Two words: Dry Skin.

Written by Carlyn

The temperature is beginning to drop, and the days of sweaty summer skin are officially over. Oily skin friends, it’s now your time to shine. One of the most popular cold weather skin concerns is dry skin. And let me tell you, cold weather dry skin is not something to be taken lightly. The cracked, tight, and sandpaper-y feeling can be super uncomfortable and leave us looking like snakes during shedding season. :/

Here are my tips for adjusting your skincare routine to meet the needs of the cold:

• Due to the chill in the air, your current cleanser may be too stripping and could be the culprit of that taut and tight feeling in your skin. This doesn’t mean that your cleanser is no longer effective; this could be your skin craving something more gentle and hydrating instead. Feeding your face with a creamier and more hydrating cleansing formula can help combat tight skin.
• My second piece of advice is to keep your current skincare treatments going strong. Treatments include retinoids, AHA/BHAs, benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid to name a few. If your skin concerns remain the same, keep using those treatments for consistency. However, if you begin to experience irritation or sensitivity, cutting back on the treatments might be your best bet. Decreasing the quantity of product per use or finding a gentler alternative are both legit options.
• Up the hydration. A lot. Cold weather is the prime suspect for dry skin. To my friends who struggle with winter dryness, now would be a good time to switch out your lightweight gel moisturizer for a heavier moisturizing cream. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin work hard to maintain moisture in the skin. Hyaluronic acid works great for dehydrated skin due to its ability to hold up to 1000x its weight in hydration, while glycerin acts as a humectant, which allows the skin to retain moisture. An overnight hydrating mask might be your new secret weapon.
• Cold weather’s favourite victims are the lips, so don’t forget to show them some love. A thick and creamy consistency would be a better choice for dryness compared to a more lightweight oil or gloss. A good ol’ tub of Vaseline works wonders too. No cracked and sore lips ova here.
• Keep it simple. No, you don’t need to be using 5 different moisturizers in your routine now. Consistency is key, especially when your skin is adjusting to changes in the environment.
• Lastly, just because its cold, doesn’t mean the sun stops working. Sun protection should be worn every day of the year, no matter what the thermometer says. I love the Clear Clinical SPF 30 sunscreen spray because it isn’t greasy and doesn’t leave a weird residue on the interior of my winter jacket and scarves.

Happy skincaring <3