As the holidays quickly approach us, the changing of the seasons, and weather is inevitable. With global warming playing a key factor in increasingly severe weather, this winter season brings colder temperatures, increased wind, and dryness in the air that affects our own vulnerable and delicate outer barrier-- our skin. If you are already someone who experiences dry and/or sensitive skin, this time of the year can sometimes only exacerbate any conditions. It is really important to take proper care of your skin mantle since it’s easier to prevent than repair afterward. Keep reading to learn how to upgrade your skin routine to handle dry weather and soothe your dry skin woes!
The Deal With Dry Skin
Dry skin can be genetic, but also a result of a change in our skin’s top layer. This epidermis layer is richer in fats and oils that act as a barrier to help keep in moisture (aka all your skincare products) and prevent other toxins or irritants from entering the body. However, as we age, we lose a lot of those naturally occurring fats and oils and the moisture is much more easily escaped from the skin. This loss of moisture results in drier skin, and more fine lines and wrinkles. This disruption that we do to our skin layer makes it even more vulnerable to possible irritants, which is where contact dermatitis comes from. Pinpointing the cause of your dry skin is important to figure out how to tackle it. What you could be thinking is just dry skin could be a much more robust skin condition that could require separate, specialized treatment-- things like eczema, psoriasis, or fungi. (Source)
How To Fix Dry Skin In Winter: Tips for Relieving Dry Skin
Exfoliation
One of the most important, but easily overlooked things in self-care are the need to exfoliate. The top layer of your skin holds the dead skin cells that can clog pores and cause acne. Once you find an exfoliator that works for you, using it 1-2x a week is more than enough to renew your skin and help brighten hyperpigmentation!
There are a couple of different ways that you can exfoliate-- physical and chemical exfoliation. If you experience more sensitive skin or want a skin safe option, then it is recommended you use a chemical exfoliant. Any sort of physical exfoliant-- like a scrub can cause micro-tears in your skin, further damaging your skin. Instead, opt for a gentle exfoliator like the WOW Skin Science Aloe Vera Face Wash With Brush. It combines nourishing aloe vera to hydrate and soothe dry skin, while the soft silicone bristle brush gently exfoliates dead skin cells to reveal your glow!
Have you thought about exfoliating your body? It’s not free from the possibility of clogged pores and acne! A great way to do this is to make your own DIY sugar scrub by combining sugar (with large enough crystals to exfoliate, not powdered sugar), coconut oil, and 1-2 drops of essential oils like WOW Skin Science Sweet Orange Essential Oil or Geranium Essential Oil. Either of these options would provide a nice added benefit of aromatherapy and skin-soothing. After using this DIY scrub (in the shower is great to quickly wash away the mess), rinse it away with WOW Skin Science Moroccan Rose Otto Foaming Body Wash. This formula is effective enough to get rid of any built-up gunk but gentle enough to not aggravate any skin conditions, making it perfect for sensitive skin!
Treat Your Skin
To tackle specific problem areas and issues like flaky, irritated skin, clogged pores from maskne (here’s a routine specifically for that), and dry, cracked skin, try a spot treatment! Your routine is nothing without the proper order of application to ensure your skincare doesn’t evaporate. After exfoliating and cleansing, it’s time to apply a serum since your exposed mantle is ready to soak up your skincare. Use WOW Skin Science Vitamin C Serum to encourage skin cell turnover, exfoliate deep in your pores, and help even out your skin tone! Be sure to use SPF after, or use it at night if you have sun-sensitive skin. It is one of the first antioxidants that the skin loses during aging, and is proven to improve the appearance of your skin, especially when combined with other brighteners like niacinamide and kojic acid.
For your body, boost your lotion’s hydrating power with essential oils, like the WOW Skin Science Sweet Orange Essential Oil or Bergamot Essential Oil. These essential oils can help to soothe cracked, irritated, and wind-whipped skin!
Hydrate
One of the final steps in this process is sealing in the moisture into the mantle and preventing your skincare from evaporating. Since your skin barrier has been stripped of the most naturally occurring oils and sebum from cleansing, it needs to be nourished with products high in hydration and skin-loving ingredients. WOW Skin Science Castor Oil has a low comedogenic score, meaning it is less likely to clog your pores, and is a great hydrator for sensitive skin!
If you’re aren't moisturizing your body, you’re doing a major disservice to yourself. Use a body lotion like WOW Skin Science Shea & Cocoa Butter Moisturizing Lotion, formulated with nourishing ingredients that are super beneficial to dry, winter skin. The formula itself is much lighter than other kinds of body butters or creams so it penetrates the skin easier. If you are someone with dry skin all year round, go for a thick body butter that creates a solid barrier to lock in moisture for an extended-release of hydration on your skin. We would recommend the WOW Skin Science Raw Argan Oil Body Butter, as liquid gold, aka Moroccan Argan Oil, is fantastic for repairing and strengthening the skin barrier. Argan oil is known to be light and non-comedogenic (doesn’t clog your pores) but still intense enough to treat even some of the “worst” skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
If you really want to make sure that you’ve sealed in any and all moisture, use a pure oil to help provide a humectant layer. We love the WOW Skin Science Castor Oil since it works great for hydration and soothing irritated skin. This multipurpose staple even works for dry, cracked lips from mask wearing and dry weather! Create your own DIY lip scrub with castor oil, sugar crystals, and 1 drop of your favorite essential oil. Choose an essential oil like WOW Skin Science Lavender or Ylang Ylang Essential Oil to provide soothing aromatherapy relief. Even though you’re not sweating as much, staying hydrated is important for your skin barrier, so drink plenty of water!
***
This is the time to really take care of your skin, and give yourself a self-care moment. Even for those where dry skin is their daily norm, it can get worse with the dry winter air. Dry skin could be attributed to larger issues, like a natural side effect of aging, hormonal changes, and conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Treat this as soon as possible, as it’s easy to overlook these as just winter woes. You can leave some really damaging scars from something as simple as dry, flakey, and irritated skin. Let’s make sure that we are really taking care of ourselves in the best way possible!
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