28 Tips for Dry Skin in Winter A Guide

The dry, cold air that comes along with Winter can cause havoc on your skin. Everywhere you go, people are itching and scratching all different areas of their body. But you don't have to join them. A little effort is all it takes to keep winter dry skin at bay. These 28 tips for winter dry skin should help.

Body:

• Keep your showers less than 10 minutes. If you can get it all done in 5, all the better.
• Keep the water lukewarm, not hot. Hot water strips the natural layer of oil on the outermost part of your skin, called the epidermis.
• Exfoliate your whole body from the shoulders down three times a week. Buy a body exfoliator or make your own. You can even simply mix sugar and body wash for an easy inexpensive exfoliation. Rub your skin in circular motions to thoroughly exfoliate.
• Consider using soap daily only on the parts that need a good washing, including areas that you sweat. Soap can be very drying on your skin, especially if you use deodorant soap. Use soap on the rest of your body as needed.
• Trade in your bar of Dial for a moisturizing bar or body wash. Dove, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter or any creamy body wash is a good alternative.
• Women, instead of shaving with your husband's shaving cream, try eos: moisturizing shave cream for a less-drying option.
• Pat your skin dry, don’t rub it dry.
• Immediately after you pat your skin dry, apply a cream, body butter or oil, such as argan oil. Don’t wait. The longer you wait the quicker your skin will start itching.

Face:

• Reassess your skin. Many people find that their daily moisturizer isn’t enough for the cold winter months. Take some time and really get a good look at your skin. Is it flaky? Tight? Take note of the changes you’re seeing.
• Use a gentle creamy cleanser such as Cetephil daily cleanser which gently strips the dirt and oil of your face, but doesn’t dehydrate it like a sudsy cleanser.
• Exfoliate 2 to 3 times a week using a facial exfoliator to remove the dead layer of skin on your face. Rub in circular motions for a minute or so before rinsing. Or consider using a facial brush.
• Men, consider switch your shaving foam for a more hydrating shaving lotion or serum. Typical foamy shaving creams can leave your skin feeling dry and tight.
• Take note of how your moisturizer is working. Does your skin feel hydrated after application? What about 30 minutes after application? It might be time to switch your moisturizer to one made for dry skin. Make sure your daily moisturizer has SPF in it.
• What are you using for a night cream? It’s important to apply a good night cream to your face, especially if you have dry skin. Your day cream will ideally have SPF, so you’ll want to pick a night cream that does not have SPF.
• Even if you don’t usually use an eye cream, you might want to in the winter to help plump and smooth the thin skin around your eyes. If you have dry skin, your skin is prone to showing fine lines and wrinkles, so give it a boost of moisture with an eye cream.
• Use a weekly or bi-weekly hydrating facial mask. Many hydrating masks are marketed for aging skin because skin typically becomes dry as you age. This is good because many contain anti-aging properties that your skin will benefit from.

Hands and Feet:

• Apply lotion every time you wash your hands. Keep a bottle of lotion next to the soap on your sink to help you remember.
• Try this recipe, Honeyed Hands, for a hydrating winter treat.
• Always wear gloves when outside in the winter. The cold weather is brutal to your hands. Keep a pair of gloves in your car and wear them every time you drive.
• If your hands are very dry, apply a thick layer of moisturizer to your hands right before you put on your gloves. If you do just this, your hands will hugely benefit.
• Pay attention to your cuticles. You can get a cuticle oil, or you can use your moisturizer or even a dab on a bit of olive oil when you’re cooking. A tiny bit goes a long way.
• Before you go to bed, apply a thick layer of moisturizer to your feet and apply cotton socks. This is a sure-fire way to help heal very dry feet.
• Exfoliate your feet when you’re exfoliating your body and never forget to put moisturizer on them after your shower. This is important because areas of your feet are prone to cracking in the winter months, which is very painful. Stay on top of them with exfoliating and moisturizing.

Lips:

• Exfoliate them twice a week to help prevent chapping. Use a lip exfoliator, make your own by mixing lip balm and sugar, use a gentle soft toothbrush or use a simple damp washcloth to gently exfoliate them.
• Put on a heavy lip moisturizer every night before bed. Keep it on your bedside table to remember. We are Vaseline fans, but if you aren't, try Waxelene, an all-natural alternative to Vaseline.
• Keep a lip balm with you at all time. One at your desk, one in your purse, one at home, etc. Preferably one with SPF as lip cancer is the most common oral cancer and your lips need protection from the sun's rays just as your body does.
• Nothing makes you look older than dried lipstick and chapped lips. Apply a lip balm or hydrating lip gloss over your lipstick, especially if you're going to be outside. This will help you keep your color and plump your lips, making them look younger.
• Try making the Healing Honey Winter Hydrator lip mask recipe to plump and and moisturize.