How to avoid dry winter skin

Oct 18, 2010 12:09 PM by Brianna Martinez

Posted in Beauty & Style / Makeup & Skin Care / Skincare

Keep Your Skin
Silky And Glowing

As the winter holidays approach, so does the dry, cold weather. Before it gets below freezing, make sure your skin is protected and moisturized so the harsh climate doesn’t have a chance to dry it out. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts Director Lisa Rowland tells us how to avoid dry winter skin before the cold air hits.

Woman applying lotion

The right ingredients

When it comes to moisturizing with lotions, Rowland suggests making sure that the ingredient sodium hyaluronate is in your moisturizer. "It helps to attract and hold water by retaining it. Also, fossil lipids help retain water." Rowland says that you can find fossil lipids in high-end moisturizers.

The two-step skin smoother

Rowland says that to avoid dry winter skin, you should exfoliate then immediately moisturize to protect the new skin.

The main cause of dry winter skin is based on the climate. "The more extreme temperatures you live in will further dehydrate the skin," Rowland says.

Do it daily

To avoid dry winter skin altogether, Rowland suggests moisturizing every day. "What can help is doing it right after you get out of the shower while your skin is still damp, because it helps lock moisture in." She says you definitely don't want to wait until your skin is completely dry.

Keep down the heat

Rowland also suggests limiting your bath or shower time and making sure the water isn't stifling hot to prevent drying out your skin. In addition, she says to drink lots of water to keep your body and skin hydrated and moisturized.

Try a rich cream

Another way to avoid the effects of winter weather on your skin is to moisturize with a rich cream every once in awhile. The rich formula will hydrate your skin and prevent dryness. Whipped shea butter is a good type of cream to use because it contains beneficial oils and vitamin E, a natural antioxidant.