Tips to Help Combat Dry Skin in Winter

Brrr… Baby, it’s COLD outside!

Living in Northern Michigan on the coast of Lake Huron, we have a front row seat to gorgeous, natural beauty each and every season, but make no mistake, in the winter, the elements can be brutal to your skin. Winter is a time when the humidity drops resulting in cold, dry temperatures. Running the heat or having your fireplace going (say it isn't so!) strips your skin of its natural moisture. As a result, this time of year, you may suffer from dry, flaky, red, itchy or sometimes bleeding skin.

In addition to winter weather, dry skin can be accelerated by your age, how much time you spend outside, and of course, where you live. Simple tweaks, such as changing up your skin care routine during the winter months, can pay big dividends. To help you stay on top of your skin’s needs this winter, here are a few tips to help you avoid or minimize dry skin!

Drink LOTS of water!

It is well known that drinking water is so important for your skin, but it’s even more critical to do this in the winter. The old adage of drinking 8 glasses of 8 ounces of water is no longer the current standard.  Now, the daily recommendation is to drink half your weight in ounces.  So, if you weigh 150 pounds, you should be drinking 75 ounces of water every day to stay hydrated, which is nearly 9.5 - 8 ounce glasses of water. Drinking water has SOOOO many great health benefits, from lubricating your joints to improving mental performance. We have even learned that drinking water first thing in the morning has interesting benefits as well! You can learn more about it in this Real Simple article from June 2022.

However, I am here to discuss ways to combat dry skin, and drinking water hydrates your skin from the inside out. Drinking water is the most natural way to hydrate your skin. So, be sure to incorporate this tip into your lifestyle every day and your skin and overall health will thank you!

Run a humidifier.

Having the heater run all day every day does keep your house toasty warm, but it also sucks the moisture out of the air and out of your skin! One of the easiest ways to combat this is to run a humidifier to release a fine mist of moisture into the air and help keep your skin from drying out.

Choose your body wash wisely!

Ensure that you’re using a moisturizing body wash when showering that includes vegetable glycerin. Glycerin is a natural ingredient that not only attracts moisture but retains it so it is effective in keeping your skin moisturized.  Organic, and clean, plant-based body washes generally contain vegetable glycerin because of its natural moisturizing power and its proven record of improving the smoothness and suppleness of skin.  

INGREDIENTS MATTER

If you prefer bar soap, using an organic, or clean, plant-based soap can help retain moisture because, like organic body washes, plant-based bar soaps contain vegetable glycerin. Many big name soap and body wash companies (think of those that you find in your local supermarket or pharmacy) actually remove the glycerin when making their soap, saving this ingredient to put in their lotions because of its moisturizing properties!

When glycerin is removed from the soap making process, the soap actually becomes nothing more than detergent, leaving little to no ingredients to moisturize your skin naturally. Additionally, many soaps, both bar and body wash, contain parabens and sulfates which are known to be some of the harshest and most stripping ingredients for your skin. Plus, these ingredients are linked to significant health hazards, so on your list of ingredients to stay away from, parabens and sulfates should most definitely be on your list.

WHAT’S GOOD

Dirty Girl Farm has a great selection of organic, vegan body washes that are free from parabens and sulfates yet packed with glycerin, and they come in fun seasonal scents.  Great Lakes Bath & Body offers the same in their clean, plant based bar soaps. Not only will your skin be softer, it will be healthier from within!  Plus, an added bonus is that these products generally last longer than conventional products because you don't need as much, so you save money in the long run.

Reduce the length of time and temperature of your shower.

If you’re like me, this one is a tough one because taking a wonderfully long, hot shower feels soooo good, especially in the winter after getting out of a toasty warm bed and being jolted awake by cold air. However, just like a heater pulls the moisture out of the air, hot water absorbs the moisture out of your skin. Reducing the temperature to warm and taking a quicker shower in the winter certainly helps your skin from drying out.

Choose foods that promote hydration.

The following are some of the best foods for maintaining healthy skin: Foods that include omega-3 fatty acids (think salmon) and foods rich in vitamins E and C and beta carotene (which your body converts to Vitamin A, which is a natural form of Retinol). There is a blog written about the best and worst foods to eat for your skin, that you can read here!

Develop a regular skin care routine.

If you’re not consistent with a regular skin care routine, there is no better time to start than in the winter! If you do have a regular skin care routine, you may need to change it up a bit to ensure you’re getting enough hydration.

