Our Top Tips for Managing Dry Skin During Winter

Taking care of your skin is an essential task, especially during such stressful times.

Winter is coming. 

That means it's time to start looking forward to cozying up in front of fireplaces, mulled wines, snow sports, and... dry skin. 

Everything about winter exacerbates dry skin. Warm showers, internal heating, dry air - even wearing wool can dry out your skin more than usual. 

Here's how you can fight back against dry skin: 

Wear Sunscreen. Always!

While the UV Index is typically lower in winter, the sun's rays aren't in hibernation. In fact:

Fresh white snow can reflect over 80% of the UV from the sun, which means you're receiving twice as much UV!

Sunscreen is a year-round commitment you should make to yourself and your health! 

Fortunately, products featuring SPF is not in short supply. You can find moisturizers, BB Creams, mineral powders, and moisturizing primers (like this award-winning Suntegrity Primer) loaded with sun protection. Making it easier than ever to incorporate sun protection into your self-care routine. 

Get the lowdown on mineral sunscreens here. 

Nab Yourself a Humidifier

Your indoor heating makes the indoor air drier. Dry air dries out your skin and mucous membranes, so you can expect chapped lips, flaky skin, and a dry throat when you wake up. It makes sense to try to dampen up the air around you in winter if you're searching for that elusive winter glow!

Enter: humidifiers. 

Humidifiers add moisture to the air, making the temperature and your skin much more comfortable during the colder months. Yep, that's right - it makes the temperature more comfortable too. You can read more about that in this How Stuff Works article.  

Humidifiers are a great, inexpensive tool.

Shower Smarter!

There's nothing quite like jumping into a steamy shower to warm yourself up in winter. Unfortunately, that hot water strips away your natural oils, drying out your skin in the process.

Now, we're not about to tell you to start having cold showers in winter (though, there are many people who dig the benefits of cold water immersion). Here's what we do recommend: 

• Bathe using lukewarm water.
• Use unscented soaps or soaps that are fragranced using essential oils.
• Avoid scrubbing (too much), since skin trauma can add exacerbate dryness.
• Blot yourself dry with your towel, don't scrub

Keep yourself clean and healthy, and you'll always feel better than before.

Up Your Self-Care Routine with Oil 

There's evidence that Indigenous Australians have used emu oil as a moisturizer for more than 40,000 years. Given Australia's reputation for heat waves, and the reputation of the Aboriginal people as the 'first scientists', we think that's reason enough to incorporate oils into your self-care routine.  

Facial oils are designed to lock in moisture and to restore the natural balance of the oils your skin produces. Daily oils have a solid reputation for helping people combat the harsh effects of winter. 

You can find out more about the amazing powers of oils here.

Make Hydration a Habit

Yes - you should definitely keep up your water intake during winter! But, that's not quite what we're referring to here. 

Many of us don't adjust our skincare routine for the changing seasons. Your skin has significantly different needs in winter than it does in summer. So, you should be sure to prioritize hydration in your self-care routine for the colder months.

The Josh Rosebrook products are as gentle as they are hydrating. They promote balance in your natural oils (without stripping them away), while locking in moisture. 

This triple-threat combo is deadly when it comes to treating dry, dull winter skin: