5 Winter Skincare Mistakes You Might Be Making

Not Wearing Sunscreen

A lot of people think that they only need to wear sunscreen when the weather is warm and the sun is out in full force. However, this is a common misconception. Your skin is still exposed to sun radiation in winter, even when the weather is cold and cloudy. Because of this, you should wear sunscreen all the year round. Moreover, the sun’s rays are reflected by snow, so you need to take extra precautions and apply sunscreen with a high SPF factor when skiing or snowboarding.

Check this out: How to Choose the Best Sunscreen for Your Face

Using How Water to Shower and Wash Your Hands and Face

When the weather is cold, it may be so tempting to shower or wash your hands in hot water to warm up. Although it does feel nice, it will do more harm than good to your skin. Hot water strips your skin of its natural oils that keep the skin hydrated and protect it from the chill during the cold months, leading to red, dry, and flaky skin.

Check this out: Itchy Skin After Shower: Causes and Remedies

Not Exfoliating or Overexfoliating

It is generally recommended that you exfoliate less often in winter than you would in summer. However, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t exfoliate at all. Your skin doesn’t stop renewing in winter, so it still needs help getting rid of dead cell buildup. Exfoliation will help to prevent clogged pores, blackheads, pimples, and flaky skin, so it should be a part of your skincare routine.

The most important thing to remember about exfoliating in winter is that less is more. Although you shouldn’t skip exfoliation altogether because of the reasons above, exfoliating too much or too often can be damaging to your skin in winter, when it is especially vulnerable. It is generally recommended to exfoliate no more than once a week (or every other week if you have dry or sensitive skin). Make sure to use a gentle scrub, a superficial chemical peel, or a peel-off mask.

Check this out: How to Exfoliate Sensitive Skin

Not Making Sure That Your Skin Is Getting Enough Moisture

Moisturizing is super important regardless of the season. A common winter skincare mistake a lot of people make is paying much attention to nourishing their skin and not enough attention to moisturizing. It is true that you need to switch to a thicker, richer moisturizer in winter, but it should still be a moisturizer with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid that will draw moisture to your skin and lock it in. In addition, you should drink enough water to hydrate your skin from the inside.

Check this out: How to Pick the Right Moisturizer for Your Skin Type

Not Transitioning to Your Winter Skincare Routine Properly

Your skin needs time to get used to a new skincare routine in winter, and an abrupt switch to a new skincare routine can be a big shock for it. We recommend that you introduce changes to your routine one by one. Start with ditching harsh facial cleansers and alcohol-based toners. Then switch to a gentle scrub or chemical peel. Finally, start using a richer moisturizer.

Check this out: 7 Basic Steps of a Proper Skincare Routine