How to Switch to a Winter Skincare Routine

As the weather turns colder, many of us notice a change in our skin. We may experience dryness or a tight sensation; your skin may feel extra sensitive; you may deal with itchiness or flaky patches; or maybe you just need a little extra moisture in your routine. Whichever way your skin reacts to wintery weather, it’s a good idea to consider the change in environment and adjust your skincare routine accordingly. Today we’ve gathered our top tips for how to switch to a skincare routine appropriate for the cold season.

Today we’ve gathered our top tips for how to switch to a skincare routine appropriate for the cold season.

1. Use Warm Water to Cleanse

During the winter, your skin is exposed to a lot of different temperatures as you move from the outdoor cold to indoor heating and this can contribute to dryness and sensitivity. Washing your face can often be a trigger for further drying and irritation, so it’s best practice to do as gentle a cleanse as possible. Using warm water is an important tip because it ensures grime and dirt can be cleansed away while helping prevent further irritation and drying that hot water cleansing may cause.

2. Gentle Exfoliation

Flakiness is a common skincare complaint when our skin becomes dry. It can be tempting to scrub the skin to eliminate those flakes, but this can often be too aggressive and result in skin damage. Instead, gentle exfoliation can help combat the flakes in a much safer way. If you prefer manual exfoliation, simply using a fabric facecloth when cleansing can help lift any flakes. Alternatively, incorporating a gentle AHA product such as COSRX AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid will help shed dead skin from the outer surface for a smoother appearance, as well as helping the skin retain moisture. This is highly beneficial if you find physical exfoliation irritating. Simply pat the liquid into your skin, and depending on your skin, you can use it every day or a few times a week.

3. Replenish Moisture

With dry, cold weather outdoors and heating indoors, our skin can very easily become dehydrated, meaning it lacks water. Many people experience dehydrated skin, even oily skin types. Ensure you’re incorporating all-important hydrating layers, such as toners, essences, ampoules, and serums, into your skincare routine to retain a plumped, healthy complexion. Our winter favourites include Klairs Fundamental Ampoule Mist, Dr Jart Ceramidin Liquid, and Cosrx Hydrium Triple Hyaluronic Moisture Ampoule.

4. Masking

If you enjoy sheet masking, then upping your masking during winter is an enjoyable way to increase the moisture your skin receives. A sheet mask works by preventing moisture from evaporating while it is on your face, which helps your skin absorb as much of the goodness from the serum as possible. Treat yourself!

5. Moisturising Ingredients

During the cold months, your skin is more likely to become damaged from harsh conditions. Ensuring you’re using a quality moisturizer with beneficial ingredients to treat dryness and promote healing is key. Ingredients such as glycerin and ceramides are affordable and great for helping the skin barrier remain moisturized and strong. We’re big fans of the Cosrx Balancium Comfort Ceramide Cream for this purpose. Facial oils are another way to help skin retain moisture overnight (and you can check out our handy guide on how to use facial oils).

We hope these tips are helpful! Head to our carefully curated collection of products to treat dryness and dehydration here.

Written by Katherine
@ Melon & Starfish