Winter may be harsh on your skin, and it may feel as if there is no way out: Outside, the cold, stormy weather leave your skin red and raw, while interior heat wipes out moisture from the air and your skin.
Even activities that make winter enjoyable, like sitting by a roaring fire, can dry up your skin. And, while a hot shower might warm you up, it also reaps your skin of its natural oils.
Fortunately, there are several strategies to battle the causes of dry skin, dry feet and keep yourself soft and supple throughout the season, including some simple tweaks to your daily routine.
Continue reading for 7 easy, dermatologist-approved methods for beautiful winter skin and soft feet.
- Invest in a humidifier
During the cooler winter months, the outdoor air typically holds less water and is drier and colder. Using a humidifier in your home or workplace will assist to keep your skin moisturized by restoring moisture to the air.
Run a humidifier throughout your house or in the rooms where you spend the most time, and aim to keep indoor humidity levels between 30 and 50%. One alternative is to leave it turned on while you sleep. If you’re unclear about the humidity levels in your house, you can get a humidity meter.
- Switch up your skincare routine for the season
If your skin is dry and itchy, avoid skin-care products containing alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and retinoids on the face, as these can aggravate the problem and may even be a sign of irritant dermatitis (a skin reaction caused by prolonged exposure to an irritating substance).
In addition to avoiding AHAs and retinoids when your face’s skin is dry, avoid cosmetics containing alcohol and perfumes, since they will prevent your skin from maintaining its natural oils.
Instead, go for oils and creams in your skin-care routine, and consider layering a moisturizer over your toner if the latter is creating dryness.
Use a thicker moisturizer on your body at night, especially your arms, legs, and belly. Look for occlusives such as Squalene, petroleum, or Shea butter. These substances keep moisture in by establishing a protective barrier on the skin.
Look for a product that contains hydrating humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. These are excellent face components since they enable the skin to breathe and are unlikely to cause acne.
Amd don’t forget your feet either. For your feet we recommend Kerasal Intensive Foot Repair Line. The product range, known for its exceptional efficacy in foot and nail care, offers a special gift to rejuvenate feet at home, making every step of the cold season memorable.
The Kerasal® Intensive Foot Repair Line’s featured foot care products include the notable Kerasal Intensive Foot Repair Ointment, the Kerasal Nighttime Intensive Foot Repair Ointment, and the Nighttime Intensive Repair Foot Mask, which are infused with the aroma of lavender and chamomile.
Furthermore, the Kerasal Intensive Repair Foot Peel, which contains peppermint, lavender, Argan oil, and botanical extracts, exposes baby-soft feet, which are ideal for the colder winter months.
- Use warm water when showering or washing your hands
Long, steamy showers may seem appealing when it’s cold and windy outside, but hot water can dry up the skin. A 5- to 10-minute warm shower (or bath) is less likely to aggravate dry skin than a hot one. if the water causes your skin to become red, it’s too hot.
You should also avoid washing your hands with that’s too hot. This is especially true if your hands are red, scaly, and itchy. Dry skin caused by the cold winter air or hot bath might exacerbate eczema flare-ups.
Cooler water appears to be equally efficient as warm water in removing germs while being gentler on the skin.
- Use gentle fragrance free cleansers
Bathing with bar soap can aggravate dry skin by removing the skin’s natural oils and upsetting the microbiota.
For those with dry skin, use body wash. Look for washes branded “for sensitive skin,” “dye free,” or “fragrance-free. They frequently have less drying components and more hydrating ones, such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides, oils, Shea butter, and oats.
Look for products that are labeled “fragrance-free.” “Unscented” items may include chemicals that mask the aroma and cause irritation.
- Use moisturizer on your hands too
Hand washing is essential, according to the CDC, especially when the common cold, flu, and COVID-19 are present. Constant washing, on the other hand, will cause the hands to take a beating.
Wear waterproof gloves and apply hand cream after each wash to protect your hands when washing dishes or cleaning around the house.
After applying moisturizer, put on cotton gloves to help your skin absorb the hand cream.
- Don’t forget your sunscreen
Snow reflects the sun’s beams on sunny winter days, increasing your UV exposure, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. UV radiation have been related to skin cancer, sunburn, and accelerated skin aging (wrinkles, leathery skin, and liver spots, among other things).
That means that whether you’re on the icy slopes, playing with kids in the snow, or going through a parking lot on an errand run, applying sunscreen in the severe winter weather is just as necessary as it is in the hot summer weather.
Don’t be deceived by the darker, gloomy days of winter. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, up to 80% of the sun’s dangerous UV radiation may penetrate clouds and cause damage.
Before going outside, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, water resistance, and moisturizing compounds such as lanolin or glycerin to all exposed regions of your body.
- Stay hydrated and eat healthy
Expect no dramatic changes, although it may be possible to moisturize your skin from the inside out. One of the best things you can do to avoid dryness is to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, such as water.
Your food may also play a role. Eating whole foods rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids, rather than processed foods and sugars, will keep the body and skin healthy.
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