Dry skin, chapped lips, and rosy cheeks, winter brings along with it a ton of panic for your skin. Along with your wardrobe, your skincare routine also needs to accommodate the weather change. While wanting to keep your skin safe you may actually be doing it more harm than good. We’re here to help. Here are 5 things you may be doing wrong in your winter skincare routine.
Taking hot, steamy showers:
Avoiding a good, hot bath can be impossible during this time of the year. However, experts suggest keeping the water temperature warm instead of hot. Overly steamy showers can strip your skin away from natural oils, leading to higher skin irritation and dryness.
Giving your skin a natural winter glow:
That blush you get when you step out during winters with natural air flowing across your way isn’t necessarily a healthy phenomenon. The rosy cheeks indicate broken capillaries in the skin and not a healthy glow. Protect your skin with a protective barrier moisturizer and with a scarf. If you still experience redness, use an aloe-based gentle cream to soothe your skin.
Lathering on extra moisturizer:
Using an extra layer of moisturizer will not protect your skin better. Completely packing your skin with a heavy moisturizer may make it appear dull and additionally pack in dead skin cells as well. Using serums to layer up your skin instead of cream is a better alternative as it will still feel lighter and protect your skin.
Cutting back on sunscreen:
Having overcast skies and cloudy days does not mean you can skip your sunscreen. With a depleting ozone layer, the harm that UV rays can cause your skin is year-round and not seasonal. Sunscreen is and always should be a mandatory step in your skincare routine.
Skipping exfoliation:
A myth suggests that exfoliating during winters leave your skin drier. The fact is exfoliation helps get rid of undernourished dead skin cells, consequently also getting rid of any bacteria that could cause irritation or acne. Regardless of summer or winter, exfoliation is a beneficial and important skincare routine. During winters, remember to moisturize your skin after exfoliation.
(Contributed by Sakshi Prabhu)