The chilly season certainly has its perks.

Cozy days spent indoors by the fire or under blankets, catching up on your favorite Netflix shows. 

Lattes and hot cocoa when it's freezing cold and the snow is falling. 

Okay sure, if you're a Summer lover then we know Winter can take a toll. But it’s still a great time to rest and recharge your batteries. 

Your skincare ritual fits right in with this theme of rest and self-love, and in fact your skin care routine is more important than ever right now. 

No matter where you’ll be spending your time this chilly season; out on the slopes or cocooned up inside, your skin will take a toll. 

There’s less humidity in the air (inside too, due to artificial heating) and this lack of moisture can create some problems if you don’t tackle it head on.  

In this article we want to highlight the top winter skin care issues and show you how to manage them so you can rock healthy, radiant skin in the below freezing temps!

Dry/Dehydrated skin

Dry and dehydrated skin is naturally the number one issue, considering that humidity packs up and leaves us when the cold season rolls in. (We promise not to complain so much next summer when that humidity is high!)

There is a difference between the two so don’t get confused! 

Dry skin lacks oil.

Dehydrated skin lacks moisture.

You are likely to experience both in winter. 

Dry skin is itchy, uncomfortable, and flaky.

Dehydrated skin gets inflamed and turns red. You may experience congested pores too, as oily skin goes hand-in-hand with dehydrated skin. 

Dry skin is easier to tackle, since it’s more of a superficial issue that oil can quickly help to manage.

Dehydrated skin is a little more complicated. 

Your skin craves water, but it’s not as simple as giving it a spritz of toner, or applying a water-based moisturizer, although this is important. 

Your skin barrier may be impaired and this takes a while to build back up. 

Jojoba oil is an excellent solution because it most closely resembles the skin’s natural sebum and will help to lock in moisture and balance excess oil. We recommend using it on slightly damp skin for enhanced absorption, especially if your skin is both dehydrated and dry. 

For extra healing, try spritzing some of our Healing Rose Spray onto your skin and then applying your oil before it is fully dry. 

Drink lots of water to hydrate from the inside out, and consider investing in a humidifier to help replace lost moisture in the air.

To help build up your skin barrier again, vary the temperature of your water when you shower. Lukewarm water is best since hot water strips the skin of its natural oils. 

And it's probably preaching to the choir to mention it but do your best to avoid harsh, conventional products that may contain synthetics that will strip your skin! 

Flare-ups of existing conditions

Two common inflammatory conditions are eczema and rosacea. While winter isn’t going to necessarily cause you to suddenly develop them, if you already struggle then you may notice them getting worse during the cold months. 

Even though both conditions present differently, you can experience relief with the same methods of treatment. 

The advice here is similar to what we already mentioned about dry skin. Avoid hot water and harsh ingredients. Reduce the number of times you exfoliate and completely avoid exfoliating breakouts. For extra moisture in the air, we also recommend you use a humidifier.

You also want to make sure you are eating a healthy diet, limiting foods and drinks that may increase inflammation, such as alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods and all processed foods. 

Drink loads of water and fill your diet with lots of leafy greens, a rainbow of fruits and veggies and healthy fats to help fight inflammation and soothe your skin from the inside out. 

Check out more eczema tips here and rosacea tips here.

Acne

Unfortunately, less humidity doesn’t mean less acne, we wish!

When your skin becomes dehydrated (lacking in water) your skin may try to make up for this lack of moisture, often by overproducing sebum that may clog your pores and encourage breakouts. 

So you want to be sure you are applying your facial moisturizer/oil twice a day without fail. Jojoba oil is great because it is hydrating yet never heavy or greasy, and has excellent anti-inflammatory properties too. 

Make sure you don’t over-wash your face. Twice a day is sufficient and do be sure to use gentle ingredients. 

Our Lavender Jasmine Salt Scrub will help to open up your pores while soothing and calming your skin for sweet relief. 

Why not treat yourself to our Beginner Kit, which includes this scrub and our jojoba oil, along with our bestselling blackhead removal mask!

Sunburn

Yes, it’s true!

Those UV rays are still just as damaging when it’s cold outside. Don’t be fooled just because they may not feel as strong!

Also, if you live in an area of snow, the snow reflects the sun and increases your chance of sunburn and skin damage. 

Wearing a high SPF is absolutely essential year round, including the very cold months, and including cloudy days!

Ditch the chemical sunscreens and opt for a mineral version instead, designed to bounce light off your skin and back into the environment. Better ingredients for you and our precious earth. 

Chapped Lips

Chapped lips are a real pain, but a top skincare issue for many of us!

You need to treat your lips with the same love you do the rest of your face. 

Try mixing a few drops of Jojoba oil with raw sugar and using it as an all natural lip scrub. You could add a few drops of honey (wonderfully hydrating) and cocoa for a decadent version that will have you licking off the excess!

Follow up with a natural balm or even pure coconut oil.

Winter doesn’t have to dictate the health and appearance of your skin!

Follow our tips and your skin will stay healthy, happy and perfectly balanced all season long!