Skincare routines for the winter: what to do and what to avoid

The skin of the face it is not always the same as itself but subject to a lot of changes, due to as many factors, internal and external. Among the latter, one of the most incisive is the weather and precisely for this reason the beauty routine to be at the top it should follow seasonality.

Particularly winter certainly cannot be called a friend of the skin. Cold, wind, humidity and sudden changes in temperatures between hot indoor and cold outdoor environments put it to the test, often making it drier, dehydrated and prone to redness and skin rashes.

To better take care of them and prevent them, here it is what to do and what to avoid during daily skincare.

Cleanse gently

«All year round but especially in winter it is essential to guarantee a level of constant hydration to your skin, “he explains Federica Osti, dermatologist, professor of cosmetic dermatology and scientific consultant. For this to happen, no step of the beauty routine can be neglected, starting with morning hydration, to be carried out gently. “The most suitable product this season is themicellar water».

Better instead avoid foaming cleaners which could be too aggressive and cause some irritation. “In this case, however, everything depends on the outside temperatures of the place where you live: if on average the degrees are higher than 10, no problem, if they fall below this threshold, it is better to be careful”.

Don’t do this in the shower

Also very important water temperature, which must not never be too cold, but not too hot either. “For this reason I do not recommend taking care of cleansing the face in the shower because the temperature of the water used in winter is often high and the thermal shock to which the surface of the face is subjected once finished could be too strong”.

Maintain constant hydration throughout the day

After the cleansing phase comes that ofhydration, which more than others must change according to the season. In fact, if in summer serums or serums could be enough creme from gel formulas or formulas containing a high amount of water, in winter the texture must be done richer, creamier textures and higher lipid concentration. Before applying it, using a hyaluronic acid serum helps to prolong hydration.

Never forget about sunscreen

An action that must be repeated even when it’s cold is there applying the sunscreen because the damage of UV rays is always lurking. “Particularly in winter it is necessary to defend against UVA, which do not redden the skin but, reaching the dermis, stimulate the production of melanin and lead to skin aging and oxidative stress”.

Defend yourself from Maskne

The Maskne phenomenon unfortunately it is not a bad memory of the summer but it is also present in winter and to cause it, in addition to the mask, is also facial skin contact with potentially irritating fabrics.

«Those who use a hat, scarf or mask all day must pay attention to the areas of the chin and forehead, where irritation and pimples can be created. To ward off them as much as possible, in addition to hydrate more, I recommend avoiding synthetic materials or sewing inside scarves and hats one silk strip».

Remove make-up with oils or butters

Also remove makeup it is a potentially stressful step for the skin, especially in winter, so it shouldn’t be done lightly.

«This season it is better to use make-up remover oils or balms that remove make-up without requiring excessive friction. At the end of this operation, the evening skincare should include cleansing which at this moment can be done indifferently with a gel or foaming product “.

Exfoliate chemically

Exfoliation is key to eliminate dead cells and impurities and must be done all year round. In winter however, in order not to eliminate from the skin even the natural oils that keep it hydrated it is good decrease the pace a little, listening to the needs of your face.

“If after cleansing it feels dry, it is better to avoid it, if instead the sensation is of comfort it can be done, opting however for the chemical method because a mechanical scrub creates micro lesions that could get worse with the cold. If your skin is not particularly sensitive and on the advice of your dermatologist, you can opt for a retinoide but to be used no more than 3 evenings a week and always followed by the drafting of a good moisturizer. A softer but equally effective alternative is the bakuchiol, a much more delicate exfoliant than retinol and therefore perfect for delicate skin prone to developing rosaceous or cuperose », explains the expert.

Do not neglect the eye and lip area

Finally, in winter never forget the area around the eyes, but always remember to apply a specific product after the hydration phase and before cleansing and possible exfoliation.

For the lip the must-haves of the season are two: one stick emoliente to always carry with you during the day and one mask more full-bodied to apply in the evening, «even coming out a little from the edges so as to moisturize the surrounding area as well», concludes Federica Osti.