye cream or serum in your AM and PM routine to battle winter dryness throughout the day.
My Favorite Formulas to Save Winter Eyes
7. Swap Out Bare Lips for Lip Balm
Why: For many of us, cold weather brings with it dry, chapped, or painfully cracked lips.
Our lips are more susceptible to drying out because the skin on our lips doesn’t contain oil glands, so it can’t really replenish its own moisture. Plus, nothing ruins glamorous holiday red lips like a flakey pout! Some matte formulas can actually dry out lips too. You can exfoliate lips by gently rubbing them with a wet washcloth or clean, soft toothbrush to remove dry skin. Trust me, you don’t want to overdo it. Keep your pout pretty this winter by regularly sporting a rich, moisturizing balm to protect lips!
My Top Picks for Winter Lips
8. Swap Your Regular Body Lotion for a Richer Moisturizer
Why: Protecting winter skin isn’t just for your face, it goes for your head-to-toe all-overness.
You may have noticed that tight, itchy feeling across your back. A snowstorm of dry skin on your arms and legs. That’s all winter dryness, my friends. The lotion you smoothed onto shaved legs in the summer? That lightweight, mostly-water formula that was good for hot weather because you were already sweating? It may not do as much for skin in winter. If you find your skin just soaks up lotion, look for a richer formula containing fatty lipids (like shea butter) to give skin a good moisture barrier.
Pro Tip: Apply body lotion straight out of the shower or bath while skin is still damp to lock in moisture. Plus, it will restore any moisture lost from standing under that super hot water while you prepared yourself for the outta shower shivers.
My Winter Body Lotion Faves
9. Swap Your Makeup for Tinted SPF Moisturizer
Why: If your regular makeup and your winter skin aren’t getting along because dryness is more noticeable, try switching to a tinted moisturizer to give yourself some added hydration plus SPF protection.
You can also look for a makeup formula that offers more moisturizing benefits, but I’m personally a big fan of the tinted SPF moisturizer! I use it regularly because it gives my skin lightweight coverage, rich hydration, and daily sun protection all in one. It’s a total time saver! (Great for those chilly mornings when you just can’t seem to get out of your warm cozy bed on time.) SPF protection in winter is a must to defend already dry skin against further damage. A tinted moisturizer takes care of all of that for you, along with giving your skin some nice, even coverage! But, even if your regular makeup works for you during winter, make sure you’re still layering on daily SPF protection before applying your makeup!
My Top Tinted SPF Moisturizers
10. Swap Out Ignoring Your Hands for Pampering Your Hands
Why: If you’re anything like me, winter weather really does a number on your hands!
Between dry air, driving with a heater vent hitting our hands, and constant hand washing to avoid cold and flu season, our mitts can get dry, chapped, and even reveal little cuts. When the epidermis (the top layer of our skin) is super dry, the protective layer is compromised leaving skin vulnerable to damage and injury. Because the skin on our hands has very few oil glands, it’s important to restore moisture to maintain your skin’s protective barrier. Show your hands some love with a rich, luxurious cream to nourish skin and make dryness disappear!
