Winter Skincare Myths and Why You Believe Them
It's winter, you're feeling a little chilly and your skin feels dry too. What now?
Don't buy into these 6 winter skincare myths.
1. Myth - It's okay to stick with the same skincare routine I use during the spring and summer.
With every season comes change and changing your skincare routine should be one of them.
Tip: How to tweak your skincare routine for the winter
It's the perfect time to layer - Just like you need to layer your clothing to keep your body warm in the cooler months, your skin needs the same to prevent over drying. Layering allows you to address multiple skin concerns with different products at the same time.
A perfect winter layering skincare routine:
Gentle Cleanser
Toner
Serum
Treatment Concentrate
Day and/or Night Cream
2. Myth - I don't need to drink as much water when it's cold outside
3. Myth - I don't need to use a Toner during the winter months
One of the most important steps in a skincare routine and sadly, the most forgotten, is using a toner. Toners are the secret sauce to adjusting the pH of your skin back to normal after cleansing—mega-important for keeping skin balanced and healthy.
It also removes any excess makeup you may have missed, pollution, and basically any icky stuff left on skin..preparing it for your serums and moisturizers.
Tip: During the Winter, don’t use an astringent; use a toner. Skin needs TLC, not oil-stripping, alcohol-based astringents. The toner you use should be alcohol- free.
4. Myth - My skin is oily, so I don't need a moisturizer?
This isn't the season to cut out moisturizer, no matter your skin type. Changing to a winter skincare routine can be as simple as switching from a lotion-based to cream-based moisturizer.
Whatever your skin type is, the cardinal rule of wintertime skincare is keeping skin deeply hydrated. This means using a moisturizer both day and night.
5. Myth - I can use my the same cream day and night
There’s a reason skin-care brands sell both--Your skin is in its peak state of repair and rebuilding at night, with the majority of cell turnover and regeneration occurring when your body is it deepest state of sleep (REM). For this reason, you should apply products that help your skin recover during the deepest part of your Zzzz's.
Day Creams are typically a lighter formulation. A good day cream will always include a sunscreen, SPF30 or more. SPF50 is best. During the winter months, it's a good practice to use a quality Vitamin C Serum before your sunscreen.
Night creams are chock full of essential active-ingredients, and hydrators, such as peptides and fabulous essential oils (we're loving Frankincense right now) to help soothe and repair the skin. Generally, night creams are thicker and more nourishing and why they're the "go-to" for nighttime.
6. Myth - Winter always causes my skin to be dry
It's not really winter that causes our skin to pucker up, it's indoor heating and the lack of humidity in the air.
Warmer air (think warm and tropical) has the capacity to hold the most moisture, cold air naturally has a lower humidity – meaning that it carries less moisture.
When cold, dry air is brought inside and you crank up the heat, you are increasing the temperature but not the moisture. Hello, static hair and dry skin!
Consider investing in a indoor humidifier to help with the lack of moisture in the air.
Winter can be a tough time for our skin, but with a few adjustments we can keep it dewy-looking all season long.
Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water, humidify your home, and use quality skincare products. By springtime, the sun won't be the only thing glowing.
