How Winter Weather Affects Your Skin

With winter shortly approaching I thought there’s no better time to talk about how our skin transforms along with the seasons!We all experience skin changes to a certain degree, some people claim their skin is much clearer in the summer due to the sunlight while others experience no acne in the winter due to dryness.This could hold a bit of truth-But what’s really going on here? What is the science behind all of this? Does weather and climate actually affect our skin color, tone,and texture? Let’s take a look at the seasons andsee what kind of impact colderweather changes actuallyhaven store for our skin.

Cooler seasonscan be harderon yourskin.Cold temperatures typically mean lower moisture content in the air,which tends to dry out and strip moisture fromexposed skin.I don’t know about you but in the winter my skin tends to getSO dry that it actually starts to become itchy and irritated.The drierair outsideandinside tends todehydrate the skins barrier.

Specifically speaking, the drier the air, the more moisture is wicked away from the skins surface. So, if the air becomes too dry so does the skin. This is seen in dullness, eczema, dryness, and flakiness.In the winter I tend to amp up my skincare routine and swap out my moisturizers with more rich, heavy duty alternatives.If you thinkabout it when the seasons change,you switch out thatstringbikini for a turtleneckand your skincareroutineshould be no different.Here are a few things to think about when it comes to wintertime skincare:

Exfoliate Twice a Week:When your skin becomesdry and flaky dead skin cells begin to build up onthe toplayer of the skin, acting as a barrier. This prevents your skincare productsfrom absorbing and working at their full potential. Amping up the exfoliationto twice a weekwill remove dry skin cells and reveal afresh layer of skin underneath.

Switch out Your Cleanser:While that citrus punch foaming cleanser may have made a great choice during the summer, thedryness of winter air can make your skin sensitive to bothfragrance andfoam. Foaming cleansers tend to overwork the skin barrier, stripping the skin of essential oils it needs to function properly. Try a cleanser that advertises itself as “fragrance free”, “hydrating”, or one that tends to have a more milky or cream texture over a gel or foam formula.

Slather on the Moisturizer

While piling on moisturizer wonttechnicallyrestore hydration deep within the skin, it can at least help a decent amount with dryness and protecting the skins barrier.Look for a good moisturizer that containshyaluronic and essential fatty acidsto lock the moisture into the skin.

Try out a Facial Oil

Adding a facial oil along with your moisturizer will work to further reduce symptoms of irritation, dryness, and flakiness.Facial oilsare richer and more deeply moisturizing than creams so they tend to offer better protection against the harsh winter elements. Some of my favorite facial oils that won’t clog your pores are jojoba, sweet almond, and avocado oil.

Other thanthe general winter weather itself thereare a few other key factors that play into the role of wintertime skin: