2 min read

Winter Skin: It's Such An Itch

December 18, 2019

Girl with short blonde hair in snow outside

Cold, dry, and very, very itchy Wouldn't it be great if we had the skin of any character ever from a winter Netflix special? Armed with rosy cheeks and a bright complexion, it's no wonder that there's always a happy ending right around the corner. Unfortunately, this is real life, and in real life, our skin isn't always on board with the whole winter aesthetic. During these colder months, our skin gets the worst of the frosty weather, thanks to being exposed to the dry winter air. And those hot showers that we use to warm up after a long day in the cold? They only dry out your skin even more... Karen from Mean Girls looking shocked

Do I have dry winter skin?

Is your skin in need of a little extra moisture? Well, for starters, you can identify dry skin by the flaky look that goes hand in hand with an irritated, itchy feeling. This will usually affect some people more than others, especially people with typically dry skin or those who suffer from skin conditions such as rosacea, eczema, and more (all which needs special treatment). Just remember that a winter rash doesn't have to be your staple look this holiday season. There are quite a few common causes of dry skin, and not all of them are winter related... but if you notice that your skin woes tend to flare up during the colder months, then that’s a pretty good indicator that you’ve been bitten by the winter skin bug.

Winter (skincare) is coming

moisturizer in shape of a heart in woman's palms

When it comes to taming dry skin (and keeping your winter rash under control), certain products will work better for certain types of skin. Do your homework and make sure you’re getting the best treatment for your skin type this winter. In fact, you can check out what products we recommend for moisturizing for your skin type this season, whether you’re dry, oily, sensitive or anything in between. And if you aren’t a fan of dishing out too much money on your skincare, you can always go the natural way with these natural DIY winter skin recipes. Luckily, treating dry skin can be pretty straightforward: skip anything that’s too abrasive and go for a very gentle moisturizing and exfoliating scrub instead. This will be perfect for keeping your skin hydrated, while at the same time brushing away those pesky flakes.

Beauty is(n't always) pain

girl bundled up in scarf and hat for winter

If you want to go the extra mile, you can also invest in some clothes that will protect your skin from the harsh cold outside. For example, wearing a scarf around your face might not feel the most attractive but it will sure keep your skin hydrated, and in the end, that’s all that really matters. We're not saying you shouldn't look stylish this winter... we're just saying your skin might not love it. Plus, all those extra layers that you're hiding under can totally give you an air of mystery which is kind of cool.

Safe behind closed doors?

If you thought you could let your guard down once you’ve braved the cold and gotten back into your warm house, think again. The main culprit here is indoor heating, which we tend to amp up during the colder months, not realizing that it dries out the air indoors as well. Investing in a humidifier is a great way to combat this problem, while not having to sacrifice your warmth and comfort. humidifier with blurred background

And Remember, prevention is always the best course of action, not just for fighting off winter skin, but in general. You can easily avoid (or at least minimize) your experience with dry and irritated skin by looking into some easy ways to prevent dry skin this winter. Now that we've given you a few useful tips to help get your skin in check, you can finally get back out there and enjoy the winter festivities! If you have any of your own winter time skin hacks, be a team player and let us know in the comment section below.