Well, the days are getting shorter, the air is getting colder, and winter is fast approaching. We have some helpful tips here that will help you and your skin survive the oncoming winter months!

Moisturize
You may feel like this one should go without saying, but it doesn’t! You may also want to switch the type of moisturizer you use to adapt to the winter conditions. The moisturizer that works so well during the spring and summer seasons may not be as effective during winter time. Look for “ointment” moisturizers that are oil-based rather than water-based. Oil-based moisturizers are better at actually retaining moisture than their water-based counterparts. But choose carefully! Not all oil-based moisturizers are clear-face friendly. Look for those made with non-clogging oils such as avocado oil, primrose oil, mineral oil, or almond oil. While Shea oil is very popular, there is much controversy surrounding its clogging effect on the pores. Avoid it if you can!

Don’t Neglect the Sunscreen
Just because Summer is over doesn’t mean the sun can’t still damage your skin, especially if you live in a snowy area where the sun is reflected off of the snow. It never hurts to apply a little sunscreen to your face about thirty minutes before you leave the house.

Humidifiers
All that hot air from your central heating system dries out the air and can be brutal on your skin. In order to counteract its adverse effects, hook up a few small humidifiers throughout your home. They do a great job of adding moisture to the air, which helps to offset the drying effect of the heating.

Cool Down in the Bathtub
This last one may be the hardest to implement, but you’d be doing your skin a great service by avoiding super hot baths. The problem with a very hot shower or bath is that the intense heat can actually break down the lipid barriers in your skin, which may result in a significant loss of moisture. If you’re not quite ready to give up your hot baths, at least try to minimize the amount of time you spend in there!