HOW TO PREPARE YOUR SKIN FOR WINTER COLD?

The arrival of winter means it’s time to pull coats, scarves and sweaters out of wardrobes. However, putting on layers of clothing to combat the cold is not good enough for the skin. In fact, just because our epidermis is covered doesn’t mean it’s necessarily protected against the consequences of falling temperatures!

As soon as winter arrives, it’s absolutely essential to adopt a special skin care routine to combat the cold and its accomplices: dry skin, flaking, redness, irritation, etc.

How can you prepare your skin for winter and the cold?

Take our advice.

What effects does cold have on the skin?

Our skin suffers directly from the drop in winter temperatures. The consequences are intensified by wind, sunlight (which we can’t avoid in the tropics) and pollution. First of all, the cold affects the production of sebum, the fatty layer that protects the surface of the epidermis, by slowing down blood microcirculation. As blood flows more slowly, the skin secretes less sebum and becomes more sensitive to external aggressions. This is why skin dries out more easily.

In addition, the slowdown in blood microcirculation also leads to narrowing of the vessels. In addition, lipids on the surface of the epidermis are broken down by the wind, resulting in increased levels of free radicals, which, among other things, lead to premature aging of the skin. In winter, wrinkles and fine lines tend to become even more pronounced.

Adapting your skincare routine for winter

As with every change of season, you need to adapt your skincare routine to the prevailing climate.

More moisturizing in winter

In winter, to avoid the appearance of redness, skin flaking and dryness caused by cold and wind, you need to increase your daily dose of moisturizer. This means using a richer, oilier moisturizer than usual. You can also focus on hydration right from the moment you shower, by opting for a moisturizing shower gel such as Gas’care Gourmand honey-coconut shower gel.

If you don’t want to change your cream, you can mix it with a few drops of nourishing oil to optimize its moisturizing action! Don’t hesitate to moisturize your skin over and over again, especially on your face and hands, which are more exposed to the cold during the day, or as soon as you feel your skin start to dry out.

Vaseline is also used in winter, as it is very useful for providing a layer of protection to certain fragile areas of the skin, such as heels.

Make-up removal and cleansing are always a prime concern

In winter, it’s just as important as ever to cleanse the face with the right care. Like a body wash, a gentle facial cleanser is the first step in preparing the skin for other treatments. Choose active ingredients that are both nourishing and moisturizing, such as shea butter, jojoba and coconut.

Since we’re talking about cleansing, make sure you always exfoliate your skin, even in winter, to effectively combat peeling. Exfoliation is essential for removing dead skin cells and for a fresh complexion, even in cold weather. At this stage, we strongly advise you to opt for gentle scrubs with fine grains. Products specially formulated for sensitive skin are an alternative to consider during winter, even if you have normal skin.

Don’t forget the lips

With winter comes other little inconveniences like chapped lips, which many suffer from due to the cold. The explanation for chapped lips is simple: unlike other parts of the face, lips don’t secrete sebum. Therefore, they are more fragile and react more excessively to the aggressions of wind and cold, as they are continually exposed to the sun.

The key is to offer your lips a layer of protection with a balm, wax or Vaseline, which is also suitable for this purpose! Note that Vaseline doesn’t need to be perfumed or specially formulated for lips to be effective against chapping.