CLEANSE

If you suffer from dry or dehydrated facial skin, it’s important to use a gentle cleanser and a hydrating moisturizer. Elina Organics, a leader in organic skincare, and whom I love to call the Queen of Organic Skincare because
Elina was developing organic skincare more than 25 years ago before people even thought organic skin care was a good thing.  Clean, plant-based or 100% organic cleansers, are gentle for whatever skin type you have, but if you are specifically dealing with dry or dehydrated skin in winter, using Elina's Botanical Cleanser is gentle enough for even those with sensitive skin and will add extra hydration to your skin.

MOISTURIZE

All skin types should change up their skincare routine, particularly to a more emollient or hydrating moisturizer, especially if you live in an area where winter weather is more pronounced.  Elina Organic's has several options to choose from if your skin is significantly more dry or dehydrated.  First, is our best selling Amber Collagen Cream, which is perfect for a night time moisturizer, but if you need more hydration all day, this wonderful cream can be used day and night.  This cream is loaded with moisturizing ingredients including aloe vera, vegetable glycerin and coconut oil.  Plus, it has wonderful anti-aging and firming ingredients including Baltic Amber, Rosehips and collagen peptides.  Additionally, Elina's Baikal Crystal Balm is another cream filled with a powerhouse of ingredients.  It's fantastic as a night cream, or even on top of your favorite night cream to seal all those good nutrients in your skin.  It has Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, squalene to help protect your skin's moisture barrier and beeswax to have a protective layer on your skin.  You will love our soft your skin feels in the morning.

MASK UP

Incorporating a hydration mask once or twice a week, especially in the winter, really helps plump up your skin and adds much needed moisture.  Sister to the Amber Collagen Cream is the Amber Collagen Mask, which has a jelly like consistency and is filled with Baltic Amber and Collagen Peptides to not only hydrate your skin, but also plump up those fine lines and wrinkles. Booyah! Who doesn’t want that?!!  For severely dry or dehydrated skin, Elina's Sahara Souffle, infused with camel milk (incredible for hydration), tremella mushrooms which have fabulous for water retention capabilities and avocado and shea oils to moisturize deeply.  Use as a mask after cleansing and wearing for 15 minutes or use in place of your night cream twice/week for added hydration.  You will love how plump and healthy your skin looks and feels!

VITAMIN C

Lastly, just like the foods you eat, skin care products that are rich in vitamin C and E promote hydration as well. Elina Organics' has a wonderful, Vitamin C Elixir that also has Vitamin E infused within for added hydration.  Plus, Elina's Leave On Under Eye Recovery Cream is an emollient, eye cream to be used at night that is loaded with Vitamin C.  Even if you have sensitive skin, this eye cream is gentle enough to be used on your face and neck in winter months to add extra hydration.  Who doesn't love one product that can serve in place of another!  

LEARN MORE

Harborside Bath & Body periodically offers in person skin care classes that allows you to sample and try the products before you buy.  If you aren't local, we offer virtual free skincare consultations and will design you a customized skincare routine. For a nominal fee, you can have samples sent to you to try before you buy.  If you are interested in this option, just schedule your free consultation here and we'll design you a skincare routine that is designed specifically for you!

Wear non-irritating fabric.

If possible, wear soft clothing that has a looser fit and is comfortable to wear so you don’t have coarse fabric constantly rubbing against and further irritating dry skin. Wool, for instance, may be warm but the scratchy texture is not ideal for your skin.  Additionally, avoid using a regular laundry detergent, and opt for ones that are chemical-free.

Wear gloves.

It’s a simple task, yet so many of us run outside or drive with the heat running and we’re not wearing our gloves! I know I’ve been guilty of this. Not wearing gloves in winter can quickly dry out your hands and leave them chapped and scaly. Dirty Girl Farm’s Hand & Heel Crack Cream is a fan favorite for both their hands and feet, especially if after using, you follow it with one of Great Lakes Bath & Body lotions. This combination truly feels as though you had a treatment on your hands and face.

So bundle up, enjoy the great outdoors, and use these tips to help prevent dry skin!

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Let me know what you think!

If you’re new to using clean beauty products, I’d love to get your feedback on any that you’ve tried. Additionally, I’d love to hear about topics you’d like me to cover, so if you have a request, please email me at hayley@harborsidebathandbody.com. My next blog will be about how diet can impact the look and appearance of your skin. There’s no better time than at the beginning of a new year to make some healthy changes to your lifestyle. Until next time friends! ~Hayley Rose