Using these steps to preventing dry skin, you can brave the cold without worry.
The cold weather brings dry skin and chapped lips. But not if we can help it! Using these 6 steps to preventing dry skin, you can brave the cold without worry. So get cozy, grab a hot cocoa or tea, and keep reading for the simple additions to your normal routine that will keep your skin silky smooth.
STEP ONE: CHANGE YOUR ROUTINE
The first step in prepping skin for colder months is acknowledging that you need to change your routine. Knowing you need to make slight adjustments to your beauty routine is key to keeping your epidermis ready for lower temps. We tell you below just what to tweak so your skin will feel good all year round.
STEP TWO: EXFOLIATE
Yes, you will be cleansing and moisturizing (more on that below) but in the winter it’s important to slough off those dead cells, and you can do that through exfoliating. We love Aeemelia Sugar Scrub which gently exfoliates skin with a blend of oils and Lush’s Rub Rub Rub is another great body exfoliator that smells amazing while also preventing dry skin.
And for the face, CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser is a drugstore staple that makes beauty editors’ top lists time and time again for being gentle on the skin, free of irritants, and easy on the wallet.
STEP THREE: KEEP SHOWERS SHORT
Keep them short and not too hot. It’s only natural when you come in from the cold that you’ll want a hot shower, but this is known to actually dry out the skin more. So keep them quick and warm or cool and you’ll be on your way to keeping the moisture in.
We couldn’t talk showers without mentioning some great products that will make bathing more fragrant and fun! Musee’s Shower Steamers are made for all skin types and are paraben, sulfate, and cruelty-free.
(And if a bath is more your speed, Musee Bath Salts that will easily up your cleansing game while also preventing dry skin.)
STEP FOUR IN PREVENTING DRY SKIN: MOISTURIZE
No brainer, right? But with so many creams on the market, and all of them catering to different parts of the body, it’s hard to know which to invest in.
It’s fun to add a sheet mask to your routine, and these brand-new masks from prettyinside, have plant-based ingredients that revitalize the skin.
If you’re looking for a face moisturizer, Birdbath Body Treats makes Face Food, which is a light hydrating emulsion that will make your face velvety soft. It’s also all-natural, vegan, paraben and phthalate-free, as well as cruelty-free. And just like the name implies, Drink of H2O Hydrating Boost Moisturizer by Tarte Cosmetics quenches thirsty skin without harmful chemicals or feeling greasy.
For the body, you’ll want a thicker cream if you’re super dry, and we have some great ones to recommend. Birdbath Body Treats has a Super Luxe Body Cream and a lighter Body Mousse that both moisturize without leaving skin feeling greasy, and they are available in a variety of scents. Lush’s Charity Pot is a fabulous thick body cream that smells great from the ylang-ylang and rosewood oils and cocoa butter base.
Aeemelia Body Balm is great because you can use it on hands, feet, and even on chapped lips or on your nose. Another all-over moisturizer says it all in its name: Everything Balm is a universal product for the hands, feet, elbows, knees, and “everything in between.” Infused with essential oils this is great for healing rough areas that really need help.
If you need a hand salve that works wonders on the hands, check out the one we recommend as part of a story on wellness favors you can give to guests at your wedding.
For the lips, ChapStick Total Hydration Essential Oils is a line that does just as the name says, and are inspired by different moods: Peace, Happy, Energy and Relax. (We can all use some of that, no?)
STEP FIVE: DON’T FORGET SUNSCREEN
Another no-brainer, but this is worth mentioning because yes, even in the winter, it’s important to add SPF to your daily regimen. You might lower the SPF factor from what you wear in the summer, but you should still be applying this, at least to your face, on the daily.
STEP SIX: ADD A HUMIDIFIER
The air gets super dry in the winter, so add a humidifier to the rooms in which you spend the most time. This minor addition will really help keep the air moist, and therefore, help your skin stay healthy too.
All photos courtesy of the vendors
