Provide protection against UV-light 

The first step is to rethink your skin care routine and skin care products you normally use. Since extreme weather weakens skins balance and protective lipid barrier, you need to save your skin the additional stress of an intensive cleansing routine that will only worsen the situation.

Choose a lighter non-stripping cleansing solution: cleansing milk or mild foaming cleanser. If you are using a tonic with alcohol on a daily basis it is better to stop for winter or substitute it with a non-alcohol toning product. Remember, alcohol strips skin of lipids, natural protective oils and contributes to skins dryness and increased sensitivity. 
If you are a fan of daily peeling products it is advisable to change your routine for winter and to do a maximum of 2-3 peelings per week. Peeling your skin surface on a daily basis does not let it restore its protective lipid barrier and balance itself. It becomes more susceptible to free radical damage and even to breakouts.

If you notice that your skin has become very dry, sensitive or even started flaking, exclude moisturizers, serums etc containing peeling ingredients such Retinal, AHAs and Glucosamine. 

Go Heavier on Moisturizer: 
Moisturizers are mostly based on 3 types of ingredients: humectants, emollients, occlusive (very often emollients have occlusive properties as well). 

Humectants, such as hyaluronic acid or urea, keep our skin moisturized by attracting water to its surface (epidermis). Humectants help to attract moisture from the environment as well as from dermis to epidermis. 

Emollients like petroleum or shea butter soften, soothe the skin, increase its ability to retain moisture and create a protective layer on the skin to prevent it from dehydration. 
Occlusive ingredients in moisturizers provide protective layer on the skins surface to prevent it from loosing moisture. 

Humectants-based products are usually recommended for oily and combination skin types, while emollient-based and occlusive-based ones for normal and dry types. However, in winter our skin type often shifts. Oily skin becomes normal, while normal displays signs of being dry, and dry skin becomes very sensitive and often irritated. 

Look for heavier moisturizing products to use in winter with such ingredients as jelly, silicon, evening primrose oil, and shea butter and almond oil. Some skin care specialists suggest using protective emollient-based skin care products for the day and humectants-based at night to help restore your skins moisture level. 

Timing is Important: 
Apply your moisturizer at least 30 minutes to an hour before going outside. This is especially true if your moisturizer is humectants-based or has high water content. If you do not let your moisturizer penetrate and get absorbed by the skin it can freeze into micro ice particles on your skins surface or dramatically cool down your skin surface when you go into the cold winter day. 

Exfoliate: 
During summer, we often complain about oily skin. However, this is noticeably absent during winter due to the drier weather and central heating. Therefore the skin finds it harder to retain water in the dermis layer. Premature aging and fine lines are the result. The skin may also appear grey and puffy. 

The number of times that you exfoliate should be increased to twice a week. Exfoliation helps to remove dead skin cells and allow the skin to absorb more moisture.

Hot Bubbly Escapes

It is not recommended to have prolonged hot showers or long hot baths in winter. The fact is that the latter do not add to the moisture level of our skin but on the contrary take away the protecting lipid and fat layers and contribute to skins dehydration. When you shower make sure the water is not too hot and use shower milk that contains oils and emollients.

If you are a fan of bubble baths as a way to escape the winter blues make sure to add moisturizing oils to the baths and apply a moisturizing body product afterwards. 


Sun Protection for winter: 
In winter the suns reflective powers on the snow can be higher than on the sand of a beach in the summer. Use sun protection to prevent UV damage and photo aging. We dont have to remind you but your sun protection should not be lower than 15 SPF, of course. 

Say No to Chapped Lips and Dry Hands: 
Usually lips and hands suffer most during the winter season. Lips get sore and chapped and hands get dry and flaky. For your lips, choose a thicker moisturizer with shea butter, jojoba butter OR avocado oil and apply it every time before going outside as well as before going to bed. Some protective and moisturizing lip care products are available as tinted glosses or balms. 

Take special care of your hands since skin on the hands is thinner than on the rest of the body. In addition, hands are often exposed to stressful or stripping factors like soaps, wind, water etc. And finally, it is a known fact that hands are among the first to show signs of aging. Choose a rich emollient-based hand care product and treat your hands to a mask two times a week. 

Take Care Of Your Finger Nails:

Keep your fingernails moist and prevent them from turning brittle. 

One key winter skin care tip is to minimize exposure of your skin to water. The less contact the better. 

If you have to do housework, wear protective gloves. 

Applying a nail hardener will help to protect and toughen them up. 

Take calcium supplements but be sure to follow the dosage given in the package. 

Humidify: 
Home or office environments in winter can get very dry due to heating. Your skin starts to feel tight and burning from dehydration. Increase the humidity level indoors by using a humidifier. Alternatively, several houseplants can balance out humidity level in the environment. 

Vitamins and Antioxidants: 
Help your skin to regain its energy and strength in winter by taking an antioxidant supplement. Most important antioxidants for the skin are Vitamin C, B, E, Zinc and Magnesium 

Express Winter Facial: 
Give yourself a mini-facial at home once or twice a week. Cleanse your skin. Use a mild exfoliating product selected for your skin type. Take a soft fluffy towel and soak it in warm water (not hot but not cool either). Add 2-3 drops of essential aroma oil such as lavender oil to sooth de-stress and refresh the skin. Press the towel to your face and inhale 3-4 times slowly and deeply to let the oil do its aroma work. This will stimulate blood circulation as well. For a stronger effect you can repeat the procedure one more time. Apply a hydrating and soothing mask or regeneration mask for 10-15 minutes. Make sure the room where you are having your mini-facial is comfortably warm. The mask on your face should not cool down to a level stressful for your skin. Take off the mask and apply your daily moisturizer with massaging movements. Direct the movements from the center of your face outward and a bit upward. Finish up by slightly tapping with your fingertips all over your face. This express facial will stimulate blood circulation, give your skin energy, restore its balance and help it regain its healthy radiance. 

Stay Active:
Do not give in to winter blues. Do your daily fitness routine! This keeps you fit and stimulates blood circulation in your whole body and of course your skin.

Other Winter Specific Concerns:
Winter is the time of the year when skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and seborrhea flare up. You should have your prescriptions handy. Start on them early. This will cut down on flare ups and treatment time. Some people report that their acne condition turn worse during wintertime. While damaging to the skin, the ultraviolet rays of the sun could have actually help to reduce the formation of acne.

So when summer sun is gone, acne may flare up. Again, the best protective action is to have your prescriptions handy. So if you are prone to acne flare-ups in winter, book an appointment early with your dermatologist. You dont want to wait 6 weeks to get your prescriptions filled or changed. 

Be careful of poison ivy! The plant resin could be carried in on logs for your fireplace. To protect yourself, wear gloves when handling the logs and wash your hands immediately after completing this task. Just in case, stash up some poison ivy medicine in your first aid kit. 

Last but not least, protect yourself from frostbite. Watch out for frostbite if you are outdoors, at high elevations or in windy conditions or have wet clothing. Change your clothes immediately when coming in from skiing or other winter sports. Carry extra clothing and blankets in your car when traveling.