Tips For Healthy Glowing Skin In Winter

Do you feel that no matter how much you moisturize your skin in winter, it ends up evaporating and drying out? 

The wintertime environment can be harsh and truly dry out your skin. Winter can be rough on your skin, making you feel there is no way out. When you are outside, the cold, windy weather leaves your skin pink, raw, and dry, while inside, the warmth sucks the moisture in the air and from your skin.

Dr. Anju Methil, founder of The Skin & Shape Clinic, a state-of-the-art skin clinic in Andheri, says it is essential to moisturize and hydrate your skin in winter and ensure that the moisture does not evaporate.

In this blog, we will share some excellent tips for retaining your skin’s natural hydration and helping you tackle dry winter skin.

Tips For Healthy Glowing Skin In Winter

You can make many simple modifications to your daily routine to counter the causes of flaky skin and stay moisturized and soft throughout the season. Read on to learn about some tips for glowing skin in winter.

Maximize Moisture Indoors

The winter outdoor air holds less water and is colder and drier. Investing in a humidifier will help you keep your skin hydrated by restoring moisture to the air.

Maintain the humidity levels indoors between 30 – 50 % by using a humidifier throughout your home or in the places where you spend the maximum time. It will be very beneficial to put it on when you are sleeping.

Wash with warm water rather than hot

When it is cold and windy outside, having a long, steamy shower may seem like a good idea, but overly hot water will dry your skin. A warm shower or bath for 5 – 10 minutes is better than a hot one, as it is less likely to aggravate your dry skin.

Dr. Anju  Methil, a top-notch skin specialist in Andheri, Mumbai, says that the water is excessively hot if it makes your skin red.

Avoid using very hot water even when you wash your hands. This is particularly true if you have red, scaly, itchy hands (possible signs of eczema). Eczema flare-ups can be triggered by dry skin caused by hot bathing or cold winter air.

Cooler water appears to be equally effective in removing germs as warm water and does not irritate the skin as much.

Use Vitamin E creams

Creams containing Vitamin E are very excellent to keep your skin moisturized. Look for moisturizers with a light gel-like texture and absorb quickly without leaving a sticky residue.

Vitamin E helps brighten dark complexions and combat dullness that might appear throughout the winter months without making the face greasy.

Use anti-aging actives carefully

Skin can be drained of its vitality by dry air and appear very dull. This may prompt you to try an anti-aging regimen in the hopes of restoring your youthful glow. You may want to try retinoid, a vitamin-A derivative that stimulates collagen formation in the skin to plump it and reduce the look of wrinkles.

It will certainly exfoliate the skin’s surface layer, revealing younger, more radiant cells beneath.

However, retinoid hasten the turnover of cells. This is a blessing and a curse in the winter. Trying a retinoid for the first time can produce dryness and irritation. If you already have dry skin, using a retinoid will be irritating at first.

If you still want to try it, start by applying a small amount a couple of times a week. If it does not irritate you or dry your skin, then you can use it every night.

Use a gentle body wash instead of bar soap

Bar soaps can increase dryness by removing the natural oils of your skin and disturbing the microbiome (microbes in the body).

Among the leading skin specialists in Mumbai, Dr. Anju Methil advises using body wash for people with dry skin. Seek out washes that say ‘dye-free’, ‘for sensitive skin’, or ‘fragrance-free’.

Such body washes will not contain ingredients that dry your skin. Instead, they contain hydrating substances, including ceramides, hyaluronic acid, oils, oats, and shea butter.

Use a gentle cleanser if acne prone

You are sweatier in the summer and may have used stronger cleansers to dry your skin, especially if you are prone to acne. Acne-prone skin is also at risk of drying out in winter. Switching to a creamier face wash is a good idea.

Such cleansers will not bubble up and will have a more lotion-like texture.

Pat your hydrating products

After washing your hands, it is recommended that you pat them dry. Patting or blotting your skin dry instead of rubbing it helps your skin preserve more moisture.

Blot your skin dry and apply a heavy moisturizer in a few minutes post bathing to lock the water into your skin.

Eat foods that keep your skin hydrated

Dr. Anju Methil, a highly-skilled cosmetologist in Mumbai, points out that it is vital to look after your skin on the inside as it is on the outside. Drink 1.5 – 2 liters of water daily and consume moisture-rich vegetables and fruits.

Broccoli, avocados, strawberries, carrots, and honey are some excellent sources of hydrating foods and are natural moisturizers.

Dr. Anju Methil also recommends keeping a spray mist or facial spray handy as they are excellent in hydrating your skin.

Wear skin-friendly clothing

Some cold-weather clothing can aggravate dry winter skin. Keep wool and coarse garments away from your skin. They may cause dry skin to become sensitive and itchy.

Instead, wear lighter layers against your skin made of soft, airy materials (such as cotton or silk). Then, you can put on your thicker, warmer sweaters over them.

Wear gloves or mittens to safeguard your hands from the cold winter air. If wool gloves irritate you, try leather gloves.

Do not skip using sunscreens

Snow reflects the sun’s beams on winter days, increasing your UV exposure. Even while clouds block up to 80% of the sun’s harmful UV rays, they can still inflict damage. Skin cancer, sunburn, and skin aging (like leathery skin and wrinkles) have all been tied to UV radiation.

Applying sunscreen in the severe winter cold is just as necessary as in the summer, whether you are out on the slopes or running an errand.

Use a sunscreen with 30 SPF or higher, which is water-resistant and has moisturizing elements like glycerin or lanolin, to all the exposed parts of your body before going outside.

If you want to boost your skin health, please get in touch with Dr. Anju Methil, an eminent cosmetologist in Mumbai.

Do not ignore your lips

Winter’s wrath is characterized by red, dry, and cracked lips. Use an ointment-based lip balm. Balms containing eucalyptus, camphor, or menthol should be avoided. Also ensure that the lip balm has sunscreen.

Not only does the dry air and wind wreak havoc on your lips, but you are also likely to lick your lips in response, starting a cycle of chapped skin. Our saliva contains enzymes that can break our skin, causing moisture loss, dryness and cracking. Keep yourself hydrated.

When your lips are flaking or peeling, do not bite or rub them.

Conclusion

While winter season may not be the best for your skin, that does not mean you cannot have healthy radiant skin.

When deciding on a skincare routine, keep in mind a basic formula: product effectiveness is always better than how many products you use. It is never about having too many items; it is about having the right ones.

You may require a prescription-strength moisturizer to combat the drying effects of winter on your skin, or your dry skin could be a sign of a skin issue that needs to be addressed. If you do not observe progress in a few days, schedule an appointment with Dr. Anju Methil, one of the most preferred cosmetologists in Andheri.