5 Essential Winter Skincare Tips
Well, it’s that time of the year again when the air is so cold it hurts (ugh). And while it’s so cold you can hardly stand it, that cold air is actually damaging your skin. As part of our mission at Mint & Needle, we want to keep you glowing all year long. Keep reading to learn our 5 essential tips to do just that, even in the harshest of months.
1. Drink lots of water
You might think that staying hydrated and drinking water is only crucial during the hot summer months, but you are sadly mistaken, friend. Winter air is dry. And the heating systems we use inside are often also dry dry dry. One simple way to keep your body (and your skin) hydrated, is to make sure you drink plenty of water. It used to be said that you need to drink so many ounces in a day, but really, as long as you keep a water bottle nearby and drink when you’re thirsty, you’ll likely feel an improvement on the inside and outside or your skin.
2. Keep your face hydrated with moisturizers and face masks
Even if you’re drinking plenty of water, you may still experience dry skin, especially on your face. While you can bundle up the rest of your body, your face is often exposed to harsh winter air. One way to maintain a dewy look is to make sure to use moisturizer morning and night. If you are prone to getting really dry skin on your face, we recommend our Intense Hydrating Cream. In addition to regularly applying moisturizer, we also recommend doing a moisturizing face mask once a week or as needed. Our Hydrating Pumpkin Mask works wonders to hydrate and rejuvenate your skin, and is a great at-home treatment. If you’re looking to really conquer dry skin on your face, then consider our Skinwave Hydrating Facial, which significantly boosts your skin’s hydration.
3. Protect your lips with lip balm
Your lips are especially sensitive to cold and dry conditions, and leaving them unprotected can quickly result in the dreaded (and painful) chapped lips. Keep your lips soft and plump throughout the winter by regularly applying lip balm or chapstick. And if you want to really up your lip game this winter, try out our Lip Plump + Hydrate, which is a multi-functional lip plumper that improves the volume of your lips while also providing intense and long-lasting moisture.
4. Avoid hot showers
Even though hot showers feel oh so good in the moment (especially on frigid winter mornings, brr) they can actually be very drying for your skin. So while we recommend avoiding them, sometimes they are too good to resist. If you decide to enjoy a long, steamy shower, then make sure to apply a high quality body lotion afterward! Applying lotion will help to prevent any dry, flaky, or ashy skin. We recommend trying the Isdin Hydration Uradin Lotion 10 since it provides great hydration without leaving you feeling greasy, and it is suitable for all skin types. Want to know an easy trick to boost the hydration of lotions and moisturizers? Your skin is more absorbent when damp, so apply moisturizer before you’re completely dry to retain more moisture!
5. Use SPF
Just like earlier when we were talking about the importance of drinking water, we hope you didn’t think SPF was just a summer habit! SPF should be applied during the day. All. Year. Round. Even if you aren’t seeing the sun as much, harmful UV rays still get through thick cloud coverage. These UV rays can deplete the collagen in your skin, increasing the rate of aging through the early formation of fine lines and wrinkles, sun spots, and sagging skin. We recommend finding a day-time moisturizer that includes SPF, so you can combine the two steps of your routine into one. One great option is our Hydrating UV Defense SPF 44, which helps to keep your skin moisturized and protected.
BONUS TIP: Schedule your CO2 Laser Treatment during the winter!
If you’ve been considering getting a laser treatment, then now is the time to do it! Laser treatments can target a wide variety of skin conditions, including fine lines and wrinkles, sun damage, warts, age spots, and more, while also rejuvenating the skin. (Click here to learn more about laser treatments.) However, you need to avoid direct sunlight for two weeks prior to your appointment, and between two to four weeks after your treatment. This requirement is why we recommend this treatment during the fall and winter months, when the days are so short as is! If you’re interested in making an appointment with us, book here.
Winter can be harsh, but that doesn’t mean your skin has to suffer. We hope these tips will help you stay hydrated and glowing all year long!