As we transition from the warm weather of late fall into the chilling temperatures of early winter, you’ll probably notice your skin starts to dry out more quickly than it did before. Dry skin is a common seasonal issue that is treatable despite having quite a few underlying causes. Because there are so many factors that go into determining what’s causing your dry skin, it’s important to take note of any habits or environmental exposures that could be contributing before you can find ways to soothe dry skin.
While you can use some natural topical agents to hydrate the skin, it’s also important to address the issue at the root, rather than having to constantly treat it. Constantly covering up the problem with products that can often be harmful to your body is certainly not the best approach
If you’ve taken my skin quiz, you may already know whether or not your dry skin issues are due to your skin type or if they’re simply a response to your environment. A lot of times you may think that your skin’s dryness issues are due to the environment, but they may actually be caused by issues like hormone imbalances, inflammation or disturbances to your skin’s natural microbiome.
If you find yourself with a lot of allergies, chronic itching, psoriasis loose and excessive skin and feel that you have more wrinkles than your friends of the same age then you’re likely an Emmett or Sage skin type. In order to find out for sure, I recommend taking my skin quiz, where you’ll receive a lot of useful information based on your individual results. Dry skin relating to these issues may not be cured by simply using my recommendations for how to soothe dry skin, so it’s important to know what the underlying cause is.
That being said, there are natural ways to soothe seasonally dry skin that is in the winter months. Even if it means adding one extra step to your morning or evening routine, these ten tips should provide relief throughout the colder seasons.
- Focus On How You’re Bathing
- Moisturize Correctly
- Moisturize Throughout the Day
- Stay Away From Fragrances
- Focus on Nutrition
- Stay Hydrated
- Use The Right Products
- Understand Environmental Factors
- Boost Hydration While You’re Relaxing
- Moisturize the Air
1. Focus On How You’re Bathing
In the same ways that heated styling tools can dry out the hair, taking long, hot showers can dry out the skin. If you struggle with frequent dry skin, try shortening your showers and baths to no more than 5 or 10 minutes a day. If you enjoy longer showers or still notice that your skin is dry, make sure the water isn’t too hot.
You don’t have to switch to cold showers altogether, but realize that hot water could be what’s drying out your skin. Also, if your home has hard water this could be a contributing factor. Hard water has minerals in it that can dry out the skin and hair. Soothe dry skin by checking on how hot your showers are and how hard the water is that you’re bathing in.
2. Moisturize Correctly
This can possibly be the easiest way to soothe dry skin if it’s a result of the environment you live in. As soon as you get out of the bath or shower, go ahead and dry off completely. I recommend using a plant-based oil such as coconut or almond or lotion made with all-natural ingredients. Look for products, like our HYDRATE Body Moisturizer, that are free from artificial fragrances, as these can often irritate the skin.
3. Continue Moisturizing Throughout The Day
Often in the winter, your hands are particularly prone to dryness because they’re one of the parts of your body that are exposed to the cold air and washing most frequently. Make sure to re-apply moisturizer after each time you wash your hands to soothe dry skin throughout the day. If your hands are feeling particularly tight or itchy, it may be because they’re dry.
4. Stay Away From Fragrances
If you’re prone to allergies or inflammation, it’s particularly important to use a moisturizer that’s free from harmful ingredients like artificial fragrances. Using natural products can both soothe dry skin and prevent other symptoms from popping up as a result of harmful skin care.
Not only can fragrances be drying, as much as I know you want to smell great, they’re also known to contain toxic chemicals that fragrance companies usually don’t include on ingredient lists. This is because fragrances are often marketed as a “trade secret,” but there are often unwanted toxic chemicals there.
5. Focus on Nutrition
Did you know that the foods you eat (or don’t eat) can contribute to your dry skin? Your skin depends on natural lipids to maintain its hydrated glow. When you eat foods that are low in these natural fats, your body won’t have enough to maintain the protective layer in your skin that keeps it looking soft, supple and plump. Additionally, eating foods that are too high in sodium can contribute to dehydration.
Prevent dry skin by adding foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids into your diet. These include salmon, avocado, and walnuts
6. Stay Hydrated
Your body is made up of 70% water, so you need to be drinking a lot of water in order to keep your body from getting dehydrated. It’s understandable that you may not think you need to drink as much water during the colder months because it isn’t as hot. When you sweat, you often drink more water. The issue with this way of thinking is that your body is still losing water even if you don’t think it is, and this is especially true if you’re frequently in a heated environment like your home or office.
I recommend drinking 8-10 glasses of filtered water per day in order to maintain proper hydration. Drinking the right amount of water can help soothe dry skin symptoms because your skin, the largest organ in your body, needs a lot of water in order to stay healthy.
7. Use The Right Products
I know I already talked about the benefits of using natural, fragrance-free moisturizers, but there are other products you should be using in order to soothe dry skin on different parts of your body. I recommend an all-natural lip balm to prevent dryness in your lips. Licking your lips will also dry them out, so make sure that when your lips feel dry you’re putting a natural lip balm on rather than licking them. Look for natural ingredients such as coconut oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter, and avoid petroleum-based ingredients such as mineral oil and petrolatum.
There are also a variety of great scrubs on the market that you can use to slough off dead skin cells from your lips without going too rough. Look for all-natural sugar scrubs that contain nourishing ingredients like natural oils.
8. Understand Environmental Factors
In the winter our skin is more often exposed to things that can cause dryness. Hot showers and baths, heating systems and winter weather all contribute to dry skin symptoms. The water in your skin is prone to evaporation more easily when the air outside is dry and cold. Your skin can often look tight, dry and flaky when this happens it is partially because your skin has a harder time holding onto moisture in the winter months.
9. Boost Hydration at Home
When you’re relaxing at home take advantage of ways that you can boost hydration in your skin. Consider doing natural face masks to help hydrate your skin
Using skin care containing hyaluronic acid to your morning routine will help your skin stay hydrated. I know the word “acid” may sound frightening in terms of skin care, but hyaluronic acid can help nourish and soothe dry skin. I also recommend using natural skin care products like what’s found in my classic collection to help nourish and care for skin with all-natural ingredients.
10. Moisturize the Air
I live in Utah, so this next suggestion is common as a year-round way to stay moisturized in the dry desert areas. Adding a humidifier to your bedroom or home air system may help keep your skin from drying out. The added moisture will soothe dry skin during the months when your skin needs it most. It can also help with sinus problems in climates that are prone to dryer air.
Following these 10 tips can help hydrate and soothe your skin. And, remember, it’s essential to address the root cause of you have chronically dry skin. This approach helps you not only achieve radiant skin but also optimal health!
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