Is it necessary to adjust your skincare in the winter?
When the temperature drops, we wrap ourselves in thick coats, boots, and scarves to protect ourselves from the winter, but our faces are not protected from the harsh elements of winter. Special winter skincare is crucial to give your face some extra care, as it is the only part of our body that is almost constantly exposed to the elements. That is why it is so important to have a good winter care routine.
Depending on your skin type, certain seasons and climates may prove to work better for you. For example, if you have dry skin, your skin prefers a humid climate over a dry one. However, almost all skin types struggle more in the winter, making a winter skincare plan necessary.
Think about it: both the temperature and humidity are dropping, both of which have a negative impact on your skin.
In the Netherlands, we usually have to deal with dramatic weather in the winter, such as strong winds and temperatures around or below freezing, and your face has to endure this every day. Your face is exposed to these environmental factors every day. This includes not only daily weather and climatic conditions, but also pollution, environmental toxins, and even man-made living environments such as air conditioning and central heating. So, when the seasons change, your skin notices it, as your face is in direct contact with these environmental factors.
Although it is always tempting to turn up the water temperature in winter, hot showers and baths can be very drying. Try to turn it down a bit so you are less likely to damage your skin. Avoid washing your face with water the same temperature as the water in the shower – make sure you cleanse your face with lukewarm/cold water so that your skin does not become red or irritated. This applies all year round, not just in winter.
What happens to your skin in the winter
In winter, the moisture barrier, also known as the stratum corneum or the skin barrier, is extremely fragile and at risk of damage. This is due to the lack of humidity. When humidity is low, the skin runs the risk of becoming dehydrated because there is no moisture present in the atmosphere for the skin to adhere to.
Dryness and dehydration are among the biggest problems when it comes to winter skin, which is logical given that low humidity dries out the skin. Combined with the cold temperatures, which affect the skin surface, winter skin becomes a problem.
Winter skin problems
Just as you have oilier skin in the summer, you can experience skin problems in the winter when it gets colder and drier. So that is no coincidence.
Are you familiar with any of the problems below during the colder winter months?
- Dryness
- Dehydration
- Cracks
- Inflammation
- Itch
- Redness
- Sensitivity
- Trekking
These are some of the most important skin problems that occur in winter. Although you may experience some of these problems year-round, they are particularly problematic during the harsh winter months.
When you are outside in harsh winter conditions, your skin is exposed to freezing temperatures and there is virtually no moisture available to replenish lost fluids. To make matters worse is there more air pollution in the winter, whereby the risk of damage from free radicals and premature aging increases.
If all of this doesn't sound so great in the new year, don't worry. Good winter skincare can tackle all the skin problems you want to prevent.
The winter skincare your skin is begging for
You have probably mastered your regular skincare routine, and that is good news for your skin. To keep things moving, you can make a few adjustments to account for your skin's needs in the winter.
In just 7 steps, you can implement a hydrating and protective skincare routine for the winter:
1. Give your skin extra attention with a winter facial
Fortunately, there are also facials available in winter to make your skin look and feel young and healthy, all winter long! Dry winter skin is no fun, and our customized facials help your skin recover and combat your winter skin problems.
- Facial treatments for repair, moisture, and rehydrating the skin
While the ice-cold outside air bites at your skin, the warm inside air completely sucks the moisture out of your skin. Even if you hydrate daily, this combination can be deadly for your skin, leaving it dehydrated and even flaky. With the Mesotherapy treatment we can infuse hyaluronic acid deep into the skin in Amsterdam. This gives you a real hydration boost. Combine it with the Collagen Booster for the best anti-aging results. If you are not afraid of needles, then Microneedling a very good alternative. Fortunately, we work with the latest Microneedling technique, making the treatment virtually painless. - Brighten the complexion with peels
A facial with a pHformula peeling helps to revitalize that dull winter skin and even out any discoloration or pigmentation spots. Additionally, with these peels, we can also address skin aging, pigmentation, chronic redness, and restore the moisture balance.
