Raise the degree: facial skin care in winter

Special skin care in winter is as necessary for us as a warm coat and hat. But is it necessary to completely change the beauty arsenal or can you get by with just a few adjustments? You will find the answer, as well as tips on choosing “winter” cosmetics in this article.

What happens to the skin of the face in winter?

Facial skin care in winter, at first glance, is not too different from the beauty routine at any other time of the year: cleansing, moisturizing twice a day. However, it is these standard steps that need to be adapted to seasonal changes that have a strong effect on the skin – unfortunately, a negative one.

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The main threat to the skin in winter is dehydration. In the cold season, it is provoked by several factors at once:

  • dry air both outdoors and in a heated room;

  • low temperatures;

  • temperature changes that the skin feels on itself every time we get from the street to the house and vice versa;

  • wind, and dry, cold.

All these factors weaken the hydrolipidic barrier of the skin, gaps are formed in the stratum corneum, through which moisture “leaks” occurs. The skin begins to tighten, it becomes rough, dull, peeling appears, and oily skin against the background of dehydration becomes even more greasy.

Plus, the vessels react to temperature changes – they expand and narrow, this is a natural mechanism of thermoregulation. If they are located close to the surface, and the skin is thin, redness may appear. And facial care in winter should take into account all these factors.

How to help the skin in winter?

How to take care of your skin in winter at home?

First of all, winter skin care at home should include two components – moisturizing and protection. As for cleansing, it should be as gentle as possible.

Purification

How to wash your face in winter? There are enough options, the main rule is to clean the skin as carefully as possible. For waterless cleansers, it’s simple – keep using milk or micellar water (just don’t forget the tonic!).

For a “classic” wash, which involves washing off the product with water, the following formats are suitable for winter:

  • micellar water;

  • cleansing oil;

  • cleansing emulsion;

  • foam or mousse;

  • gel foam.

The main requirement is that cleansers should be soft so as not to violate the protective barrier of the skin.

Gel-foam for removing makeup and cleansing the skin of the face Miel-En-Mousse, Lancôme

When water is added, the gel turns into an airy foam, the skin becomes clean and soft.

Intensive cleansing gel for normal to oily skin, CeraVe

To avoid drying out oily skin while washing, use this gentle formula with ceramides and hyaluronic acid.

Micellar facial cleansing foam, La Roche-Posay

Light foam carefully cleanses sensitive skin from dirt and make-up.

Micellar rose water “Cleansing + Radiance”, Garnier

Micellar water contains some salicylic acid, which is known for its exfoliating properties, and revitalizing arginine.

Cleansing face gel “Absolute tenderness. Rose + Jasmine” for dry and sensitive skin, L’Oréal Paris

The gel foams well, but at the same time cleanses gently, suitable even for sensitive skin.

humidification

In winter, due to negative environmental factors, the skin retains moisture worse – water begins to evaporate intensively.

It is necessary that the moisturizer contains both moisturizing ingredients (to saturate skin cells with moisture) and lipid-replenishing ingredients that will help preserve this moisture – squalane, ceramides, vegetable oils.

Ultra-moisturizing face cream Ultra Facial Cream, Kiehl’s

Tested in the harshest conditions, this champion cream hydrates the skin and, most importantly, helps to retain moisture. Contains antarcticin and squalane.

Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2, SkinCeuticals

The formula contains a trio of important lipids for the skin – ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids in an optimal ratio of 2:4:2. The cream helps to restore the skin’s protective barrier and prevent dryness, while supporting the skin’s ability to heal itself. Suitable for aging skin.

Moisturizing lotion for dry and very dry skin of the face and body, CeraVe

It has both hyaluronic acid and a set of ceramides, which, along with its light texture, has earned it a reputation for great skin care, and not just for dry skin.

Nourishing hyaluronic aloe cream for dry and sensitive skin, Garnier Skin Naturals, Garnier

In this cream, the moisturizing abilities of aloe and hyaluronic acid are complemented by the nourishing and softening properties of shea butter, which is “friends” with the skin’s natural lipids.

Protection and nutrition

Recall that a nourishing cream means a skin care product with a high content of oils. Such a cream as the main care product is needed for owners of dry and very dry skin (and not only in winter).

For other skin types, a high oil cream and a thick balm are used as protection if you plan to spend a lot of time in the cold, for example. Another option is to use them at night. In any case, a cream with nourishing properties will come in handy in winter.

Intensive care cream to protect very dry skin Nutrilogie 2, Vichy

Nutrition and protection – what dry skin needs in winter. Cream care containing jojoba, apricot and macadamia oils, as well as moisturizing ingredients, perfectly copes with this task and promotes the synthesis of skin’s own lipids. Helps to quickly get rid of the feeling of tightness.

