Winter begins, temperatures drop, heating air increases, and your skin thanks you with dryness, irritation, and itching. We want to tell you what happens to your body with dry skin, what skin care benefits it, and how you can protect your skin and best help it alongside daily care.
Winter skin – a disturbed skin barrier!
Not only does the constant temperature change affect the skin, especially the facial skin, but the air inside as well as outside is much drier in winter. This weakens the skin's resilience and it can no longer fully perform its function as our largest protective organ. When we are cold, the blood vessels constrict to keep the heat in the body. This, in turn, can hinder blood circulation and the transport of oxygen and nutrients. The sebaceous glands reduce their production, which decreases the natural fat film on the skin that protects the facial skin from drying out. If the skin is irritated, bacteria, viruses, radiation, pollutants, and temperatures can more easily enter the body, and our immune system is simultaneously weakened.
In addition, cold temperatures put a lot of strain on the fine capillaries in the face, which can lead to permanent redness. A feeling of tightness can also develop on the skin, which ultimately can lead to itching and cracked skin. Especially the sensitive areas of the face around the cheeks and eyes therefore absolutely need an extra portion of protection and care in winter.
We have 5 tips for healthy winter skin:
1. No chemicals on the skin
If the facial skin feels tight and too dry, it is especially important not to use chemical, harsh skincare products to cleanse the facial skin. Chemical soaps attack your acid mantle, dry out your skin, and change your skin's pH value, so that the good bacteria are destroyed and the harmful ones can penetrate the body faster. The skin thrown out of balance then has to normalize the pH value with a lot of effort and energy.
It is always best to allow only natural substances on your skin. Nature has enough anti-inflammatory and cell-regenerating active ingredients, such as apricot kernel oil or pomegranate seed oil, which you can find in many of our oil compositions.
Our No. 4 Detoxifying Body Oil and our No. 5 Deep Repair Face Oil with their effective oil compositions are the perfect companions during the winter months. They strengthen your skin barrier with their multitude of unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, and nutrients, so that moisture can be retained in the skin and body. To give your skin moisture with our oils, you should always apply them to damp skin.
2. Hydration
You provide moisture best from both inside and outside. You should always make sure to drink enough water or unsweetened teas. Because the heating air and low humidity in winter not only dry out your skin and hair but also the mucous membranes, which in turn weakens your immune system.
Especially at night, your skin barrier is more permeable, so a rich skincare routine in the evening is very important for your skin, as natural active ingredients can penetrate the skin much better overnight. However, the skin also loses more moisture at night. A good idea is, for example, a humidifier in the bedroom or simply a Becher filled with water near your radiator. This keeps the circulating air moist enough to prevent your skin from drying out.
3. Nutrition
That one should eat healthily is no big secret – but in the winter months this is all the more important.
Omega-3 fatty acids are, for example, good nutrients to keep the skin healthy, especially in winter. They help support the repair of cell membranes and reduce inflammation. You can find them, for example, in fish or hemp seeds. Omega fatty acids also work from the outside! A skin care rich in omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 fatty acids – like our oils – supports your skin and its protective function. Vitamins, such as vitamin C, are also very good for the skin. Kale is rich in vitamin C and can have a cell-regenerating effect on your skin from the inside out. Consuming healthy fats (e.g., avocados) can also help keep the skin supple and elastic.
In addition, you should pay attention to sufficient fluid intake from the inside in winter so that all your metabolic processes can function well and not only your skin but also your intestines remain healthy.
4. No excessive sun exposure
Even in winter, you should always apply UV protection to your skin – especially if you are at high altitudes. Closed snow covers can, for example, cause a high reflection of solar radiation.
Above all, you should not forget the lips, as they do not have sebaceous and sweat glands. That is why lips often become chapped first and therefore need a rich, natural protection, as they are usually exposed to sun and cold without protection in turn.
5. Avoid prolonged hot bathing & showering
Don't you also like to stay extra long under the extra hot shower in winter?
Long and hot showers or baths unfortunately further irritate the tense winter skin. It is best if you use oil-based bath additives. You can also always use our oils well for the bathtub. After showering or bathing, you can apply our oils very well for a rich, natural care on the already dampened skin. Our oils contain a variety of vitamins, unsaturated fatty acids, and antioxidants that give your skin the care and protection it needs to stay healthy against the winter cold.
If you want to learn more about facial skin and our care tips, then take a look at our blog post Facial Skin – Our Natural Protective Barrier.
