December came fast and in a hurry. It was as if November never happened! Just like the months' change throughout the year, so does the weather, and it's not getting any nicer to your skin. Now it's time to reconsider your skin routine so your skin can adjust to the colder weather more efficiently. 

Winter air is brutal on the skin, and it's drying, especially if you live on the East Coast. Your skin will need all the protection it can get besides putting a scarf on or a hat on your head. For winter skin care, your skin needs topical protection to beat the elements.

Cold temperatures and low humidity rob moisture from your skin. Harsh winter air can leave cracks on the skin and, at times, bleeding if you don't tend to the skin promptly. Now is the time to rotate your skin care products from summer to winter. If you suffer from eczema or psoriasis, cold weather will only amplify the condition. There are several things you can do before damage to your skin and to maintain its optimal health.

Below are some winter skin care tips to keep your skin looking nourished and healthy during the chilly winter months. Before you incorporate any new products into your skin care routine, it's best to consult your dermatologist. This way, you can ensure you're only using products that help your skin.

1. Use a Gentle and Calming Cleanser

The first step of any well-rounded skin care routine is cleansing. Our pores become clogged with makeup, dirt, and oils throughout the day. In the winter months, the dry air causes the skin to flake or crack, leading to excess production of oils. These oils can cause breakouts and a shiny completion. Cleansing your skin allows your pores to breathe and creates an ideal canvas for the rest of your skin care regimen.

Regardless of your skin type, you'll want to cleanse your skin at least once a day, particularly in the evening after your face has trapped impurities throughout the day. If you use water as part of your cleansing process, choose warm water to protect your natural oils. Cold water usually isn't enough to clean the face of dirt and grime, and hot water can dry your face out further.

You might choose a heavy-duty cleanser to remove excess dirt and sweat that builds up during the heat of the summer. Heavy-duty cleansers are essential in the summer, but a different cleanser is necessary when it starts to get cold. Switch to a gentle cleanser to prevent stripping your skin of its natural moisture barrier in the winter.

While it's essential to clean away buildup, you don't want to scrub your face too aggressively, or you'll leave your skin vulnerable to the elements. Gentle or calming cleansers can help by retaining moisture while cleansing acne-causing buildup. You should start with a cleansing balm or cream that's specifically designed to remove grime and hydrate the skin. Then, follow up with a simple, gentle cleanser.

Here are some of our favorite cleansers we recommended to combat the winter elements:

• Osmosis Skincare Cleansing Balm: This cleanser is rich in nutrients to bring balance back to the skin. It clears away buildup while replenishing moisture, leaving you with a healthy and radiant glow.
• SkinCeuticals Replenishing Cream Cleanser: Experience a deep clean that removes makeup, dirt, and other impurities while locking in natural oils that keep your skin protected from the drying winter chill. Rich in amino acids, this cleanser is perfect for the winter season.
   
• Revision Skincare Gentle Cleansing Lotion: The mild formula will cleanse your skin of makeup and grime while keeping your natural moisture barrier intact. Since it's free of fragrances and artificial colorants, it's perfect for sensitive skin.
   
• PCA Skin Creamy Cleanser: Maintain the natural oils that keep your skin hydrated with this creamy cleanser. The oils in this product will keep your skin smooth and radiant, giving you a youthful appearance.

2. Rehydrate With Heavy Moisturizers

Treating dry skin care in the winter starts from the inside out. Staying hydrated is not only important for the summer month but the winter months as well. Make water your best friend if you haven't done so already. 

The amount of water you should be drinking each day varies based on your individual needs, but your body is made of mostly water and must be kept that way to maintain proper bodily function and health. We are busy adults, so it's often easy to forget to maintain our water intake throughout the day.

Be sure to rehydrate with lots of water. Water is good for your overall health, and it also keeps your skin glowing. Water also keeps you looking younger because you are well hydrated. It will limit the appearance of wrinkles as well, giving you a more youthful look. Lasting elasticity comes from mostly drinking water to prevent dryness.

The fact is that the skin is an organ that covers all of your body. Skin is made up of many cells, which need water to function properly. If the cells are not functioning properly, your skin will suffer. When your skin doesn't receive enough water daily, it acts like any house plant. It will become tight, itchy, and flaky. It will have a hard time protecting you from the elements of weather. Dry skin will have less resistance, and you will wrinkle sooner than later.

No one wants to age faster than a rose. If you are tired of drinking water all day, switch it up with tea or add some lemon to your water. There is also flavored water you can make or purchase from the grocery store. Even eating fruits like watermelon or mango that are full of water is an excellent way to get water and nutrients into your body. This is the first step to your winter skin care.

Now is the time to switch up your skin care routine a bit. Those light moisturizers that you use for warmer weather won't work as well in the bitter cold, especially when you live in colder climates. Your skin will be begging for more moisture. Heavy moisturizer is what you will need to keep dryness at bay. Heavy moisturizers will battle the winter elements for you and give you that added layer of protection from freezing temperatures. This is important for your dry skin care routine.

For those with sensitive skin or conditions like psoriasis and eczema, skipping moisturizing is not an option for you. Here are some recommendations:

• Osmosis MD Skincare Hydrate Plumping Moisturizer: After cleansing, this will leave your skin plump and ready for the day. It will help reduce fine lines and wrinkles to give a glow to your skin!
• Avene Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream: Protect the skin from any aggressors from the weather while keeping your skin radiant! If you have chapped lips or dry hands in the winter, you can also use this product on your lips and body for soft skin everywhere.
• Replenix Pure Hydration Moisture Balm: Replenish the skin's moisture with this hydrating balm to help prevent wrinkles and slow down aging. Dull skin will be revitalized and look youthful after using the balm.
• Obagi Hydrate Luxe: This moisturizer provides overnight, ultra-rich moisturization and has a luxurious, balm-like texture. Your skin will feel soft and supple with added protection against the elements.

