Learn exactly how to prepare your skin for winter, plus these 7 dermatologist-approved winter skin tips from Dr. Renée Snyder.
– KEYS SOULCARE
Every year, we anticipate the scents, rituals, and celebrations that come with winter. It’s time to take stock, nourish your body (and mind!), and savor time spent with loved ones. Something we’re NOT looking forward to, though? The effects that colder, drier temperatures have on our skin.
Just as we change up our outfits and pace from season to season, it’s necessary to switch up our beauty rituals, too. That’s why we’re turning to our resident skincare expert Dr. Renée Snyder to help us prep for the season change. Here’s her pro advice on how to prepare and pamper your skin for winter.
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF COLD WEATHER ON SKIN?
In winter, skin gets exposed to the elements: cold air, whipping wind, lower humidity, and sunshine reflecting off of the snow all steal moisture from our winter skin. When the heat in our homes is turned on, the humidity in our living environment goes away.
It’s no wonder why our skin often ends up feeling dry and in need of some serious TLC. Dealing with dry skin in winter? Here are a few ways to prepare skin for the winter season:
7 WINTER SKINCARE TIPS FROM A DERMATOLOGIST
1. WASH WITH A GENTLE FACE CLEANSER
Cold weather skin care is all about gentleness. Use a soothing daily cleanser — like our Golden Face Cleanser with glycerin plus manuka honey, turmeric and chamomile — to wash away impurities, makeup, and leave the skin feeling refreshed without stripping too much of our natural oils.
Prioritizing and sticking with a gentle face cleanser is key, particularly for oily skin types during winter. Rather than switching up your entire ritual for the winter, focus on consistency and try not to add in harsh exfoliants.
2. SKIP THE HOT SHOWER
You might be tempted to take a long, hot shower till your fingers prune. However, it’s a good idea to avoid long baths and showers in winter as the prolonged heat exposure time can melt all the good oils on the surface of our skin — and Dr. Renée recommends washing your body no more than once per day. When you do hop in the shower, use warm (not hot) water, and keep your ritual under 15 minutes.
3. STAY MOISTURIZED
The natural oils your skin produces also help support your skin barrier and help lock in the moisture your skin already naturally contains. After bathing or showering, pat dry and moisturize your damp skin with your favorite body lotion. For areas that experience more intense dryness, reach for our Comforting Balm with Camellia Seed Oil and apply to the elbows, cuticles, kneecaps, heels, and more.
Another way to help your skin stay hydrated after you shower is with Sacred Body Oil, which contains a blend of marula, baobab, and jojoba oils that can be applied to the body, hair, and nails for all-over body hydration.
4. HUMIDIFY YOUR ENVIRONMENT
Investing in a humidifier can, according to the Mayo Clinic, “soothe…problems caused by dry indoor air.” With heaters cranking on full blast in the winter, adding humidity to the air may help alleviate the uncomfortable symptoms that come with dry air.
Remember though, cleaning your humidifier every few days (Healthline recommends cleaning every 2-3 uses) is crucial to keep bacterial growth at bay.
5. DON’T FORGET SUN PROTECTION
Just because the days are getting darker doesn’t mean you should skip the sunscreen. Rain, shine, or cold, reach for your favorite SPF in the winter and re-up sun protection at least every two hours.
Protect Your Light is a broad spectrum SPF 30 that blends invisibly into skin (no chalky white cast here!). It’s formulated with brightening niacinamide plus squalane to help the skin feel soft and balanced — the perfect combo to combat the dry winter air.
6. STAY SIPPIN’ (WATER)
In the winter, warm beverages are constantly available — a freshly brewed cup of coffee, cozy chamomile tea, toasty hot chocolate, and mulled wine everywhere you turn. These are the tastes and scents that we’ve come to associate with the holiday season and its wintry nights.
However, don’t skimp on the water intake! Drinking your physician’s recommended amount of water H2O is just as important in winter as it is in summer. Keep a reusable water bottle on hand.
7. NOURISH YOUR LIPS
Dry skin in winter can extend to all sorts of areas of the body, like your lips. A few swipes of the silky-smooth Comforting Tinted Lip Balm drenches the lips in hydration thanks to a blend of avocado oil, camellia seed oil, shea butter, and castor seed oil. Plus, it delivers a buildable wash of sheer color to the lips to elevate your everyday look while providing nourishing hydration.
What are your top winter skincare woes? Share q’s for Dr. Renée in the comments!
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