5 Ways to Put Your Best Face Forward this Winter
It’s cold outside, and your skin is feeling the effects. Don’t let dry, irritated skin and chapped lips throw your look for a loop! It’s time to change up your beauty routine to keep your complexion looking great. Here are five ways to put your best face forward this winter!
1. Don’t Strip Your Skin
Overcleansing can cause problems any time of year, but it can be especially troublesome in the winter when you most need your natural, protective oils to remain intact. If you wash them away, they cannot do their job of protecting your skin from the elements. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends washing twice a day (in the morning and before bed), adding an extra wash only after working up a sweat.
2. Choose a Kinder Cleanser
Foaming cleansers and gel cleansers are fine in the summer, but not so much in the winter. If your skin flakes even after applying moisturizer, your cleanser is probably too harsh. One alternative is oil-based cleansers, such as those containing coconut oil, and another is a cleansing balm, which has moisturizers like shea butter. Both of these options remove makeup and grime without stripping the skin.
3. Moisturize to the Max
The elements dry out your face and increase its sensitivity; increased moisture is the simple solution. Switch to richer, protective skin care products that will safeguard your skin by creating a protective barrier from the elements. Consider layering or combining products to get a one-two punch. For instance, add a drop of face oil to your regular moisturizer or apply a serum before your usual face cream.
4. Say “So Long” to Scrubs
If you swear by scrubs in the summer, put them on hold for the winter months. Continuing to scrub with ingredients like sugar or salt can make dry skin red and irritated. Peels can have the same effect. Once-a-week exfoliation makes a great substitute for scrubs and peels. Choose an exfoliant with glycolic acid, which dissolves dead skins cells rather than abrasive ingredients that buff them away.
5. Care for Your Kisser
Your lips have thin, fragile skin that doesn’t retain moisture like the rest of your face, so cold air and wind cause chafing in no time. For sufficient moisturizing and softening, look for lip balms with plant oils such as caster oil and emollients like triglycerides. Other ingredients like beeswax and cocoa butter help protect and moisturize, too. Buff lips with a clean, dry toothbrush every morning to de-flake.