by Anny Chow

Asian girl with minimal makeup and glowing skin. Middle-parted, short hair.

Winter weddings in the Pacific Northwest are romantic and magical. However, the cold weather can cause dryness and irritation to your skin. Low humidity combined with chilly temperatures results in dry air that draws moisture away from the skin.

It’s no secret that the makeup is only as good as the skin it’s on. Hydration is key when it comes to creating the perfect canvas for makeup. There are a few things you can do right now to combat the dryness. And the best part is that you don’t need to buy more skincare products. All you have to do is to change your habit a bit and maybe buy one item for your house if you want!

1. Skip Your Morning Face Wash

Yup, you read that right. Your skin does all the repair work during your sleep. When you wake up in the morning, you usually feel some natural oils on your face. This layer of oils keeps the face soft and is your skin’s own natural barrier. Instead of stripping your skin’s natural defense (those precious oils) by washing your face in the morning, try to rinse your face with lukewarm water. Not only it refreshes your face, but it also helps to keep your skin naturally hydrated. With that being said, this suggestion is only for people with dry skin. If you have acne-prone skin or excessively oily skin, skipping the morning wash is not a good idea.

2. Go Easy With Exfoliation

Over-exfoliation not only causes dryness on the skin but can also damage your skin barrier. If you have a dry skin type, exfoliation is not needed as often because the dry skin type lacks natural oils. Patchy and flaky skin may be a sign of over-exfoliated skin. The dry air will only exacerbate the conditions. If that’s you, go easy on exfoliation and let your skin heal first.

3. Don’t Go Crazy With Hot Showers

Who doesn’t enjoy hot, steamy showers or baths, especially during wintertime? I know I do. But the truth is hot showers and hot baths are really not the best things for our skin. It actually disrupts the skin’s natural balance of moisture, stripping the natural oils that keep skin hydrated and healthy. Lukewarm water is best for the skin. If your bathroom mirror is getting foggy, it’s probably time to lower the temperature of the water to keep your skin happy.

4. Apply Moisturizer On Damp Skin

Moisturizers are the most effective when applied to damp skin. The function of a moisturizer is to seal moisture in. Face cream and body cream penetrate better when your skin is damp. When your skin is damp, it is hydrated. And that’s the best time to apply moisturizer to seal the moisture in. This tip is not just for your face only. It’s for your whole body! Make sure you don’t wait until you are completely dry after showering to apply lotion.

Above are the fours things you can start doing today to achieve more hydrated skin in winter.

Now, if you wonder if there are any skincare products you should try just to give your skin a little extra love, I would suggest getting a humidifier first.

Get a Humidifier

You cannot control the dry air outdoor but you can control the humidity indoor in your own home. An indoor heating system reduces the moisture levels in the air and can have a drying effect on the skin. Running a humidifier is a great way to give moisture back into the air. Dry, itchy skin, cracked lips can all improve with the use of a humidifier. Try to put one in your bedroom. You will wake up with extra hydrated skin.

BLOG

Posts tagged with skincare

Winter Skincare Tips Part 1: How to Get Better Skin Without Breaking the Bank