How To Deal With Winter Skin Woes

Your skin’s needs change with the seasons, as do the treatments and at-home care you can be doing. We’ve found solutions for four of the most common winter skin woes to help you retain your glow, even during that cold snap.

Winter Skin Woe #1: Dry and Flaking Skin

Dry winter air zaps the moisture in your skin, so it’s important to replenish when possible by drinking plenty of H20, and ramping up the moisturizer. Consider switching to a heavier cream during winter months and apply every time you shower or wash your face to retain moisture. If you suffer from severe dryness to the point where it flakes off despite regular moisturizing, exfoliate once or twice a week with an enzyme-based mask. This type of mask will gently exfoliate while it provides the skin with hydration as it is non-stripping.

Book yourself in for one of our customizable Medical Facials that target sensitive and dehydrated/dry skin. We work with a variety of products and customize all services according your skins needs.

Whole body care: Keep showers short, and use lukewarm water as hot water can irritate your skin further. Try to keep exfoliation of the entire body to a minimum, as you’ll strip your skin of its natural oils. Pat skin dry (opposed to rubbing) and immediately follow with a body lotion.

Winter Skin Woe #2: Chapped and Cracked Lips

Moisten dry lips with cool water and follow with a lip balm rich in vitamins A and E to seal in the moisture. Look for ingredients like cocoa butter and beeswax to soothe sore and broken skin. Extend your moisturizing facial mask to your lips for added treatment benefits, and to help slough off flaky skin.

For extra dry lips, treat them with Peptide Lip Therapy from PCA skin. This treatment boosts collagen production and contains hydrating shea butter.

For a moisturizing pop of colour, try Glo Skin lipsticks from the award-winning winning mineral make-up line, available in a range of stunning shades perfect for your winter look.

Winter Skin Woe #3: Excessive Outdoor or Indoor Time

Winter weather tends to either propel people outdoors to ski, board and skate; or hibernate in heated interiors. Either way, dryness is a side-effect. If you’re prone to be outdoors, protect your face against the cold, harsh air with a heavy moisturizer and SPF. You may think you’re safe from the sun’s less potent rays in winter, but their reflection of ice and snow can be just as damaging. We recommend EltaMD sunscreens which don’t clog pores, and are fragrance-free and paraben-free.

If you’d like some glow-boosting colour in your sun protection, try our Colorscience Sunforgettable Brushes and foundations which do double duty as makeup containing SPF.

If you’re an indoor person, run a humidifier to combat artificially heated, dry air. And either way; drink lots of water!

Winter Skin Woe #4: Greasy and Combination Skin

While those with oily skin may have a bit of a better time in winter, don’t ditch the moisturizer just yet!

Keeping up a mild skin care routine at home is key to balanced skin all year round. Use a gentle creamy cleanser featuring a natural oil, so it won’t strip your skin while it cleanses, and can also prevent breakouts as it helps to remove surface build up without removing our own protective natural barrier. An enzyme or exfoliating serum with alpha hydroxy acids is also great to keep pores clean and decongested following your cleansing routine.