A Guide to Keeping Your Skin Moisturized This Winter

Winter is coming, everyone, and you know what that means — Game of Thrones. On a more serious note, the advent of winter means dry weather and consequently, dry skin. This means it’s time to make a few changes to our skincare routines!

Cleansing

If you find your skin to be very dry, especially during winter, it might be time to switch to a more gentle and hydrating cleanser. Trust me, your skin will thank you. Some great options include COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser and Cerave Hydrating Cleanser.

Hydrate

Hydrating is crucial for increasing your skin’s water content and leaves it looking nice and supple. Humectants are a great source for this; they bind to water molecules from the atmosphere or from the deeper layers of the skin to keep the skin hydrated. Some commonly used humectants are glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and honey. During winter, humectants are most effective when applied on damp skin.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is, by far my favorite humectant. It’s a highly effective ingredient that holds up to a thousand times its weight in water. Some products containing HA are Hada Labo Rohto Goku-jun Hyaluronic Milky Lotion and Klairs Supple Preparation Toner. These are lightweight toners and lotions that can be layered under your moisturizer for an extra boost of hydration!

Moisturize 

Moisturizers are important for sealing in hydration and smoothing out the skin. Humectants can actually dry out your skin if they’re not sealed in properly. Oils like squalane, jojoba, and rosehip oil are great moisturizers, but might not be enough to prevent water loss on their own during winter.

Another awesome ingredient is ceramide, which is highly suitable for sensitive skin. Ceramides are naturally-occurring lipids found on the surface of the skin. They support a healthy barrier function, which helps prevent water loss. Some great products containing ceramides are CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion PM and COSRX Honey Ceramide Full Moisture Cream. These also contain humectants, so they hydrate and moisturize at the same time!

For extra dry skin, you could opt for an occlusive moisturizer like CeraVe Healing Ointment. Occlusives form a protective, hydrophobic layer over the skin — they’re basically super moisturizers and are the most effective at blocking water loss. They can also be used as overnight face masks for extra soft skin.

Body Care

Your body needs a lot of pampering during the colder months. Although hot showers are very relaxing, they usually dry out the skin even more. Much like your face, your body also needs a hydrating cleanser to restore some moisture. You could opt for a cleanser like Soap & Glory Clean On Me Creamy Clarifying Shower and follow up with the Cerave Healing Ointment or a thick body butter!