1. Try a creamy facial cleanser
Cleansers strip away moisture as part of the job of removing makeup, and dry winter air tends to magnify the problem. Gel cleansers can be very drying, but creamy ones like Dove deep moisture creamy facial cleanser and Neutrogena deep clean cream cleanser should help.
2. Mask the problem
Use a moisturizing facial mask to replenish moisture lost throughout the day.
3. Look for a humidifier
If your skin feels dry and tight even when you’re inside your home, there may not be enough moisture in the air for you. Scan the sale pages for a portable humidifier. Make a note to yourself to clean the filter regularly (if they get yucky they breed bacteria).
4. Turn down the heater
It’s a beauty catch 22, but overheating a cold home will worsen dry skin problems, so experiment with different settings on your heater to find the right temperature for both you and your skin.
5. Any device that heats your environment will also steal your moisture
Even electric blankets. If dry skin is driving you crazy, throw another comforter on the bed, and see how you feel after you’ve left the electric blanket unplugged for a couple nights.
6. Moisturize in the shower
Moisturize throughout the day, but try using body lotion even before you’ve left the shower, right after rinsing soap or body wash. It will help lock in some extra moisture. Rinse off and pat dry.
7. Watch the shower temp
Hot showers feel great in winter, but they wreak havoc on dry skin. Try a lukewarm shower instead, then pat your skin dry with a towel. Apply moisturizer (again) as soon as you step out of the shower.
8. Use alcohol responsibly
Avoid skin products and hairstyling products high in alcohol. When alcohol evaporates it feels cool and refreshing, but it’s also stripping away moisture, so look for alcohol-free products when the air is already dry.
9. Don’t blow it
If you’re already dealing with dry, brittle hair, resist the urge to reach for the hair dryer. It’ll only make things worse. Dry and style your hair with a towel, and if you still use a dryer, time yourself and try to use it a little less.
10. Moisturize meh!
Moisturize throughout the day and don’t forget to drink extra water when it’s cold and windy. Your hands, feet, knees and elbows may need a little more help, too. I like rich products containing shea butter, petrolatum, mineral oil, tea tree oil, linoleic acid or glycerin. For intense relief, moisturize hands and feet at night, and then slip on gloves or socks to lock in moisture.
11. Pucker up
Chapped lips can be a big problem in winter. The air dries out my lips, which makes me lick them, which makes them chap even worse! Use a lip balm with at least SPF 15 and preferably one with antiseptic agents to aid in healing. Some lip balm products are made with tea tree oil, which helps heal painful cracks. I also like lip balms with phenol, beeswax, aloe, vitamin E and essential oils. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Alison says
January 25th, 2009 at 9:30 amHi Karen,
More fantastic tips, I always apply my body moisturiser when my skin is still damp, it works great!
Just a quick question,
Whats your favourite nail polish brand?
I notice you always swatch the latest Essie’s, they are my favourites, Think I’m gonna get flawless from the spring 09 collection as it looks very pretty and reminds me of spring more than the others.
Fie says
January 25th, 2009 at 9:35 amThank you for these tips! Maybe that’s why my skin is getting drier as of late, I’ve only started using the heater recently.
Sadly I can’t towel dry my hair and leave it to dry on its own. 🙁 I get sick easier that way.
Fie´s last blog post..IMATS London ’09
Glosslizard says
January 25th, 2009 at 9:46 amGreat tips, although I can never bring myself to take lukewarm showers! I just slather on a really rich moisturizer afterwards!
My favorite lip balms feature shea butter in the ingredients, I found a great one called Karite Lips at a local natural pharmacy for only $3-4 that works really well to soothe my lips overnight! 🙂
Briana says
January 25th, 2009 at 9:46 amGreat tips Karen!
I have a terrible time with chapped lips all the time, its even worse in winter! I’m constantly applying medicated super moisturizing spf lipbalm.
I don’t have a humidifier, but I boil a big pot of water for a few hours every other day and it seems to help a bit!
I haven’t blowdryed my hair in months, but I’m definitely guilty of straightening a few times a week!
It is -37 Celsius [-34 F] here right now!
Tali says
January 25th, 2009 at 9:55 amGreat tips.. and so simple too! I always moisturise on damp skin..
but I giggled when i saw ‘use alcohol responisbly’ as i thought you were going to tell us to cut back on the cocktails!!
Another tip my mum always said and which i now do.. is to keep moisture in the room put a pan of water over the radiator.. that helps prevent static hair and dry skin
Indian Girl says
January 25th, 2009 at 10:00 amHot Shower is my main issue for my dry skin. I cant go without a moisturizer immediately after my shower, or I’ll get itchy all over 🙁
Indian Girl´s last blog post..Why I’m lovin Lip Plumping Glosses
Karen says
January 25th, 2009 at 10:25 amHi Fie,
You’re welcome! Omigosh, yah, I can’t leave the house if my hair is wet in the winter. Do you use a hairdryer every day? It’s kind of pricy, but the T3 dryer is amazing.
