How to Combat Dry Skin in the Winter

Photo by Monika Kozub on Unsplash

Despite the fact that I have very oily skin on my face, my body is a different story. My skin tends to be drier and especially flaky during the wintertime. There are definitely times during cold weather when this issue will creep up onto my face as well, but for the most part, I’m only plagued by dry skin from below the neck.

Over the years I have attempted to combat dry skin by using butters, baby oil, and even lotions with humectants in it. Somehow my skin always came out flaky and felt unmoisturized. If you are having the same problem I have some tips for you that assisted me in fighting this problem.

Disclaimer: I am not a dermatologist or esthetician therefore these tips/recommendations are founded on what worked for my skin in particular. If you have chronically dry skin or suffer from any skin condition such as eczema then please consult with your doctor.

The first thing I’ve added into my body are routine was exfoliating. This is not to say that I wasn’t doing it before, but the scrubs I was using weren’t getting the job done. I needed something to really work the layers of dead skin off.

I decided to try an exfoliating cloth. The cloth was working to assist in my skin smoothness and allowing the products I was using to seep in. Did you know there are chemical exfoliation products for the body too? I sure didn’t. That is also an option for those suffering from terribly dry skin I just personally haven't tried it yet.

The second thing I added was heavy moisturizers. Light moisturizers weren’t cutting it anymore especially in the winter. I made sure the moisture products I chose contained ceramides and humectants alike.

For winter specifically, I chose oil-based moisturizers. Thick products that were buttery and heavy in texture work best for the skin on my body, because it helped me retain that moisture throughout the day. Mind you the clothes you wear also take moisture from your skin, so using heavy butters really helped me combat that.

The third thing I did was add body oil to my moisture routine. And I put on this body oil while my skin is still damp from my shower. Putting this on my damp skin has assisted in my skin retaining moisture.

I highly recommend this to anyone struggling to keep their skin from being dry and ashy. If you apply your products to damp skin it's like you're also pushing in the leftover water from your bath or shower into your skin as well.

Lastly, I turned down the heat. I know there are a lot of jokes about how women shower in boiling hot water and I do love my water hot, but the truth is it isn’t good for your skin.

It actually might be the biggest reason why my skin was so dry in the first place. All this in combination with an updated moisture routine has greatly improved my overall skin health. I have noticed a visible difference in how my skin looks, and it feels better too.

The Products I use:

• Neutrogena Body Oil Seasame Formula

• CeraVe Healing Ointment

• CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion

If you are someone who struggles with dry skin during winter and even all year round I hope these tips work for you. Remember don't use too much hot water in the shower, use an oil-based moisturizer, apply product while your skin is damp, and most importantly exfoliate often.

When you acquire a good body care routine you'll soon see a difference in how your skin looks and feels. But let's also recall that it does take some time to see. Good things come to those who wait, and oh drink water.

So tell me, what products do you use to keep your body moisturized? Let me know in the comments and don’t forget to subscribe to my blog so you don’t miss new content!