Winter Skin Care Routine: Dry Skin

Knowing that the cold weather can be hard on your skin, winter skincare calls for extra effort and care. The combination of the cold temperature, dry interior heat, frigid winds, and moisture levels makes skin feel dry, rigid, and dehydrated. No matter the type of skin you have, it will respond to seasonal fluctuations. Even your skin has a reaction to synthetic surroundings like centrally controlled heating and air conditioning. Therefore, maintaining a thorough skin care regimen is crucial for maintaining bright skin every day.

There are mainly five skin types: dry, oily, sensitive, normal and combination. In this blog we will discuss the dry skin type. The symptoms of winter dryness include:

• Flakiness
• Cracks
• Rough patches
• Itching
• Redness

Winters may be tough for people who have extremely dry skin. The skin barrier is composed of lipids and dead skin cells. It acts as a layer of defence that keeps unwanted substances from entering the body. Thus, the skin appears dry or itchy when this skin barrier is disrupted. In winters, the cold winds make the skin more dry and harsh as they absorb excessive moisture. A person can also develop dry skin when it generates less sebum than usual.

In winters, it’s not only the wardrobe that has to be changed. The moisturisers, gels and cleansers that worked well in summers might not be effective in the winters. Dry and chilled air makes your skin deplete essential oils that are useful to maintain a healthy skin barrier. It is necessary to switch your winter skin care routine to make it more healthy and glowing:

Your skin will look more radiant after a mild exfoliation. This helps eliminate dead skin cells accumulated from the dry winter air. While removing this can brighten the complexion, overdoing it can damage the outer skin layer, causing dryness and discomfort. Therefore, it is recommended to exfoliate once a week.

Our skin loses moisture as a result of the dry environment, temperature drops and less humidity levels. In order to help protect your skin from the damaging effects of the cold weather throughout the winter, switch to a moisturising cleanser that can assist to hydrate dryness and reinforce the skin's barrier. Additionally, it assists in washing away dead skin cells without leaving the skin tight or dry.

Not using SPF throughout the winter is the worst mistake you can make. UV rays can harm our skin at any time of year. In winters, snow reflects UV rays. This can make your skin feel burned. Therefore, always use sunscreen with SPF more than 30. It should also be lightweight, porous, and simple to apply.

The hydration levels of skin start to decline in the afternoon. Therefore, applying a mask to dry winter skin face is necessary. If you sleep with the heat ventilation system, it is best to apply a mask at night as it helps to lock in the moisture on dry skin.

Although taking a lengthy, hot bath in the wintertime looks ideal. But the long-term use of hot water can dry up your skin. This will directly remove the natural moisture of the skin. It is advised to use lukewarm water for showers. Apply moisturizer to your damp skin to seal in moisture. Use sufficient amounts so that your skin feels adequately hydrated.

Enhance your skincare routine with vitamin C. It benefits skin pigmentation, which encourages the formation of collagen and gives skin a more even complexion. During the winter, vitamin C is beneficial. Try to incorporate products having Vitamin C in it.

Indulge a rich body butter moisturiser with essential winter skin nutrients. This includes hydrating cocoa and shea oils to keep your skin's barrier moisturised throughout the colder months.

Skin on the rest of your face, making it more vulnerable to harm from the chilly winter weather. It's vital to wear balm at night when indoor heat might worsen dryness. Apply a layer of thick lip balm along with your body and face moisturisers to prevent flaking and chapping.

Here is a quick guide on AM to PM winter skin care routine for dry skin :

Before having a bath, apply some glycerin to your hands and face. When having a bath, pick a gentle shower gel. Avoid over-exfoliating as this will only aggravate dry skin. Face cleansers with a foaming texture should also be avoided because they tend to make your skin more dry. You might use an oil-based moisturiser to gently hydrate your face and arms. Below is the full AM skin care routine:

Despite the cold, you must continue with your cleaning regimen. It is best to switch from foamy cleansers to cream cleansers during the winter. In the winter, your skin already lacks moisture, and strong cleansers will just remove its natural oils, making it even drier. Cream cleansers gently exfoliate the skin and are ideal for people with dry skin. Kosmoderma Daily Gentle Skin Cleanser is a good option as this cleanser makes your skin soft and supple. The presence of shea butter and cocoyl taurate makes skin smooth without drying.

Even though astringents assist to remove excess oil, tighten pores, and cleanse the face, they might make the skin feel a little too dry during the winter. Therefore, it is suggested to use a toner. It prepares your skin for moisturisers and serums. It also aids in removing stubborn dirt and extra oil.

The key to a nourished and healthy skin in the dry winter months is to moisturise. The thinner creams and lotions when used in the winter, cause dry areas on your skin. Because of this, you should switch to thicker creams in the winter to keep your dry skin replenished and hydrated all day. Kosmoderma Moisture Boost Cream is a blend of hyaluronic acid and ceramides that moisturizes your skin and provides hydration to your dry skin.

Stepping out in the sun without sunscreen is the biggest mistake an individual makes. It is advised to use sunscreen so that skin is protected from the harsh UV rays of the sun. Kosmoderma Photoprotect Sunscreen Gel with a SPF 40 is an ideal option. It not only protects the skin from sun rays but also provides bluelight protection.

Before getting to bed, apply glycerine and aloe vera to keep your skin moist. This makes your skin feel supple and refreshed the next morning. In the winter, dry skin can also be treated with a revitalising serum. A night mask might also be effective because it traps all the moisture throughout the night. Below is the full PM skin care routine:

Before going to sleep it is essential to remove makeup so that your skin doesn’t cause clog pores. This will lead to breakouts and acne. You can use micellar water as it contains natural ingredients that help soothe the skin.

After removing makeup it is important to cleanse your skin as it helps get rid of dust, bacteria and other dirt particles without stripping your skin’s natural oils.

At night your skin renews itself and it boosts the cell regeneration process. This will help fight the early signs of aging. Using Kosmoderma Vitamin C Serum is an ideal approach as it contains a combination of ferulic acid and ascorbic acid that helps boost the production of collagen in the skin. It also helps reduce dark spots and dullness.

The winter climate makes it challenging to stick to a proper skin care routine. Your skin becomes drier than usual in winters. For individuals having dry skin, winters can become a havoc for them. Therefore, it is necessary to change skincare products according to the weather conditions. Using a proper AM and PM regime will help combat the issue of dryness and make your skin healthy and glowing.