Introduction
The cold, dry air of winter can wreak havoc on your skin. As temperatures drop, humidity levels plummet, which causes the moisture in your skin to evaporate. This leads to dry, flaky, itchy, and irritated skin. Your facial skin is particularly vulnerable during the winter months. Without proper moisture and protection, your complexion can end up looking red, raw, and weather-beaten.
That's where a good face cream comes in. Face creams provide an extra shield of hydration to keep your skin supple and smooth all season long. They supply moisture to the surface of your skin and help seal it in so your complexion doesn't dry out. Face creams also often contain emollients that fill in cracks between skin cells to maintain a healthy moisture balance. When you keep your skin properly hydrated with a face cream, it will be less prone to problems like peeling, cracking, and breakouts during the winter. Novaskins moisturizer is water based, which makes it lightweight and non-grease.
Dryness
Cold winter air coupled with blasting heaters can rob skin of essential moisture and cause it to become dry and flaky. The drop in humidity means there is less moisture in the air for your skin to absorb. Plus, taking hot showers, harsh winds, and wearing heavy clothing exacerbates water loss from the skin's surface.
Skin that lacks sufficient moisture becomes irritated, inflamed, and prone to premature aging. You may experience redness, itching, flaking, chapping, cracking, eczema flare-ups, and increased visibility of fine lines and wrinkles if your skin becomes too parched in the winter. Lack of moisture compromises the skin's protective barrier function, allowing irritants, allergens, and bacteria to penetrate and trigger immune reactions.
Severe dryness can make the skin feel tight and uncomfortable. Without the proper lubrication and cushion, the skin lacks suppleness and flexibility. The loss of elasticity makes it more susceptible to damage from exposure and injury. Maintaining hydration allows the skin to stay plump, smooth, and youthful all winter long.
Moisturizers
Moisturizers are a critical part of any winter skincare routine. The dry winter air depletes moisture from the skin, leaving it feeling tight and flaky. Using a moisturizer helps counteract this effect by restoring hydration. [The Powerhouse Hydra Gel Moisturizer] is for all seasons moisturizer.
There are two main types of moisturizing ingredients that help hydrate winter skin:
Occlusives
Occlusive ingredients create a protective barrier on the skin's surface to seal in moisture and prevent water loss. Some common occlusives are petrolatum, dimethicone, minerals oils, shea butter, and beeswax. They help trap existing moisture in the skin and prevent it from evaporating away. This helps keep the skin stay soft and supple, instead of becoming dry and cracked.
Humectants
Humectants draw moisture into the skin from the environment and dermal layers. Examples include glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and sorbitol. Humectants bind to water molecules and absorb moisture from the air and deeper layers of the skin. This provides hydration to the surface of the skin. They are especially helpful in winter when humidity levels tend to be lower. The humectants pull moisture into the parched skin.
Using moisturizers containing both occlusive and humectant ingredients provide the most hydrating effects. The occlusives seal in moisture, while the humectants attract and bind water. This replenishes winter skin and provides long-lasting hydration. Applying moisturizer 1-2 times per day is recommended to keep the skin hydrated and comfortable during the cold winter months.
Ingredients for Hydration
The most effective ingredients for hydrating and moisturizing the skin in winter include natural oils, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid.
Oils like coconut, olive, and jojoba oil help nourish and soften the skin. They mimic the natural oils our skin already produces to maintain its protective barrier, providing extra replenishment when the cold winter air strips moisture away. Oils are powerful emollients that sink in to hydrate the deepest layers of the skin. Look for face creams containing any of these oils.
Ceramides are lipids that help repair and strengthen the skin's moisture barrier. This barrier keeps essential water locked into the skin and prevents irritation. Ceramide creams help seal moisture in while protecting the skin's surface. They reinforce the barrier so the skin stays hydrated in the dry winter months.
Hyaluronic acid acts like a sponge for the skin, absorbing and binding moisture. It can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water! When applied topically in creams, hyaluronic acid pulls moisture from the environment into the skin's surface and locks it in. This provides an instant plumping, hydrating effect that combats winter dryness. The moisture-binding properties of hyaluronic acid also help seal the skin's barrier to prevent moisture loss.
Rich Textures
In the winter, it's best to use a thicker, richer face cream. Lighter lotions just don't provide enough hydration and moisture-locking power when the air is dry. Look for cream, balm, and ointment formulas that help seal in moisture better than lotions.
