Five Common Skincare Mistakes to Avoid This Winter

If you’re anything like me you want to be prepared for each new season. And with fewer hours of daylight, a drop in temperature, and lower humidity levels, it’s clear that winter is just around the corner. In preparation for the new season, these next few weeks you may be focusing on upping your wardrobe to be better equipped for the cold season. Yes, even though you may still be working from home. But replacing your sandals and summer dresses for your warm coat and winter boots isn’t the only area that needs revamping. It’s also important to revive your skincare products, routine, and daily rituals too.

Don’t let your skin’s health fall wayside this winter. To keep your complexion in tip-top shape, avoid these five common skincare mistakes:

One – Using the wrong skincare products

Winter weather conditions can be tough on the skin and require a different approach to skincare. Colder temperatures and drier air can make your skin much more vulnerable during the winter months, meaning the abrasive skincare cleanser and lightweight moisturizer you use in the summertime isn’t going to cut it this time of year. Or if you’re like me, your dry skin becomes even dryer if you don’t tend it carefully.

That being said, be sure to evaluate the effectiveness of any treatments you currently use as they relate to your unique skincare concerns. If you find that your skin feels tight, dry, or itchy after usage, chances are, you need to upgrade your skincare products.

Two – Taking extremely hot showers

Although taking a scorching hot shower is an easy way to warm up when your body gets chilled, it can also wreak havoc on your skin. Every once in a while won’t be too detrimental for your skin’s health, but doing so too often can lead to dryness and irritation as heat tends to strip your skin of its natural oils. To prevent this, try to limit the number of hot showers you take throughout the winter. Instead, take warm showers! Or, at minimum, allow yourself one to two minutes of hot water exposure in the shower. Then, as your body warms up, slowly cool down the water temperature until it’s lukewarm as this will be more supportive of your skin’s moisture barrier.

Remember, too, that you probably don’t need to shower every day. Especially in the winter months!

Three – Not moisturizing at the right time

Regardless of if you regularly moisturize your skin during the winter, if you don’t apply it at the right time, you’re missing out on some of its key benefits. By now, you probably know when to perform this skincare ritual at the end of your morning and nightly routine, but did you know that you should also be performing it when you’re fresh out of the shower?

According to the experts, applying moisturizer right after you get out of the shower while your skin is still damp. Damp skin helps to lock in moisture before it evaporates and penetrate more deeply into the skin. Therefore, providing you with optimal results more quickly.

Four – Not exfoliating

Contrary to popular belief, exfoliating is an essential part of your winter skincare regimen as this step works to remove dead skin cell buildup and primes the skin before moisturizer application. Despite the fact that this ritual should not be performed as often during the colder months, it should still be incorporated into your weekly skincare routine. Failure to do so could lead to clogged pores, acne breakouts, and flakey skin, so don’t skip out on this step!

My esthetician reminds me of this every time I get a facial: to exfoliate regularly. But not too often. Generally speaking, exfoliating your skin two to three times per week will provide you with the best results, but be mindful of your specific skin type and areas of concern. If dryness begins to occur, be sure to cut back on usage. Just remember not to OVER exfoliate.

Five – Ditching the SPF

Even though the days are shorter and the sun isn’t as prevalent throughout winter, doesn’t mean it’s not there. In fact, in the right winter conditions, your skin can sustain just as much sun damage during this season as it does during the summer months. Whether you can see them or not, harmful UV rays are almost always there and actively working to reach your skin, which is why ditching the SPF is a big no-no. Don’t forget to roll on the sunscreen as the final step of your morning skincare routine before you head out the door!

Protect your skin this winter

For the same reason you switch out your wardrobe for the winter season, it’s also imperative to revive your skincare products, routine, and daily rituals. With all the changes in environmental conditions, it’s clear to see just how impactful winter weather can be on the skin without proper care. As you head into the colder months, remember to protect your skin, and remind yourself of the common mistakes you’ll want to avoid. Be deliberate about how to treat your skin and practice delicacy during this time to ensure a soft, supple complexion all season long.

A good skincare routine can help you not only feel better about yourself. It can also serve as some much needed self-care that’s sure to boost your confidence.