Cold Weather Skin Care: Do’s and Don’ts for Winter Beauty

Take care of dry skin in winter in the following way -

1. Use lukewarm water -
Keep in mind that you have to use lukewarm water instead of hot water in winter.Using hot water in winters should be used very sparingly, because hot water takes away the natural oil from your skin. Lukewarm water is not only beneficial for your skin but also reduces muscle tension.

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2. Do not bathe too often -
Bathing once a day does not make your skin dry. If you play games outside or go to the gym every day, then due to sweating you need to bathe more often. If this is the case, then reduce the duration of bathing a little, because bathing too often is considered equivalent to bathing with hot water. Bathing too often starts to reduce the natural oil from your skin and the skin starts to become dry and itchy.

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3. Use mild soap -
Soap can cause damage to your skin, especially in winters. When you go to the store to buy soap for yourself, first read the ingredients written on the cover of the soap. Any soap that contains antibacterial ingredients can be harmful to your skin, as such soaps contain many chemicals. Instead, look for soaps that contain natural ingredients.

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4. Clean only those areas of the skin where needed -
Excessive cleaning with soap can damage the skin, especially when you use soap on the skin more than once a day. Using too much soap on the skin can make the skin even more dry in winter. Instead of cleaning every part of the body with soap, pay more attention to areas where there is more dirt or sweat such as armpits, legs or around the genitals.

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5. Use moisturizer -
Use moisturizer for dry skin in winter. Instead of using water-based moisturizer, apply oil-based moisturizer. The oil present in the moisturizer helps in giving a protective layer to your skin. This keeps your skin hydrated. Moisture on the skin makes you look younger and the skin also remains shiny.

(Read more - Best Moisturizers for Oily Skin)

6. Use a humidifier -
Use a humidifier to avoid dry skin in winter. Using this will maintain the moisture in your house and the dry air will not affect your skin.

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7. Drink as much water as possible in winter -
Drink seven to eight glasses of water throughout the day. Drinking more water will keep your body hydrated and the skin will also remain moisturized. Drinking enough water maintains the natural oil of your skin. Apart from drinking water, you can also eat fruits and vegetables that have high water content such as cucumber, parsley, watermelon, etc.

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8. Use a washcloth or loofah -
Most of you must be using a washcloth. This cleans your skin but the skin also starts to become dry. Washcloths or loofahs strip off the natural oils from your skin and cause the skin to become dry and it starts itching. Instead of using a washcloth or loofah, clean your body with your hands.

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9. Do not use masks or peels -
If your skin is getting dry, do not use face masks and alcohol-based skin toners or astringents. Their use can strip off moisture from your skin. Instead of these, you can use cleansing milk or mild cleanser, toner without alcohol and hydrating masks. 

(Read more - Home Remedies for Glowing Skin)

The care of oily skin in winter is as follows -

1. Choose the right moisturizer –
Use oil-free moisturizer to reduce the problem of oily skin in winter. Moisturizers are made according to the type of skin, such as gel to water-based moisturizer. Nowadays moisturizers are rich in vitamin E which is considered very good for oily skin. After washing your face daily, apply moisturizer on the face.

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2. Drink as much water as possible -
Drink seven to eight glasses of water daily throughout the day. This will keep your skin hydrated and there will be no skin related problem. Drinking more water clears the toxins present in the body.

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3. Exfoliate the skin -
You can make the skin healthy by cleansing and exfoliating the skin daily. Adopt this habit daily and take care of the skin with a good exfoliating gel. Due to oily skin, acne and black heads start to occur on the skin. So to get rid of these, just exfoliate the skin two to three times a week.

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4. Do not apply petroleum jelly -
Do not apply petroleum jelly on the face and lips. You can use any herbal lip balm for chapped lips in winter.

5. Do not apply oil-free makeup -
When you buy any makeup product like foundation, face powder, concealer etc., keep in mind that the cream or liquid substance of your product should be oil-free and water-based. Daily makeup products contain natural oil which is not good for your oily skin at all. Instead, buy powder products that stay on your oily skin for a long time.

6. Cleanse, toner and moisturize the skin -
Use cleanser, toner and moisturizer daily according to the skin. For oily skin, you should use water-based cleanser and toner and not cleansing milk. Cleansing milk can cause even more damage to your oily skin.

7. Use sunscreen -
For oily skin, water-based sunscreen works very well and gel-based sunscreen can make your skin even more oily. For oily skin, apply sunscreen enriched with vitamin E. Strong sun rays not only increase your risk of wrinkles and cancer but also increase the production of sebum. So take good care of your skin even in winter.

(Read more - Skin Care Tips for Every Season: Stay Glowing Year-Round)

Take care of sensitive skin in winter as follows -

1. Moisturize the skin -
Sensitive skin is affected even more in winter. To moisturize sensitive skin, use a moisturizer rich in emollient. You can apply moisturizer both day and night. After applying moisturizer, massage for one to two minutes, this will make the moisturizer penetrate deep into your skin.

2. Do not apply cleansers made of salicylic acid -
If you have acne on your skin, do not use medicine-based cleansers or creams that contain salicylic acid. Salicylic acid can increase skin problems such as, the skin may become dry or swollen. Use a gentle cleanser to clean the pores in winter.

3. Stay hydrated -
Drinking more water keeps you healthy and body parts also function well. Water helps in removing impurities from your body and thus gives your skin a clean and glowing complexion. To keep sensitive skin healthy, drink at least seven to eight glasses of water throughout the day.

4. Do not over-exfoliate the skin -
Do not apply scrubs and exfoliating masks that contain salicylic acid or glycolic acid on sensitive skin. Using such masks can damage sensitive skin and cause inflammation on your skin and may also cause rashes. If you want to exfoliate sensitive skin, you can use a gentle scrub.

5. Make sure to apply sunscreen on sensitive skin -
Even if there is no sun in winter, the ultraviolet rays present in the atmosphere damage your skin and can also cause pigmentation problems. Use a sunscreen that has SPF 15 or more. Sensitive skin is more prone to allergies or sunburns and sunscreen helps protect your skin.

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Skin needs special attention in winter as cold air and low humidity can make the skin dry and rough. Use a good moisturizer to keep the skin hydrated, especially those rich in hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Apply moisturizer after bathing daily while moisturizing the skin. Also, avoid bathing with hot water, as it can strip the skin of moisture. Do not forget to use sunscreen in winter, as even in winter, the harmful UV rays of the sun can damage the skin.