* Creams have a thicker, more concentrated texture that penetrates deeply to nourish and soften skin. The rich formula creates a protective barrier on the skin's surface to lock in moisture.
* Balms have a waxy, buttery consistency that feels ultra-hydrating. The wax and butter ingredients enable balms to reinforce the skin's moisture barrier.
* Ointments have the heaviest texture and feel greasy or occlusive. The occlusive agents prevent moisture loss extremely effectively. Ointments are ideal for very dry, cracked skin.
Choose a winter face cream with shea butter, glycerin, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and oils like jojoba, almond, or avocado. The richer texture and nourishing ingredients provide intensive moisturizing power when you need it most.
Application Tips
When applying your winter face cream, follow these tips for best results:
- Apply to damp skin after cleansing. The water content helps the moisturizer absorb better into the skin. Avoid rubbing your face dry with a towel before applying.
- Use your richer night cream before bed. The heavier formulas provide intensive overnight hydration while you sleep.
- Layer for very dry skin. Apply your usual day cream first as a base. Let it soak in for a few minutes, then apply an additional layer of a thicker night cream on top to lock in moisture. This provides extra protection.
- Focus on dry areas. Target extra cream on your cheeks, around your eyes, nose and any other areas prone to flaking or tightness.
- Don't forget your neck and decolletage. These areas often show signs of aging first. Make sure to massage cream down onto your neck and chest daily.
- Allow time to soak in before makeup. Give your moisturizer 5-10 minutes to fully absorb before applying any makeup. This prevents pilling or sliding.
Other Tips
In addition to using a rich, moisturizing face cream, there are some other helpful tips for combatting dry winter skin:
Exfoliate to slough off dry skin - Using a gentle face scrub 2-3 times per week will remove dead skin cells and allow your moisturizer to better penetrate. Look for scrubs with soft microbeads or chemical exfoliators like glycolic acid. Avoid harsh, gritty scrubs during the winter.
Use a humidifier - Running a humidifier, especially in your bedroom at night, can add moisture back into the air to hydrate your skin. Look for cool mist humidifiers, as warm mist may dry skin out more. Clean humidifiers regularly to avoid mold growth.
Stay hydrated - Drinking plenty of water is crucial for healthy, hydrated skin all year round. Increasing your water intake in the winter ensures your skin gets the moisture it needs from the inside out. Herbal tea and broths also count towards your daily fluid intake.
Product Recommendations
The Powerhouse Hydra Gel Moisturizer is fragrance free moisturizer with ceramides for barrier repair, centella Asiatica for soothing and calming, Niacinamide for skin brightening/anti-acne/ moisturizer/humectant, hyaluronic acid to boost hydration, and vitamin E for antioxidant. It is non-comedogenic and formulated for all skin types.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer: Formulated for sensitive skin, this moisturizer contains ceramides, niacinamide, and La Roche-Posay’s prebiotic thermal water to soothe irritation and hydrate the skin. It helps strengthen the skin barrier while providing antioxidant protection. The oil-free gel cream has a lightweight, fast-absorbing texture.
Eucerin Skin Calming Daily Face Cream: With rich emollients like shea butter, this nourishing cream hydrates dry winter skin and relieves tightness and flakiness. Oat extract helps calm and soothe redness and irritation. It provides immediate hydration that lasts for 24 hours, restoring smooth, healthy-looking skin. The fragrance and dye-free formula is non-comedogenic.
Conclusion
The winter months can be harsh on skin, causing dryness, flaking, cracking and irritation. Using a rich moisturizer formulated for winter is key to keeping your skin healthy, protected and hydrated throughout the cold seasons.
When choosing a face cream for winter, look for one with ingredients like shea butter, plant oils and ceramides to replenish moisture and repair the skin barrier. An SPF of at least 30 will guard against sun damage from snow and winter sun reflection. Opt for a thicker, more emollient texture that fully saturates the skin. Take extra care around flaky areas like the nose, eyes and lips. Apply moisturizer to damp skin and reapply often throughout the day.
Following a diligent skin care routine with a nourishing winter face cream is essential to combating seasonal dryness. Your skin will stay soft, comfortable and radiant even in the harshest conditions. Don't let winter weather compromise your skin - pamper it daily with a rich, restorative moisturizer formulated for cold weather. You'll be glad you did when you turn the corner into spring with happy, healthy skin.