How to Keep Skin From Drying Out in an Illinois Winter

Skin dries out in winter because cold air holds very little moisture and furnace heat dries the indoor air even more, so water leaves your skin faster than it does in summer. The fix is mostly about holding that water in: wash more gently, moisturize while your skin is still damp, turn the shower temperature down, and switch to a richer moisturizer until spring.

Why does skin get so dry in winter?

The outer layer of your skin is a barrier made of skin cells and natural oils. Its job is to keep water in and irritants out. Dry air pulls water through that barrier. Wind, hot showers and strong cleansers strip the oils that hold it together.

The result is skin that feels tight after washing, looks dull or flaky, and sometimes itches. Fine lines also look more obvious on skin that is short on water.

In central Illinois this tends to start about when the furnace comes on for good in November, and it can last into March.

What should you change in your routine?

You do not need a whole new shelf of products. A few adjustments cover most of it.

• Use a gentler cleanser. If your face feels tight after washing, the cleanser is taking too much. One that felt right in a humid August can be too strong in January.
• Moisturize on damp skin. Pat your face mostly dry and apply moisturizer within a few minutes. It holds in the water that is already there.
• Go richer. A cream does more in winter than a light lotion. If you switch back and forth, use the lighter one in the morning and the richer one at night.
• Turn the shower down. Hot water feels good on a cold morning and strips oil quickly. Lukewarm and shorter is easier on your skin.
• Run a humidifier. Putting moisture back into the bedroom air overnight helps your skin and your lips.
• Cover up outside. A scarf over your cheeks and gloves on your hands cut down on windburn.

Should you still exfoliate in winter?

Yes, but lightly. Dead, flaky skin sits on the surface and keeps moisturizer from reaching the skin underneath, so some exfoliation helps. Too much damages the same barrier you are trying to protect.

Most people do well cutting back by a day or two a week in winter. If a product stings, or your skin stays red afterward, stop and give it a rest. Retinol and glycolic products can feel harsher this time of year, so you may want to use them on fewer nights. If you use a prescription retinoid, ask your prescriber before changing how you use it.

There is more on finding the right pace in how often you should exfoliate your face.

Do you still need sunscreen in winter?

Yes. The rays that age skin are present all year and pass through clouds, and snow reflects sunlight back up at your face. Keep sunscreen as the last step of your morning routine, and use a lip balm with SPF. The reasons are covered in do you really need sunscreen every day.

What about lips and hands?

Lips have almost no oil glands of their own, which is why they chap first. Licking them makes it worse, because the moisture evaporates and takes more with it. Keep a balm in your coat pocket and put it on before you go outside, not after they crack.

Hands take a beating from washing. Keep hand cream next to the sink and use it after every wash, and wear gloves outdoors.

When is it more than dry skin?

Ordinary winter dryness improves within a week or two of gentler washing and regular moisturizer. See a doctor or dermatologist if you have:

• Skin that cracks or bleeds.
• A rash, or red, scaly patches that do not go away.
• Itching that keeps you up at night.

Those can be signs of eczema or another condition that needs medical care, and an esthetician cannot diagnose or treat them.

How does a facial help in winter?

A professional facial does the two things that are hardest to get right at home in cold weather: it removes the flaky top layer without scrubbing, and it puts hydration back.

The Deluxe Facial uses steam to soften the skin, an enzyme peel to lift dead cells, and a mask chosen for what your skin needs that day. Afterward, your moisturizer goes onto skin instead of onto flakes, so it works better. The Anti-Aging Facial leans further toward hydration, with hydrating products, facial massage and an under-eye mask.

For home, the shop carries several moisturizers, a Cucumber Hydration toner and a Lip Balm with SPF 15. If you are not sure which one suits your skin, ask at your appointment.

Winter skin responds well to small, steady changes. If yours feels tight and flaky no matter what you put on it, a facial is a good place to start. You can compare all the facials and current prices, then book a time online.