How to combat peak winter skin dryness & dehydration while being indoors

The winters are at their peak right now, and to add to it, we are now in our third lockdown. Thanks to all the boiler and air conditioner heat, staying indoors during this weather could cause excess dryness of skin due to dehydration of natural skins moistures. Here’s how you can protect your skin while at home through these easy-to-do tips and these nourishing skincare products handpicked by our skin experts at Active Care.

Control the heat within the house

What do you do when you feel increasing chill in the air? You put on your thickest woolens, make yourself a nice cup of hot chocolate and turn up that thermostat. While it sounds cosy and perfect for this weather, the dry air in the room will mean drier skin. While the usual recommendation everywhere would be to get a good humidifier machine, we suggest a more ecofriendly option. Get a pretty English Ivy or Spider Plant in your home, which will not only maintain the right amount of humidity in the room, but brighten up your space too.

Also, think twice before cranking up the thermostat to a higher temperature, you’ll not only protect your skin but save some bucks on the energy bill too.

Give your skin some gentle buffing

Exfoliation is an important part of the skincare routine as it allows moisturisers and serums to penetrate into the dermis well. You must pick something gentle and light for your skin, so that the dead skin cells are done away without leaving the skin parched. Our team suggests the Elemis Gentle Rose Exfoliator, which refines, brightens and revitalizes the skin by buffing away all the impurities from pores. For best results, conduct your exfoliation using the ultra-gentle Dermalogica Exfoliating Brush. We also suggest you exfoliating once every few days, ideally before going to bed.

• Elemis Gentle Rose Exfoliator
• Dermalogica Exfoliating Face Brush

And if you are a fan of masks, we have something for you too! Try the Caudalie Glycolic Peel. This is a creamy, non-drying mask which nourishes, replenishes and plumps up dull and dry skin back to life.

• Caudalie Glycolic Peel For All Skin Types

Just in case you didn’t know, your diet affects your skin health too. And during winters, one must maintain a diet which not only energises immunity, but improves your skin too. Add foods with good fats, like walnuts, avocados, eggs in your diet. These vitamin e rich foods help in maintaining the moisture balance of the skin.

Additionally, avoid excessive intake of caffeine-heavy beverages like tea and coffee. And go easy on liquor since it causes major dehydration too. Instead, increase your intake of water. Sip at least 9-10 cups of water every day to improve the skin regeneration process.

But too much water can be bad too! Especially on your face. Avoid washing your face more once a day.

As refreshing as it feels to cleanse your face during regular intervals, you might just be stripping your skin of the essential oils making it dry. Just like buffing or scrubbing, washing or cleansing your face should be done sparingly as well. Choose a cleansing oil or facewash which contain ingredients that purify the skin while hydrating it too. Our team at Active Care loves the Ceramide Replenishing Cleansing Oil by Elizabeth Arden, rich with essential lipids and Vitamin E.

• Ceramide Replenishing Cleansing Oil

We suggest you follow this step after your cleansing routine every night.

While moisturisation is something you must never skip, no matter what the season it; you can of course change the kind of moisturiser you use as per the weather. During winters, you need moisturisers that last long enough so that you do not require a top up. Pick moisturisers which are creamier in texture and penetrate the dermis well.

Our team at Active care prefers using the Dermalogica Body Hydrating Cream during the cold months as it is non-greasy emulsion that not only locks in the moisture but smoothens and softens the skin too.

• Dermalogica Body Hydrating Cream

Now that you have a handy guide to dry skin care, stay goodbye to dryness indoors! Say hello to the good home life.