3. Exfoliate to Revitalize Your Skin

Believe it or not, exfoliation is another key component to dry skin care. Skin must renew itself on a daily basis to stay fresh. When you added exfoliation into your skin care routine, you're buffing away the dead skin cells, creating a blank slate for your other products to absorb. This way, your skin is more likely to stay bright and glowy.

There is no need to exfoliate extra every day, but we do recommend at least twice a week. You don't want to over-exfoliate because that can lead to skin irritation. Over-exfoliating can also strip your skin of natural oils, which act as a barrier between your skin and the elements. Maintaining your natural skin barrier is even more essential in the winter when the weather dries out the skin and causes flaking and cracking. This damage can cause wrinkles, acne, and other skin impurities.

Regularly exfoliating has a bunch of benefits. It unclogs pores, prevents acne, helps skin care products penetrate deeper, and boosts circulation. Exfoliating regularly also stimulates the production of the protein collagen. Collagen helps reduce sagging and fine lines while also improving skin elasticity. These benefits keep your skin looking healthy and youthful for years to come.

Here are some of our favorite dry skin care exfoliants:

• SENTE Exfoliating Cleanser: This product cleanses and exfoliates at the same time! It's a two in one deal. As it cleans your skin gently, it renews your skin so the cleanser can deeply penetrate those pores. It improves skin cell turnover and skin tone appearance. Because it is a chemical exfoliant, those with sensitive skin are less likely to experience any redness or other signs of aggravation.
• Glytone Exfoliating Body Wash: This body wash smooths bumps and evens out the skin using glycolic acid, which is a great chemical exfoliant. It is a perfect way to buffer way any dead skin during your shower. An acid-based body wash will leave your skin supple and brand new without causing micro-tears to the skin like some physical exfoliants.

4. Make Oils Your Best Friend

Oils will either be your first or last layer of moisturizing, depending on your routine and preference. Many love to use natural oils to seal in all of the work they have put into their skin. Oils give your skin a glow at the end of your routine, and it stays throughout the day. Oils give skin that last protective layer it needs to fight against winter. It will also help keep your skin supple and youthful. 

For example, argan and avocado oil have vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants that provide nutrients for your skin. Vitamin E is super important, giving elasticity to your skin. Fatty acids in your skin reduce inflammation and replenish cell membranes in the skin.

Tea tree oils are perfect for people with acne-prone skin. Tea tree oil has anti-inflammatory properties that calm redness and inflammation. It can also reduce swelling. This oil can help remedy acne that appears due to the harsh winter elements. If you have acne scars or discoloration, rosehip oil is a hydrating option that can fade the appearance of those marks.

Jojoba oil helps strengthen the skin. It also has chemical compounds similar to the skin's natural oils, so it will have no problems being absorbed.

There are many oils you can use to promote skin health. Each oil has a different effect based on your skin type. Here are some of the oils we recommend to bring moisture back to your skin in the winter months:

• Skyn Iceland Artic Face Oil: This face oil nourishes the skin to restore the moisture lost from cleansing. It also balances the skin to protect it from damage.
• Avene Skin Care Oil: This long-lasting, lightweight oil doesn't leave the skin greasy. It absorbs quickly into the skin and is filled with antioxidants to keep your skin healthy.
• Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Oil: This multi-purpose dry oil nourishes and beautifies. It's perfect for the face, body, and hair. This oil also protects against pollutants and helps reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

5. Consider Using a Humidifier

A well-rounded skin care routine using the right combination of cleansers, moisturizers, exfoliators, and oils can help prevent dryness and flaking caused by the harsh winter elements. However, you can boost your skin care routine even further by adding a humidifier into the mix. Humidifiers add moisture to the air, which is essential in the colder months, especially if you live in a particularly dry environment.

Using a furnace to heat the home also adds more dry air to the environment. A humidifier can restore moisture and alleviate dryness on the skin, aiding your skin care regimen. Moist air will also retain heat better than dry air, reducing the strain on your heating system.

Humidifiers work great in the bedroom. You can add moisture to the air while you're sleeping, preventing dry patches and allowing your skin to maintain its natural moisture barrier.

Running a humidifier while you sleep or around the house can be an excellent addition to your skin care routine and makes your home more comfortable.

Beat the Winter Chill at Exclusive Beauty Club

Staying on top of your skin care routine in the winter months with tips for dry skin ensures healthy skin and keeps you looking younger longer. At Exclusive Beauty Club, we aspire to provide you with a well-rounded skin care regimen personalized to your individual needs to allow your inner and outer beauty to shine.

All of our products are medical-grade or dermatologist recommended, ensuring that you're getting the absolute best from our brands. We are one of the few approved retailers for brands such as Revision Skincare and SkinCeuticals, so you never have to wonder if you're getting the real deal. We'll help you identify the best products to add to your current skin care routine and help you make changes based on the current season.

Contact us today to speak with one of our experts and get product recommendations based on your unique skin type.

 Learn More About Winter Skincare with Exclusive Beauty Club

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• Lip Care During Winter
• Psoriasis - How to treat in winter?
• Easy Winter Hand Care Tips