5 Causes of (and 5 Ways to Eliminate) Winter Skincare Woes

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Wind chill, snow, and ice-covered ponds make us crave fireplaces, heaters, hot showers, and warm wool blankets. Unfortunately, the very things we count on to keep warm in the winter take our skin from healthy and hydrated to itchy, cracked, red, and irritated. Here are the top 5 causes of dry and dehydrated winter skin, and how to fix them – fast.

Winter Dry Skin Trigger #1: Drops in Temperature

When colder fall and winter temperatures roll in, the humidity levels drop. This causes the water in your skin to quickly evaporate.

One way to prevent water loss, especially when you’re out and about in the cold, is to keep commonly exposed areas like the hands, face, and neck covered with protective clothing. Don’t just dress in layers; apply skincare in layers, starting with Hydro-Dynamic® Quenching Essence layered under a super hydrating moisturizer like Nutrient-Charged Water Gel. Hydro-Dynamic Quenching Essence contains Mexican Blue Agave Leaf Extract helps skin attract and hold onto essential water, relieving dryness and dehydration while smoothing, plumping, and making skin more resilient to winter weather. Follow with Nutrient-Charged Water Gel, our oil-free water gel containing 5 vitamins, 5 minerals and 5 peptides to lock moisture into skin, strengthen the skin’s barrier, and increase retention for up to 5 days.*

Winter Dry Skin Trigger #2: Heaters

Space heaters, car heaters, even heated blankets are a must when the temperature drops. But you might start feeling the sting of itchy, irritated skin with continued use. Heaters, just like drops in temperatures, are like vampires that suck moisture out of your skin.

Dr. Murad recommends “eating your water” to keep your skin hydrated. “Staying sufficiently hydrated for whole body health isn’t about drinking eight glasses of water a day. When we eat more water-rich foods, we absorb water more slowly because it is trapped in the structure of these foods. That slow absorption means that water in food stays in our bodies longer, with a multitude of additional benefits.”

Some of Dr. Murad’s favorite ways to eat your water include:

• Cucumbers (96% water)
• Cauliflower (92% water)
• Spinach (92% water)
• Carrots (87% water)

Winter Dry Skin Trigger #3: Hot Showers

We know that NOTHING feels better than a hot shower. But, hot showers and hot baths work a lot like cooler temperatures, stealing moisture from your skin.

Try turning the nozzle down a notch for a warm shower or bath. And, be sure to pat your skin dry with a towel rather than roughly buffing the towel across your body. Follow with a hydrating, antioxidant-rich body moisturizer within two minutes of stepping out of the shower. This window of time helps your moisturizer create an essential barrier against moisture loss. We recommend Firming Peptide Body Treatment, a sophisticated all-over body treatment with Oat and Grape Seed Oil that melts into a lightweight body oil, feeding skin with essential moisture.

Winter Dry Skin Trigger #4: Wool and Synthetic Fabrics

Wool may keep you warm, but it will also make you itchy. Synthetic fabrics (less “breathable” fabrics) like wool, polyester, and nylon can increase skin’s itchiness in the winter. Opt for a breathable fabric, such as cotton. To avoid future winter wardrobe woes, opt for unscented laundry detergents and dye-free fabric softeners.

To undo any fashion faux pas and start fresh, exfoliate skin at least once a week. Exfoliating lifts dead, dulling skin from the surface so hydration-enhancing products like serums and toners can better penetrate to relieve dry skin.

Winter Dry Skin Trigger #5: Hydrating from the Inside Out

Dry skin and itchy skin go hand in hand, and scratching skin only leads to additional redness and irritation. The same can happen to our lips: a loss in moisture leads to frequent lip-licking which, ironically, only dries them out more.

To relieve dry, chapped skin on contact, sweep Soothing Skin and Lip Care over bare lips or even over lipstick for a protective barrier against the cold. Part healing salve, part lip-smoothing moisturizer, the velvety clear formula with just the right amount of gloss helps your pucker recover from winter’s assault.

Looking to take skin hydration a little deeper? Glucosamine as a supplement helps boost natural Hyaluronic Acid and collagen levels, helping to boost cellular hydration in the deeper layers of the skin. Found in Hydro-Glow Dietary Supplements, this is a great way to complement your external skin hydration regimen to maintain optimal cellular hydration* from the inside out.**

*Based on a clinical study of 20 people.

**This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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