What Skincare Mistakes to Avoid This Winter?

If you live in a hot and muggy country for most of the year, you may be looking forward to winter. While winters are lovely, they come with their own set of problems, especially when it comes to skincare.

As the temperature drops and the air pressure changes, your skin can become extremely dry, leading to irritation, peeling, and other skin problems. The outer layer of the skin is also susceptible to damage from strong winds. In addition to the external factors, warm indoor air can cause moisture loss from the skin, eventually breaking down the skin barrier and leading to dull, damaged skin.

All of this can be easily avoided with a few tips. If you pay attention to these winter skin care blunders, you can have healthy, glowing skin all year round. Trust us when we say it's easy to add these to your daily skincare routine.

1. Washing with boiling water

It may be tempting to take a hot shower or wash your face in winter, but it's the worst thing you can do for your skin. Hot water destroys the outermost layer of skin cells, exacerbating dryness and increasing the likelihood of injury. In addition, it can aggravate itching, redness, irritation, and inflammation. If you find it hard to imagine spraying cold water on your face, use warm water, which is perfect for keeping your skin clean and healthy.

2. Choosing the incorrect cleanser

Any skincare routine should start with cleansing; the cleanser you choose will determine how the rest of the process goes. Gel cleansers are light in texture and feel great in the summer but don't work as well in the winter. Avoid using gel and foam cleansers in winter as they can be highly drying to the skin. Instead, choose a nourishing cleanser that is gentler on the skin. This is especially important if you use strong makeup removers that dry out the skin. And some people don't think the products they use need to be temperature-controlled in winter, which is not the right idea.

3. Neglect sun protection

When it's hot and sunny outside, it may seem like a breeze to take the sunscreen out of the mini skincare fridge and apply it, but this may not be the case in the middle of winter. However, on gloomy days, UVA and UVB radiation can still penetrate and damage the skin, thus accelerating aging. This is especially important now, as the ozone layer has been thinning over time, increasing our exposure to dangerous rays. For adequate protection, use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. And to prevent the active ingredients in sunscreen from being damaged by the cold weather, it is also essential to store it in a mini makeup fridge at a constant temperature.

4. Maintain summer skincare

As the weather changes, we switch from summer dresses and sandals to sturdier materials and boots. But many of us stick to our summer skincare regimes rather than moving to winter-friendly practices. Gel lotions may work well in summer, but they may be too light in winter when a heavier cream is needed. Winter moisturizing should be more intense for all skin types. Choose items that contain shea butter, cocoa butter, and vegetable oils. Any items containing drying chemicals, such as toners containing alcohol, should be avoided.

5. Neglecting lips and hands

Because the skin on the face is thinner and more delicate than the rest, we often only talk about facial skincare. However, people often overlook the lips and hands, which are particularly prone to dryness. More delicate than facial skin is the skin of the lips, which requires special attention, including sun protection. Vaseline should be avoided as it can dry out the skin even more. Since hands have fewer oil glands and are more prone to frostbite in winter, a thick-textured hand cream should be used.

6. No exfoliation

Exfoliation should usually be avoided throughout winter as most people believe it is only suitable for summer. However, cold temperatures can also help with exfoliation by cleansing and removing dead skin cells. In addition, exfoliated skin will better absorb all those powerful moisturizers. Be careful to avoid rough scrubs and instead use a soft exfoliator. Over-exfoliating can worsen any skin problems that already exist and cause more irritation.

7. Not wearing a mask

An excellent mask on your face may look calm and pleasant in summer, but it is less appealing in winter. Even if it's cold outside, your skin can still benefit from a mask as it provides plenty of extra nutrients and intense hydration. This is the perfect opportunity to address any unique skin problems you may be experiencing and repair all the skin damage that occurs during the summer months. The suitable skin mask will nourish your skin, eliminate age-related visual symptoms and make it look younger.

8. Avoid moisturizing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid

The most popular addition to skin care products is hyaluronic acid, which is the secret to soft, supple skin. This miracle ingredient works wonders as a moisturizer. It maintains the suppleness and youthful appearance of the skin barrier. Hyaluronic acid products should always be applied to a moist face and absorbed slowly. Add a moisturizer and sunscreen to complete it. And it is essential to note that this ingredient is too susceptible to outside ambient temperatures, so even in winter, we should store it out of the mini cosmetic fridge, preventing it from losing its active ingredients due to the cold.

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