We’re midway through winter and what normally comes with the colder weather is dry, flaky skin. Sound familiar? If you’re struggling with dry skin this winter, I’ve got you. Today I’m breaking down my tips, tricks, and go-to products for the colder months.
First, we need to determine if your skin is dry or dehydrated (or both!). What’s the difference? Dry skin is a skin type (meaning your skin naturally does not produce a lot of oil), whereas dehydrated skin is a skin condition (a temporary lack of water in your skin). Honestly, it can be really difficult to tell the difference! If your skin feels rough, itchy, and fine lines/wrinkles seem more pronounced, you likely have dry skin. If your skin is flaky, tight, and easily irritated, your skin is likely dehydrated.
For Dry Skin…
I recommend using products that will help deeply nourish the skin to replenish the lack of oil. Look for moisturizers that have barrier-strengthening ingredients like niacinamide or ceramides, or more nourishing ingredients like shea butter and oils. Some great options are the Cocokind Matcha Moisturizer, Topicals Like Butter Mask, and the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream.
For Dehydrated Skin…
For dehydrated skin, I recommend layering on water-based hydration. Adding a hydrating serum or essence with glycerin or hyaluronic acid (like the Rovectin Treatment Lotion*) can help draw moisture to the skin. However, it’s important to apply humectants like hyaluronic acid onto damp skin so they have water to grab onto! Use a hydrating mist (water works too!) before applying these 🙂
Tips to fight dryness
Now that you’ve figured out if your skin is dry or dehydrated, here are my tips to help with dry, flaky skin. These can be used by both dry and dehydrated skins – it all depends on what you feel like your skin needs 🙂
1. Add a face oil
Face oils are my go-to in the colder months. They add extra nourishment to your routine, and can really help dry skin (which naturally lacks oil). I recommend mixing a few drops into your moisturizer, or layering an oil on top of your creams at night. Adding a facial oil (my favorite is Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil) is my favorite way to keep my skin happy and healthy in the winter!
2. Apply your products to damp skin
With the exceptions of acids and retinoids, I recommend applying your products to damp skin. This helps your products penetrate better and also provides some extra hydration before you apply your moisturizer and facial oil. You can use a hydrating mist (my favorite is Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist), or just apply your products when your skin is still damp from cleansing. It’s completely up to you!
3. Use a humidifier in dry climates
I swear by my humidifier! If you live in a dry environment (not a lot of moisture in the air), I recommend investing in a humidifier! Low humidity environments can negatively impact your skin barrier, so a humidifier can be a great investment. In the colder months, we tend to use extra heat, which can lead to dryness and irritation. If your skin is feeling dry and flaky, I would say it’s worth looking into!
Those are my tips & product recommendations for dry skin! If you have any other questions, please feel free to leave a comment and I’d be happy to answer them. I know dry, flaky skin can be rough (literally haha) but hopefully these tips help 🙂
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