Why is winter skin care so important?
As the cold months roll in, you may notice your skin start to dry out, crack, or just feel generally tight. Our skin is our largest organ and first line of defense, so we need to take extra care of it during the winter.
So, what is it about winter that causes our skin to go haywire, and how can you calm it down?
Why Cold Weather Affects Your Skin
Winter weather, in particular, can be especially tough on your skin. The cold air outside, combined with lower humidity levels and the drying effects of indoor heating, can all strip away the natural oils that keep your skin soft and hydrated. This leads to that familiar dryness, flakiness, and irritation many of us experience during the colder months.
Your Skin Reflects the Seasons
Our skin is a mirror of nature—just like the trees shed their leaves in response to the environment, our skin reacts to the elements too. And in the winter, it has to work extra hard to maintain balance.
Cold, dry air can cause the skin’s outer layer to thicken as a defense mechanism to prevent water loss, but this comes at a price.
When the skin becomes dry, it weakens the skin’s natural barrier, making it more susceptible to irritants, allergens, and even infections. This can be especially challenging if you already struggle with atopic skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis, which tend to flare up more during the winter months.
Why Your Cheeks React to the Cold
Another factor to keep in mind is your skin’s temperature. In colder weather, your skin’s temperature can fluctuate, leading to increased redness, especially on sensitive areas like your cheeks. This redness and irritation are your skin’s way of reacting to the harsher environment. It’s why so many of us experience a flushed face, chapped cheeks, and overall sensitivity during this time.
Here are my five simple, nourishing tips to add to your winter skin care routine to keep your skin glowing and resilient all winter long!
1. Warm Up Your Winter Hydration Routine
When we think of staying hydrated, we often associate it with the hot, sweaty days of summer. But in winter, when the air is drier and colder, our bodies actually need more mindful hydration to maintain balance.
It’s not as obvious when we’re bundled up and not sweating, but the lack of moisture in the air can really deplete our skin’s natural hydration.
One simple way to stay hydrated during these colder months is by drinking warm water, herbal teas, and elixirs. Not only do these warm liquids feel soothing, but they also help keep your skin hydrated from the inside out.
In the winter, our bodies naturally work harder to stay warm, so warm liquids aid digestion and help maintain internal balance. Studies have shown that they also promote circulation, which is key to keeping your skin soft and glowing during the colder months.
Plus, sipping on a warm cup of tea is a wonderful, cozy ritual in itself!
Hydrating Your Skin from the Outside In
Choosing a moisturizer made with clean, plant-based ingredients is crucial during the winter months. Avoid harmful chemicals like parabens and phthalates, which can disrupt your body’s hormone balance and get absorbed through your skin.
Instead, look for natural oils and ingredients that truly feed your skin, helping to restore moisture and strengthen its barrier against the dry winter air.
I’m a little partial to our Feel Good Moisturizer, but it’s honestly one of the best choices for winter skincare! It’s made with nourishing ingredients like rosehip seed oil, argan oil, and black cumin seed oil—all of which work together to deeply hydrate and protect your skin.
Here’s why:
- Rosehip seed oil is packed with essential fatty acids and vitamin A, which are excellent for repairing and rejuvenating dry, damaged skin—perfect for the winter months.
- Argan oil helps balance the skin’s moisture levels while being rich in vitamin E, which protects your skin from free radicals and environmental stressors.
- Black cumin seed oil has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, making it ideal for calming any winter irritation and keeping your skin smooth and soft.
These rich, plant-based oils don’t just sit on the surface—they penetrate deeply into your skin, helping it stay moisturized and supple even on the coldest days.
2. Exfoliate (Delicately!)
Exfoliation is still essential in the for your winter skin care routine, beauties! It helps remove those dry, dead skin cells that build up, allowing your moisturizers to work their magic and deeply hydrate your skin.
The trick? Be extra gentle. Winter skin tends to be more sensitive, so opt for a delicate exfoliator and use it just 1-2 times a week. Over-exfoliating can strip away the natural oils your skin needs to stay hydrated, which can make winter dryness worse.
Look for an exfoliant that nourishes while it exfoliates. This will clear away dead skin and give your complexion the love and care it needs during the colder months.
Want to try something extra nourishing? I’ve got just the thing—one of my favorite homemade masks made with all-natural ingredients.
This mask brightens, gently exfoliates, balances oil production, and deeply moisturizes your skin. Perfect for giving your winter skin some extra love!
3. Nourish from the Inside Out
What we put into our bodies is just as important as what we put on our skin, especially during the colder months! Your diet (and more importantly what your body absorbs) is a super important piece of your winter skin care routine!
In winter, it’s natural to crave heavier, comfort foods—think rich casseroles and indulgent desserts—but those foods can sometimes leave your skin looking a little dull and can even contribute to inflammation.
Instead, focus on warm, nourishing foods like soups and stews that are packed with colorful veggies.
These are not only comforting but loaded with vitamins and antioxidants that support your skin’s natural glow. Incorporating healthy fats, like avocado, nuts, and seeds, is also key for keeping your skin hydrated from within.
These good fats help lock in moisture, giving you that dewy, fresh complexion even when the air outside is dry.
And beauties, always remember that real beauty starts from the inside out! What you eat plays a huge role in how your skin looks and feels. To make sure you’re getting the most out of all those nutritious, skin-loving foods, I always recommend our Feel Good Digestive Enzymes.
They break down your meals more efficiently, allowing your body to fully absorb all the nutrients that support healthy, glowing skin.
4. Don’t Forget the Neck!
It’s so easy to focus on our faces when it comes to skincare, but beauties, let’s not forget about the neck! The skin on your neck is just as delicate and prone to dryness, especially in winter when we’re bundling up in scarves and high collars. All that extra layering can rub against the skin, causing irritation, redness, and even more dryness.
Be sure to apply a little extra hydration to keep your neck looking as radiant as your face. I love using a good Vitamin C serum here—it helps keep the skin firm, moisturized, and protected from irritation. Plus, the antioxidants in Vitamin C work to brighten and rejuvenate the skin, helping to avoid that dull, dry feeling we often get in the colder months.
So, when you’re pampering your face, make sure to extend that love down to your neck (especially during your winter skin care routine)! It deserves just as much care and attention.
5. Avoid Winter Stress with the HeartAlign Meditation!
Last but certainly not least, let’s talk about the connection between emotional stress and our skin—because it’s real!
Countless studies have confirmed that stress can increase skin inflammation, weaken the skin barrier, and slow down healing. When stress levels rise, our skin can really feel the effects. That’s why it’s so important to manage our stress not just for our emotional well-being but also for our skin health.
This is where the Emotional Cornerstone comes in. We did a research study on our HeartAlign Meditation, finding that it increased heart coherence, or heart-brain-nervous system communication, by 29% in just four weeks. This is a powerful way to not just minimize stress but actually avoid the stress response by instead flowing with life! And guess what else is great? It’s less than eight minutes long!
Give it a try here. It is for overall stress management, higher vitality and health, and yes, more glowing skin :). I recommend practicing it in the mornings, four or more times a week, for maximum benefit, just as we recommended the participants do in our research study.
Related Reading: Best Practices for Nurturing Yourself During Winter
Nurturing Your Skin, Body, and Mind
Winter skin care (or all seasons, for that matter) isn’t just about keeping your skin soft—it’s about nurturing your whole being. When you take the time to hydrate, eat well, and care for yourself, your skin naturally reflects that inner health.
Think of it as an act of self-love!
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