3 Easy Ways to Prepare Your Skin for Cold Weather

With winter weather and cold temperatures right around the corner, it’s important to know how to protect your skin during harsh conditions. Make sure you’re winter-ready by learning these three easy ways to prepare your skin for cold weather.

Keep Up Your Sunscreen Routine

When you think of sunscreen, images of hot summer days and lazy afternoons at the beach probably come to mind. While those sunny days certainly call for sunscreen, keep in mind that you should continue to protect your skin from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays on dreary winter days, too. Sun damage can occur even on cloudy days, especially if you’ve left the sunscreen behind. In fact, clouds might reflect harmful UV rays, ultimately increasing sun exposure and potential skin damage.

Instead of thinking of sunblock as a summertime habit, keep up your sunscreen routine through the winter months. Most skin care experts recommend applying a sunscreen with SPF 30 at least once a day, with additional applications if you’re outside for more than a couple of hours.

Indulge in Extra Moisturizer

Despite the freezing rain and snow that colder temperatures bring, winter weather can be incredibly drying for your skin. Many home and office heating systems make indoor air even drier during the winter, which can leave your skin feeling dull and lifeless.

Winter is the perfect time of year to treat yourself to an extra helping of moisturizer. While your year-round moisturizer should do the trick, some skin specialists recommend switching over from a lighter lotion product to a heavier cream when temperatures drop. Cream-based moisturizers can do wonders for preventing moisture loss, and they can also help protect sensitive skin from cold, dry weather.

When you apply moisturizer to your face, don’t forget about your lips. Regularly applying a natural lip treatment that includes sunscreen with SPF 15 is a great way to keep your lips hydrated in winter as well as year-round.

Keep Stress Levels in Check

From colder weather to action-packed holidays, winter can add significant stress to an already full load. It’s easy to forget that high stress levels can create skin issues or exacerbate existing ones. Increased alcohol consumption, rich holiday menus, and a lack of sleep can all cause common problems such as acne breakouts and cold sores.

One of the easiest ways to keep stress levels in check is to approach holiday eating and drinking with moderation. Pay close attention to rich or sugary foods, and try your best to get a full night’s sleep to keep your skin looking radiant.

If it’s already too late to prevent acne or cold sores, consider fighting off skin problems with a gentle topical medication. Just be sure not to overdo any additional products since harsh chemicals can further irritate winter skin.

Cold weather can easily do a number on your skin. If you start the season prepared with moisturizer, sunscreen, and stress fighters, however, you can make sure your skin feels healthy and looks radiant all winter long.