Skin Care

9 Dry Winter Skin Tips To Make Your Skin Feel At Its Best All The Year

Winter comes with some obvious perks like holidays, vacations, cosy sweaters, and an extra excuse to cuddle. But your skin feels otherwise - it gets drier, cracked, and flakier in the year's colder months. Cold air and harsh winter wind can zap off the natural moisture barrier of your skin and leave it feeling dry and dull. Dealing with cracked, dry winter skin is probably every person’s nightmare but this can also be avoided. Not sure how to take care of your skin in winter? Don’t worry as we’re here to help you with some winter dry skin remedies. Start taking notes because we’re here with some genius tips for dry winter skin so that you can celebrate this holiday season with smooth and soft skin.

But first, let’s understand how to identify you have dry skin.

Symptoms of dry winter skin

Some common symptoms of dry winter skin include:

  • Redness
  • Rough to touch
  • Itchiness
  • Cracking
  • Burning skin
  • Skin feels tight
  • Flakiness
  • Increased sensitivity

How to take care of your skin in winter?

Here are some tips for dry winter skin to help you flaunt hydrated, smooth, and supple skin throughout the year:

  • Avoid long, hot showers
  • Staying in the shower for a long time can disrupt your skin’s barrier and lead to further dryness. It can also strip off the natural oils from the skin and leave it feeling dull and dehydrated. So, limit exposing your skin to hot water during showers, and use lukewarm water to prevent dryness. Additionally, make sure to moisturise your skin immediately after bathing.

  • Use gentle skincare products
  • Some cleansers, face washes or scrubs are too harsh for dry, dehydrated, and sensitive skin. A good winter dry skin remedy is to opt for chemical-free, gentle cleansers and soothing skincare products to pamper your skin with the love and care it needs. Avoid using products that contain fragrance, alcohol, or dyes as they may dry out your skin further.

  • Incorporate hyaluronic acid into your skincare
  • Hyaluronic acid is an amazing ingredient to keep your skin hydrated and healthy. Therefore, one of the best ways to deal with dry winter skin is to incorporate hyaluronic acid into your winter skincare routine as it helps to retain the natural moisture barrier of the skin while improving its texture and feel. You can do so by including hyaluronic acid serums, creams or even sheet masks into your daily regimen.

  • Get a humidifier
  • Getting a humidifier is a great winter dry skin remedy to maintain the moisture content during the colder months of the year. Not only does this prevent the loss of moisture from your skin, but also helps you stay warm and cosy all the time.

  • Maintain a balanced diet
  • Your skin health depends a lot on what you consume. Hence, one of the best tips for dry winter skin is to stay away from oily, junk, and fast food, regardless of how much you’re craving that hot, spicy, and cheesy pizza right now. Instead, include protein, vitamins and mineral-rich foods in your regular diet to ensure skin hydration from within. Also, don’t forget to hydrate your body by drinking at least eight glasses of water along with other liquids in your daily diet.

  • Don’t skip the night cream
  • Overnight treatments are an excellent way to combat dry winter skin. This will replenish your skin with the moisture and oils it needs during winter. You can use a night cream enriched with anti-ageing elements to hydrate the skin and boost regeneration for a fresh look while reducing fine lines, and wrinkles, boosting skin firmness, youthfulness, and radiance, and enhancing the skin overnight.

  • Avoid over-exfoliation
  • Exfoliation is a great way to remove dead skin cells and impurities from the surface of your skin, which keeps it looking smooth and vibrant. However, overdoing it can lead to dry, flaky, itchy, cracked, and irritated skin. Moreover, using harsh scrubs are likely to break down your skin’s moisture barrier and cause further damage. So, see to it that you don’t over-exfoliate and use the right products when you exfoliate dry winter skin.

  • Alter your skincare routine
  • It is very important to keep in mind that you need to alter your skincare routine as the season changes. To break this down, summer may demand gel-based moisturisers whereas winters may demand creamy ones, depending on your skin type. Hence, as the weather changes, you need to understand your skin’s needs and make the required alterations right away.

  • Never scratch or rub your skin
  • The struggle to not scratch your itchy skin is real. However, this will only cause further damage and inflammation. So, stay away from scratching your skin and use gentle lotions to treat itchy, dry winter skin. Also, use a soft cloth or towel to wipe your skin, and make sure you don’t rub it over your skin.

Keep the above-mentioned winter dry skin remedies in mind and browse through our wide range of L’Oréal Paris skincare products to make your skin feel at its best all the time. You can also head to the L’Oréal Paris Skin Genius tool to analyse your skin like an expert, discover personalised skincare routines validated by the International Board of Dermatologists and grab your hands on the products that work the best for your skin!