Karen says
January 25th, 2009 at 10:25 amHi Glosslizard,
Thanks for the lip tip!
Stephie says
January 25th, 2009 at 12:37 pmThese were really great tips. Thanks for including the ingredients in products that you look for. I am always wondering which ones are good ones to look out for. Sometimes I feel like my Pro Activ dries my skin out a bit. Is a moisture mask good for mild acne prone skin as well? I never though of using one, until you mentioned it. I just thought masks were supposed to dry and suck up all the bad stuff 😛
Michelle says
January 25th, 2009 at 4:02 pmI started using Olay with ribbons body wash. It’s very moisturizing. The only down side is it clogs my razors so I guess I need to shave first. As for a lip balm, I really like using Burt’s Bees Pomegranate lip balm. I wish it had SPF though.
Christina says
January 25th, 2009 at 5:13 pmI’m so bad about using body lotion during the winter, and then I wonder why my skin feels so dried out…
Taking care of my lips, though — THAT is where I excel. Was it just the mall in Richmond, or are all the Bath & Body Works having huge sales right now? I picked up one of those dual ended lip exfoliaters there yesterday… brown sugar scrub on one side, moisturizing lip color on the other for $3.
Christina´s last blog post..The Charlie’s Angels Threequel
Karen says
January 25th, 2009 at 7:30 pmHi Stephie,
I don’t think it’ll hurt… if your skin is super oily or reactive then you might want to make sure that it’s on the lighter side of moisturization. I’ve been alternating between two different ones over the past few weeks. I like Peter Thomas Roth’s and Dermalogica’s Multi-Vitamin Power Recovery Repair Mask. Both moisturize without clogging my pores. 🙂
Karen says
January 25th, 2009 at 7:30 pmHi Michelle,
I heart Burt’s Bees lip products, too. Have you tried their Super Shiny glosses? They fantastic.
Karen says
January 25th, 2009 at 7:30 pmHi Christina,
What a good score! I will have to go and get me one of those.
When I’m too lazy to moisturize (or sometimes I’m just too cold) after a shower I like to use Olay Quench Mousse. It’s sooo quick and fast to use and it does a great job of hydrating the skin.
Michelle says
January 25th, 2009 at 8:39 pmNo I haven’t but I’ve been wanting too.
Karen says
January 25th, 2009 at 8:55 pmHi Michelle,
They are really great “weekend” glosses. I like how slick and moisturizing they feel on the lips. I was actually contemplating a getting another tube at the store today. El Hub caught me looking at the Burt’s Bees lipgloss display all longingly and said, “Uh, do you need more lipgloss? I think you might be running low.” He did it with a straight face, too, LOL!
Rachel says
January 25th, 2009 at 9:26 pmuhoh karen, this is the first time i’ve had a problem with what you said, even though it’s minor haha
i’ve heard teeerrrible things about mineral oil in lotion! two friends of mine [who know their stuff] told me that mineral oil has molecules or something that make it too big to be absorbed in the skin, so that moisture just rests on top, making it feel like its doing good, but isn’t really fixing the problem. i try to avoid it, personally, i’m afraid it’ll keep the other moisturizing ingredients from getting in as well!
ines says
January 25th, 2009 at 9:42 pmhey karen,
to combat dryness in the winter i apply the body shop monoi miracle oil all over my body in the shower after body wash and let the steam help sink it in while i rinse out my conditioner (the same oil works wonders on split ends) and stuff. i follow with a rich body cream, like origins shedonism hydrating butter cream or the body shop body butter (lots of scents to choose from). i slather my feet with burt’s bees peppermint foot lotion and cover them up with soft cotton socks (very important because my feet take a lot of abuse from dance shoes) and treat my cuticles with burt’s bees lemon cuticle butter.
on my face i swear by nivea soft all-purpose moisturizer (the kind in the white tub/tube with blue label) because it sinks in and hydrates but doesn’t leave a greasy residue. i apply a rich lip balm, like palmer’s cocoa butter peppermint dark chocolate lip butter or the body shop cocoa butter lip care stick to protect my lips and if they’re cracked/stinging i put something with a bit of menthol to cool the burning (like burt’s bees beeswax lip balm or c.o. bigelow’s ultra mentha lip shine).
i also always carry avene eau thermale face mist, a tube of rich hand cream (my pick: bath and body works velvet tuberose or the body shop body butter in cocoa) and a small jar of the body shop vitamin e intense moisture cream in my makeup bag, in case anything feels tight.
Michelle says
January 26th, 2009 at 6:07 pmLOL that’s why I buy alone. Men just don’t understand. Variety is the spice of life, ya know?
Marisol says
January 26th, 2009 at 7:36 pmSomething that I have been doing after I wash my face, I apply a hot towel on my face. It soothes my skin and makes it not so flaky. I have dry skin and tends to flake during the cold season.
Marisol´s last blog post..Full of Hope
cindy c says
December 20th, 2010 at 3:00 pmGreat tips! I wonder if i have such dry skin because i’m always cold and cranking up the heat in the house and in the shower! lol.