10 Cold Weather Skin Care Tips

We all must come to terms with it -- Winter is coming. 

Now this is one of the hardest times for your skin, and it's when most people feel the worst. You're totally dried out, you're cold, your socks are wet for no reason, and worst of all, it's getting dark at like 5:30. 

Feeling your best comes with taking care of yourself, and winter is the most important time to keep up with yourself. 

The winter has so many strange effects on your skin, and we're going to help. 

The first thing you should do is seek a specialist because it is VERY rare to go to a drugstore for skin products and have a salesperson know exactly what they're talking about. We do consultations here at Skin Fanatics, and we will be able to recommend products specialized for your skin type. We can also figure out what you may already be currently doing wrong, and help you figure out a new skin care regimen. 

Secondly, you need to be moisturizing, and moisturizing A LOT. Winter is DRY and your skin doesn't have to reflect that. A moisturizer that works well in the summer will not work in the winter, so it's important to find one that will. lotions will be great but we recommend essential oils as well. Choose your oils with care because not all oils are appropriate for the face. Instead, look for "nonclogging" oils, like avocado oil, mineral oil, primrose oil, or almond oil. Shea oil -- or butter -- is controversial, because it can clog facial pores. 

Third, believe it or not, you still need that sunscreen. look for that broad spectrum sunscreen and apply 30 minutes before you leave home. The reason is that winter sun combined with snow-glare can damage or (in the case of Colorado) burn your skin!

Fourth, protect your hands. Hands don't produce as many oils as the rest of your body, so it's important to keep them warm and protected to prevent cracking. 

Fifth, if your socks or gloves get wet, change them! The moisture combined with the fabric of your socks or gloves can both irritate and dry out your skin. I keep an extra pair of socks and gloves in my car for this reason. Nobody likes wet socks! 

Sixth, keep a humidifier running on low. Winter humidity in Colorado is at times lower than 10%, which is absolutely awful for your body as well as your skin. The humidifier will help keep your skin from drying out. 

Seventh, Drink water. This is more important for your body than for your skin, because once again, winter is the driest season, and if your body is thirsty, you will feel like crap, and then your skin will start to fall too. 

Eighth, keep your feet moisturized. Most foot creams are good for summertime, so you'll need the heavy duty stuff. Try finding lotions that contain petroleum jelly or glycerine instead. And use exfoliants to get the dead skin off periodically; that helps any moisturizers you use to sink in faster and deeper.

Ninth, If your facial skin is uncomfortably dry, avoid using harsh peels, masks, and alcohol-based toners or astringents, all of which can strip vital oil from your skin. Instead, find a cleansing milk or mild foaming cleanser, a toner with no alcohol, and masks that are "deeply hydrating," rather than clay-based, which tends to draw moisture out of the face. And use them a little less often.

And last at Number 10, NO super hot baths! The intense heat of a hot shower or bath actually breaks down the lipid barriers in the skin, which can lead to a loss of moisture. "You're better off with just warm water," LaPlante advises, "and staying in the water a shorter amount of time."