As temperatures drop and indoor heating is turned on, our skin braces for a mix of dry air and cold winds. Itchy, flaky, dry skin is uncomfortable and not very cute. Switching your skin care regimen over for colder weather takes only a few simple steps and helps you glow your way through the holiday season! 

Indoor heating can be quite cozy but it also means very dry air, which causes dried out skin and dry frizzy hair. Consider using a humidifier in your home and office during the colder months to combat dry air. This also helps with runny noses. Although some humidifiers are made for use with essential oils, most essential oil diffusers are not humidifiers – a good rule of thumb is if you don’t put water into it, it isn’t going to humidify the air. 

During the summer, a combination of sweat and sunscreen causes us to opt for stronger cleansers and increased exfoliation to feel clean. But during the winter, our skin becomes drier and gentler cleansers are much better suited to removing makeup and dirt without stripping our skin of its oils. Look for cream cleansers with gentle, natural ingredients. 

Exfoliation is still important to maintain clean pores and keep flakes at bay. Exfoliating twice weekly is enough to keep skin smooth without over-drying it. You can even make your own exfoliant at home using sugar and water.

Dry skin means our focus is on hydration! Making sure to use a moisturizer day and night helps to replenish skin while sealing in its moisture. Moisturizers with a water base are what to look for here. Reach for creams over lotions, as their slightly thicker consistency is usually more hydrating. For added hydration, try using skin care oil on top of your cream. Our favourites include rosehip, argan, and avocado oils. Remember when layering products after cleansing to go from thinnest to thickest. For example, you would use a serum before a cream and always apply oil last as it can penetrate through almost anything but is very hard for other products to penetrate. Coconut oil is a popular skincare oil and easily accessible, but if you’re acne-prone reach for grapeseed, argan, or rosehip instead, as they’re less likely to clog pores. 

For extra hydration pampering, make your own mask by mixing two tablespoons of honey with 2 tablespoons of yogurt.  Apply to skin, removing with a warm washcloth after 15-20 minutes and follow with your regular moisturizer. Try this after exfoliating for an at-home facial!

Skip the steam when taking a shower; that hot water may feel good but it’s actually drying your skin. Choose instead a warm temperature and use a body wash or soap with moisturizers like vitamin E or coconut oil. Follow every shower and bath with full body moisturizing for a head-to-toe glow! If you find you still have dry patches on your feet, knees or elbows, add in a thicker hydrator like shea butter, coconut oil, or body butter on top of your body lotion. 

Finally, don’t forget about your lips! Our lips have some of our thinnest skin, so it faces quite a risk of drying out over the winter. Look for lip balms with moisturizing ingredients like shea butter and oils at the top of their ingredients list, as wax-based lip balms are often less moisturizing.