2. Swap your drying cleanser for a hydrating cleanser
Water-based cleansers are great for oily skin, but in winter your skin needs all the moisture available because there is no moisture in the air. This is the best time to switch to a cleansing oil, which helps restore the skin's natural oils while simultaneously removing impurities. If you have oily skin and are worried this might be too much for you, try a gel cleanser, which uses both water and oil ingredients to cleanse the skin without stripping it of moisture.
The best hydrating and soothing cleansers for winter
3. Scrubbing your face in the winter!
The winter skincare routine wouldn't be complete without regular exfoliation. Because the skin barrier works more slowly in winter, dead skin cells accumulate more easily. This gives your skin the dry, flaky appearance that is so notorious in winter. An exfoliator or peel is a good way to gently exfoliate a few times a week to remove winter skin buildup. If you particularly suffer from flaky skin, use an exfoliator with fruit acids, such as AHAs and BHAs, for smooth and soft skin in winter.
Exfoliators that are good to use in the winter
4. Extra hydrate the skin with a serum in winter
Applying a nourishing and hydrating serum before finishing with a moisturizer has become a winter care step you shouldn't skip. Using a serum before your cream is a great way to add extra moisture and key ingredients, and your skin will absorb everything it can get in the winter. If you naturally have dry skin or are worried about being on the verge of dehydrated skin, you can upgrade your serum to a face oil. Moreover, serums are packed with vitamins, antioxidants, botanicals, and other nourishing and hydrating ingredients that will give your winter skincare routine a boost.
Hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate again with these serums.
5. Give your eyes the essential eye creame
As you probably know, the skin around your eyes is very thin. In winter, this part of the face therefore suffers particularly from the harsh winter conditions. If you normally do not use eye cream, winter is the time to start. An eye cream not only minimizes dark circles and bags under the eyes, but also combats aging and protects against crow's feet. Look for eye creams with peptides, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid.
Don't forget to take care of your eyes and prevent dryness lines such as crow's feet.
6. Hydrate with a moisturizing face cream
Winter is the time when your skin needs a little extra of everything: hydration, hydration, protection, and nourishment. In general, the skin needs repair. Winter gnaws at the surface, causes a buildup of dead skin cells, and triggers discomforts ranging from dryness to redness, so the skin needs some relief. That is where a good moisturizer comes in. You have probably heard that you should use extra heavy cream in the winter. That may be true for some people, but pay more attention to the ingredients than the heaviness. Look for face creams that contain ingredients winter skin needs: Hyaluronic acid, Ceramides, Jojoba oil, and Shea butter, to name a few.
The best hydrating and soothing winter creams
7. Protect your skin against UV radiation and free radicals
Even when the sun isn't shining brightly, a safe sunscreen is an effective way to protect yourself against radiation and free radical damage. This single step is an important one to prevent premature aging. Even when the sun isn't shining, harmful UV radiation reaches your face. UV radiation penetrates even thick clouds to damage your skin. Therefore, using SPF every day is a must in winter.
SPF is also very important in winter to protect your skin.
8. Protection against blue light
Now that we spend increasingly longer periods in front of screens – whether laptops, computers, smartphones, or TVs – there is an even greater risk of excessive exposure to the blue light emitted by these devices. Blue light can disrupt the balance in your skin and generate more free radicals, which cause oxidative damage to the skin. The antidote to this is antioxidants. Vitamin C and Platinum are antioxidants that protect the skin. It also improves your skin's clarity and offers powerful protection against aging damage caused by blue light transmission. What isn't great about that?
The best protection for your skin
The essence of winter care for your skin
Winter isn't everyone's favorite season, and it's probably not your skin's favorite season either. But that doesn't mean winter has to wreak havoc on you or your skin. Make the most of the cold weather with a hydrating and protective winter skincare routine.
The winter skin problems that arise when it gets colder are your skin's way of telling you that something is wrong. Try to get those symptoms under control with intensive winter care or prevent them with a winter action plan.
We are happy to advise you on how to get through the winter damage-free!
The best hydrating and soothing cleansers for winter
