How to protect and repair dry winter skin

Harsh weather, dry air and indoor heating take a toll on healthy skin during winter months. If you already drink extra water and use a humidifier, but still suffer from dry, itchy patches on your face, hands or body, help is on the way! Try these tips in our head-to-toe guide to prevent and treat dry winter skin.

Photo credit: Kalim

The first step in moisturizing dry winter skin is to hang on to as much of your skin’s own natural oils as possible. Next, your routine needs to include products that seal in moisture and prevent the parched skin that leads to fine lines and wrinkles. Dermatologists recommend the following tips to keep facial skin moisturized in winter:

• Wash your face only once per day with a gentle cleansing oil or balm
• Apply a hydrating serum with hyaluronic acid to damp skin, then seal it in with a rich moisturizer
• Increase turnover of dead skin cells with a gentle exfoliant such as lactic acid
• Don’t forget a thick coat of lip balm to treat and protect lips overnight
• Give skin a moisture boost with a homemade face mask for dry and sensitive skin, or treat yourself to a sleeping mask from your favourite skincare brand

Best face moisturizers: Scour the labels for skincare products with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides, squalane, lactic acid, marula oil and sea buckthorn oil.

The skin on your hands is thin and hard to keep moisturized, especially with all that COVID-19 hand-washing and harsh alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Try these tips to ease dehydrated hands:

• Wear gloves during activities that require your hands to be wet
• Apply a non-greasy hand cream after every hand-washing
• Help your hands recover overnight by slathering on a heavy lotion or petroleum-based moisturizer, then cover your hands with cotton gloves or socks

Best hand moisturizers:  Face-friendly ceramides also work wonders to limit moisture loss from parched hands, while dimethicone, urea, cocoa butter, and aloe vera help to soothe and protect chapped skin.

Did you know that hot, steamy showers and long baths rob your skin of precious moisture? Here’s how to get clean without making already dry skin worse:

• Turn the water temperature down to avoid stripping your skin’s natural oils
• Keep your shower or bath short (5-10 minutes)
• Use a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser or body wash
• Gently pat skin dry with a soft towel
• Keep your moisturizer in the shower and apply a thick layer immediately after showering to lock in hydration
• Treat stubborn, flaky legs by topping moisturizer with a tight layer of plastic wrap. Cover with long cotton socks and let ingredients seep in for a few hours

Best body moisturizers: Choose ointments or creams, which are more effective than lotions. Look for hydrating ingredients such as mineral oil, lanolin, shea butter, glycerine, and jojoba oil.

If you’re still struggling with dry skin, you may need medical attention. A dermatologist can help diagnose any underlying skin irritations or conditions and may be able to prescribe medical-grade dry skin remedies.