L’Oréal Paris Night Transforming Face Cream-Mask “Luxury Nutrition”

The product contains oils of nutmeg rose and argan, royal jelly and extract of impera cylindric, intensively moisturizes and restores facial skin suffering from dryness. The thick melting texture is conducive to massage during the application of the product.

Renewing face cream Pure Vitality Skin Renewing Cream, Kiehl’s

Another honey cream with a thick consistency – suitable for protecting the skin in winter during the daytime, and for night recovery.

Additional care

In additional skin care in winter, the emphasis remains the same: moisturizing and protection.

    • Use hyaluronic acid serums to maintain skin’s moisture balance.

    • In clear sunny weather, if you plan to spend a lot of time outside, you will need a sunscreen that can be applied over the cream.

    • A tonal tool will also come in handy: Vichy expert Ekaterina Turubara believes that “in winter it is very useful to use foundation, it performs the function of clothing that protects the epidermis from cold and wind.”

    • Don’t forget about moisturizing masks.

    • Include thermal water in your care – it has been proven that as a result of irrigation of the skin with water, the stratum corneum of the epidermis is moistened, which helps to avoid dehydration of the skin during the heating season.

    • Use cosmetic oil that has a fairly light texture and creates the thinnest protective film on the surface of the skin. It can be applied over day cream or make-up, or mixed with a few drops of foundation.

Rules for caring for different skin types in winter

General rules for winter care have to be adapted to the individual characteristics of the skin, its type and needs.

Sensitive

Such skin easily turns red both from frost and wind, and from temperature changes. The reaction of blood vessels to harsh climatic conditions and the change of “cold-warm” modes is expressed in a feeling of heat, tingling, accompanied by tightness, general discomfort, and sometimes peeling.

According to clinical studies conducted jointly by British and French scientists, the use of products with panthenol and niacinamide effectively prevents redness and dryness in sensitive skin in winter.

We draw conclusions and look for creams with these ingredients in the composition. Niacinamide, for example, is included in this rich, soothing cream.

Oily

Oily skin has a thicker stratum corneum, which, together with sebum, forms its own reliable protection, so the risk of getting a pronounced negative reaction to frost and cold is much lower.

The main task of winter care for oily skin is not to overdo it with cleansing and not overdry the skin.

But the owners of skin with acne suffer from transepidermal moisture loss in winter more than the owners of normal skin. Researchers attribute this feature to the fact that problem skin suffers from a lack of ceramides in the stratum corneum of the epidermis, which leads to dehydration in the winter season.

In this case, you should pay attention to non-comedogenic products with protective, soothing and restoring properties. For example, for a face concentrate with hemp seed oil for all skin types, including problematic, from Kiehl’s.

Dry

Such skin is completely defenseless against frost, and the risk of discomfort and severe peeling is very high. Features of skin care in winter are the most delicate cleansing and the use of cosmetics with enhanced protective, softening, soothing properties.

About the favorite winter creams of the Healthy-Food editors is written here.

Combined

Owners of combination skin need to take care of moisturizing and protecting the U-zone, which is more prone to dryness. Spread a light moisturizing gel or your usual cream all over your face, and apply a thicker cream or oil to dry areas.

Features of winter care for different areas of the face

There are areas on our face that are practically devoid of sebaceous glands and a lipid protective film, which means that the skin itself is not able to withstand aggressive environmental factors.

lips

So that red, chapped, flaky lips do not become a winter curse, do not forget to apply a balm before each exit to the street. Do not lick your lips in the cold, and if you have such a habit, always keep a nourishing stick or hygienic lipstick ready.

The area around the eyes

The skin of the eyelids is 6 times thinner than the skin on the cheeks, therefore, it dehydrates faster.

In conditions of increased dryness of the air on the street and at home, the skin of the eyelids must not only be moisturized twice a day, but also protected. In winter, moisturizers with a creamy texture are suitable for these purposes.

How to additionally help the skin in winter: advice from a beautician

We hope you now have a clear understanding of how to properly care for your skin in winter. Here are some more good tips.

  • Wash your face with warm, almost cool water: hot water degreases the skin, depriving it of its protective layer.

  • Moisturize your skin from within by drinking enough water.

  • “In frost and strong winds, it is better to refrain from cosmetic procedures that damage the protective barrier of the skin: acid and laser peeling, dermabrasion,” Vichy expert Ekaterina Turubara gives advice on winter skin care. But cleaning the face in winter is not forbidden: frost can stop puffiness after cleaning, only after the procedure you need to apply a protective cream – on the recommendation of the beautician who performed the procedure.

  • A home humidifier has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin.

  • The foundation is able to perform the function of “clothing”, which protects the epidermis from cold and wind.

  • Avoid harsh scrubs and limit the use of clay-based purifying masks to once a week.

  • Don’t remove fat from your diet. It is only necessary to exclude and limit the consumption of hydrolyzed and trans fats contained in fast food and snacks.

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