Lock in Moisture
Cover Up
Experts always talk about keeping your face out of the summer sun, but you may not have realized you need to keep your face out of the winter wind. People with ruddy, sensitive skin, or with rosacea, are most susceptible. “I see literally hundreds of women in my practice in the winter who develop skin sensitivity and a facial rash after getting too much wind exposure,” says Tanzi. “The solution is to cover your face up to your eyes with a scarf when walking around outside in the winter.” Voilà! Simple, right?
Exfoliate Correctly
Get rid of flakes. Exfoliate too much, and you’ll irritate the skin. Exfoliate too little, and you’ll get that dry, peeling look. Tanzi says to exfoliate once or twice a week, following up with that thick moisturizer. Vargas agrees: “Exfoliating twice a week during wintertime is sufficient,” she says. “If you have super sensitive skin, once a week. This is great for getting rid of that dry winter skin that looks dull and gray.”
Switch Cleansers
Foaming or gel-like cleansers are extremely drying—something your skin can’t handle during the cold-weather months, says Tanzi. “To update your skin care routine for the winter season, switch to a gentle, creamy cleanser followed immediately by a moisturizer,” she says. Swap back to your other cleanser when the weather warms up.
Turn Down the Heat
Think about it this way: high heat helps to dry everything from clothes to hair, right? Same thing goes for skin. Although it’s tempting to take a long, hot shower, you should avoid it if you can. Avoid taking showers that are too hot. “Everyone likes to take a steamy shower when it's cold outside, but the excessively hot water strips the skin of natural oils and increases wintertime ‘itch,’” says Tanzi.
Choose Ceramides
If you don’t know the magic of ceramides, let Tanzi explain: “The best product to fight against winter skin is a thick cream that contains ceramides to help replenish the natural barrier function of the skin,” she says. “Wind, cold and indoor heat dehydrate the skin, which in turn leaves it more susceptible to further inflammation and damage. A thick coating of barrier cream can protect it from the harshness of winter.” She suggests Epionce Medical Barrier Cream, helping to replace the skin’s natural oils and keep hydration level high.
Reduce Your Use of Glycolic Acid
Drying ingredients can hide out on those long labels, so make sure to look for this one. While Dr. Tanzi loves shea butter, ceramides and hyaluronic acids in moisturizers and skin care products, she insists “decreasing the use of products containing glycolic acid” will seriously reduce flaking.
