Winter skin care. What’s the best face cream in the winter? How to take care of your skin in the winter?

Hi everyone,

Winter months are a really harsh season for our skin. Bitter cold, large temperature differences (inside the rooms and outside), dry air emitted by radiators and high humidity outside – it has all a negative influence on the condition of our skin. In the winter, we lose large amounts of water and in consequence, our skin becomes extremely dry, red and prone to irritations. How to take care of the skin in the winter? Read today’s post and, hopefully, you will learn what a proper winter skin care should be like.

Let’s start from the beginning. Before you use a cream with a label saying ‘winter care’, you should gather some information on this topic. Being guided only by the labels is not a good solution. You must know what is actually happening with the skin during the cold season. Then, it will be easier for you to specify the treatment.

YOUR SKIN DURING THE WINTER

Recently, my friend and I were making jokes about how the roads are not prepared for the winter, but in fact, I forgot to prep my skin for the cold as well! I have noticed more than once that if the skin is poorly protected from difficult conditions will eventually become dehydrated, flaky and breaking. What is the risk of frostbitten skin? I do not want to frighten you, but the consequences are hardly reversible. In the winter, our skin (especially on the bare face):

• dehydrates – the hydro-lipid barrier is damaged which causes dry skin,
• looks older – skin ageing processes are increased; the skin loses radiance,
• is more difficult to treat – the cosmetic’s valuable ingredients are not absorbed well enough,
• becomes more sensitive – it is easier to irritate it and red spider veins appear.

Of course, all of this can be avoided. If the condition of our skin has already worsened, you must include proper treatment to overcome such problems.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THE SKIN IN THE WINTER?

First of all, it is worth introducing changed into your eating habits. Do not expect that our body will miraculously produce components necessary for regeneration and maintaining proper condition of the skin. We must supply them! My suggestion: make sure that your diet is rich in:

• fats – they prevent excessive water loss,
• vitamin C – delays ageing processes,
• vitamin E – regenerates and protects from UV radiation,
• vitamin A – reduces fine lines, nourishes and heals acne.

All of the above-mentioned ingredients can be found in dairy products, cereal products, fish, nuts, legumes such as peas, wheat germs, maize, carrot, pumpkin or my beloved brussels sprouts. A bit of diversity in the diet will certainly be useful in the cold winter months. Remember that we are what we eat and it’s definitely better to be full of vitamins.

Sometimes, a diet is not enough. You will also need and good-quality cream. And here, one important question arises: what cream will be best for winter?

From my own experience, I can recommend creams that have a rich composition and moisturise the skin thoroughly. An ideal winter cream contains paraffin, vaseline and plant oils (not essential oils) or beeswax. There can also be some silicones as well. It is important that the cream has a set of ingredients that will strengthen natural hydro-lipid layer of the skin or coat it with a protective film. Thanks to such components, the cream shields our skin from moisture loss and the harmful effects of external factors. Always make sure to choose products that are natural and do not include any dangerous additives that could increase dehydration, for instance, alcohols. Personally, I like to use baby moisturisers that are gentle to sensitive skin and take care of the skin effectively – they are just perfect for this time of the year.

However, every winter cream has one major downside – the skin glistens unless it’s really really dried out. This problem can be solved easily. Just after absorbing the majority of the cream, gently powder the complexion with a mattifying powder.

Winter cream with SPF?

Yes, of course! Unless we sit at home all day, we do not go outside, drive to work right at the office door and do not go out to fresh air at all. In any other situation, a cream with a UV filter is essential. The reason is simple even though there is less sunshine in the winter, its rays reflect in our direction with doubled force glancing off snow or windows and shopfronts that are everywhere in the city. A cream with SPF is definitely an essential cosmetic. It is enough for the city to use moisturisers with SPF 5 or SPF 15, but you will need the SPF 30 or SPF 50 for skiing on the slope, especially if you have very pale skin. Remember that the sun can harm us even in the shaded area and in the winter, that’s why sun protection is very important.

To summarise, winter skin care is based o three principles:

1. Moisturising and providing essential nutrients in large amounts.
2. Protection against harmful factors and preventing water loss.
3. Increase sun protection, especially with lots of snow around.

If you have any questions regarding winter skin care, do not hesitate – just write to me! I’ll be more than happy to clear up all your doubts! 🙂