Psst ... you're probably washing your face too much.
By Mary Clarke and Blake Bakkila, Good Housekeeping
It's no secret that harsh winter temperatures can wreak havoc on your skin. Luckily, we have a routine that will keep cracked, dry hands and chapped lips at bay. Here, you'll find expert-approved products and recommendations to help your skin feel smooth, relieved, and nourished 24-7.
And keep it short, adds Birnur Aral, Ph.D., Director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Health, Beauty, and Environmental Sciences Lab. All you need is about 10 minutes. To make your shower even more moisturizing, swap parching suds for a cleansing oil with fatty, acid-rich soybean oil to fortify and protect skin's moisture barrier.
While you shouldn't exclusively rely on a serum for hydration, this has hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which can help increase moisturization. Keep in mind that you'll want to repeat this step at night.
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It's no secret that harsh winter temperatures can wreak havoc on your skin. Luckily, we have a routine that will keep cracked, dry hands and chapped lips at bay. Here, you'll find expert-approved products and recommendations to help your skin feel smooth, relieved, and nourished 24-7.
HOW TO HYDRATE YOUR SKIN IN THE MORNING
1. Don't take super-hot (or long) showers.
Nothing sounds better than a steaming hot shower on a cold day, but hot water is actually the enemy of dry winter skin. "Too much hot water causes increased evaporation of your skin's natural hydration," says dermatologist Anne Chapas, M.D.And keep it short, adds Birnur Aral, Ph.D., Director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Health, Beauty, and Environmental Sciences Lab. All you need is about 10 minutes. To make your shower even more moisturizing, swap parching suds for a cleansing oil with fatty, acid-rich soybean oil to fortify and protect skin's moisture barrier.
2. Use a thicker moisturizer.
Once you've used your towel to pat-dry, apply your moisturizer. If you don't already, try a face and body balm during the winter. The thicker texture "seals moisturizing ingredients into dry, cracked, flaking skin," Dr. Chapas says, making them adhere for long-term, intense healing. She suggests using balms and salves with silicone, petrolatum, lanolin, and natural oils.While you shouldn't exclusively rely on a serum for hydration, this has hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which can help increase moisturization. Keep in mind that you'll want to repeat this step at night.
3.
Switch to hydrating makeup.
There's nothing more frustrating than seeing your makeup flake off midday. During cold months, replace drying powder makeup with creamy formulas that contain hydrators such as glycerin and vitamin E.HOW TO MOISTURIZE YOUR SKIN OVERNIGHT
1. Wash your face once a day.
In the humid, sticky summer weather, you can wash your face twice a day. But in the winter, switch to one wash at night so you don't dry out your skin. You can also try swapping face soap with a cleansing oil, which isn't so harsh.2. Moisturize (again).
Just like you did in the morning, it's important to lather up before you snooze. which has a calming scent on top of some impressive hydrating abilities.3. Humidify. Humidify. Humidify.
Don't go to sleep without one. The heat that keeps you warm in your home is also very dry, and because the windows are closed, it stays trapped inside. Use a humidifier to add moisture back into the air.
