What Winter Weather Actually Does to Your Skin.

We hear it all the time: cold weather dries out our skin, leaving it rough, flaky, and irritated. But have you ever wondered how this actually happens? Winter brings with it harsh conditions, and as the temperature drops, our skin faces a series of challenges in maintaining moisture and overall health.
In this blog, we’ll dive deep into what winter weather really does to your skin, how your skin naturally works to prevent dryness, and what you can do to combat common winter skin issues like dryness, redness, and irritation. We’ll also provide practical tips and strategies to keep your skin glowing and healthy all season long.

 

How Your Skin Works to Prevent Dryness

 

Before we talk about how winter weather affects the skin, it’s important to understand how your skin works to maintain its natural moisture levels and protect itself from environmental stressors.

 

The Skin Barrier: Your Body’s Natural defence

 

Your skin is made up of three main layers: the epidermis (outermost layer), dermis (middle layer), and hypodermis (innermost layer). The epidermis serves as the skin’s first line of defence, keeping moisture in and irritants out. The top layer of the epidermis is known as the stratum corneum, which consists of dead skin cells and natural oils that form what’s called the skin barrier.

 

This skin barrier plays a crucial role in preventing water loss and keeping your skin hydrated. It’s a combination of fats (lipids) and proteins that essentially act as a shield. Here’s how your skin naturally combats 

 

Dryness:
Natural oils: Sebum, produced by sebaceous glands, forms a protective layer on the surface of your skin, preventing moisture from evaporating.
Moisture retention: The stratum corneum holds water and keeps your skin supple by retaining hydration.
Cell turnover: The skin naturally sheds dead cells and generates new ones to keep the skin smooth and fresh.

The Role of Humidity in Hydration
In normal conditions, your skin maintains a healthy balance between moisture and oil production. When humidity levels are high, your skin has an easier time retaining moisture. This is why, in tropical or humid climates, people often have more hydrated skin, even without applying heavy creams or lotions.
On the other hand, in cold, dry environments, there’s little moisture in the air to help your skin stay hydrated. This leads to increased water loss through the skin, resulting in the dryness and roughness often associated with winter.

What Cold Weather Does to Your Skin

Winter weather has a direct and profound impact on your skin’s ability to maintain moisture and overall health. Here’s how the colder months affect your skin:

1. Reduced Humidity Leads to Moisture Loss
As the temperature drops, so does the humidity level in the air. Cold, dry air causes the moisture in your skin to evaporate more quickly. This is known as trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL). Essentially, your skin loses water to the surrounding environment, leading to a compromised skin barrier. Without sufficient moisture, your skin becomes dry, rough, and more prone to cracks and irritation.

2. Decreased Oil Production
In winter, your skin produces less sebum (natural oils) than it does during warmer months. Sebum helps lock in moisture, so when its production slows down, your skin loses another important layer of protection. This reduction in oil production can make your skin feel tight, flaky, and more susceptible to irritation.

3. Temperature Fluctuations and Redness
Another issue with winter weather is the constant change in temperature. Moving from cold outdoor air to warm indoor heating can cause your blood vessels to dilate rapidly, leading to redness and inflammation. For people with conditions like rosacea or eczema, this can make flare-ups worse and harder to manage.

4. Windburn and Chapping
Winter winds can be brutal on exposed skin, stripping it of its natural oils and causing windburn, which is a type of skin irritation characterized by redness, dryness, and sometimes even small cracks. Lips are especially prone to chapping in cold, windy conditions due to their delicate nature and lack of oil glands.

5. Indoor Heating: The Silent Skin Dehydrator
While indoor heating keeps us warm during the winter months, it also contributes to skin dehydration. Central heating systems, space heaters, and radiators dry out the air in your home, further reducing the humidity and causing your skin to lose even more moisture.

How to Combat Winter Skin

Now that you know how winter weather affects your skin, let’s explore ways to combat these seasonal skin issues and maintain a healthy, hydrated complexion throughout the colder months.

1. Hydrate Inside and Out
One of the most important things you can do for your skin during winter is to stay hydrated—both internally and externally ( NEWLOOK 24 HR RICH MOISTURIZER) . While drinking water won’t magically hydrate your skin, staying well-hydrated helps maintain overall skin health and supports natural moisture levels.
External hydration tips:
Layer your skincare products: Start with a hydrating serum containing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerine ( NEWLOOK’s  GLYCERINE GEL), or aloe vera. Follow up with a thicker cream or ointment to lock in that moisture.
Moisturize immediately after showering: Apply a rich moisturizer (NEWLOOK’S 24 HR RICH MOISTURIZER)  within 3-5 minutes of showering to trap moisture in the skin.

2. Choose the Right Skincare Products
Winter is not the time to experiment with new, potentially irritating products. Stick to gentle, hydrating formulas that won’t strip your skin of its natural oils.
Winter skincare must-haves:
Gentle cleansers: Opt for a cream ( NEWLOOK’S CLEANSING MILK AND NEWLOOK GOLD CLEANSING MILK)  or oil-based cleanser that won’t strip your skin. 
Barrier repair creams: Look for products containing ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol to strengthen your skin barrier.
Hydrating masks: Once or twice a week, use a hydrating face mask to give your skin an extra moisture boost. Look for ingredients like honey, oatmeal, and hyaluronic acid.( NEWLOOK’S  SEA WEED GOLD MASK). 

3. Exfoliate Gently
Exfoliation is key to getting rid of dead skin cells and allowing your moisturizer to penetrate more effectively. However, it’s important to do this gently in winter, as over-exfoliating can damage your skin barrier and cause irritation.
Tips for winter exfoliation:
Use a mild exfoliant: Opt for a gentle chemical exfoliant like lactic acid or a physical exfoliant with fine granules. Avoid harsh scrubs, which can lead to microtears in the skin.
Exfoliate less frequently: During winter, limit exfoliation to once or twice a week to avoid stripping your skin.

4. Protect Your Skin from the Elements
When you venture outside in cold weather, your skin is exposed to the elements. Here’s how to shield it from the harsh environment:
Wear protective clothing: Cover exposed skin with scarves, hats, and gloves. Choose soft fabrics like cotton or fleece to avoid irritation.
Don’t skip sunscreen: Even in winter, the sun’s UV rays can damage your skin. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 daily, especially if you’ll be outside for extended periods. ( NEWLOOK’S  SPF 30 PA +++ & SPF 50 PA +++) 

How to Deal with Redness and Irritation in Winter

Redness and irritation are common winter skin concerns, especially for those with sensitive skin or conditions like rosacea or eczema. The cold, dry air, combined with indoor heating and constant temperature fluctuations, can make these issues worse.

1. Avoid Hot Showers and Baths
It’s tempting to take a long, hot shower on a cold day, but hot water can strip your skin of its natural oils and exacerbate redness and dryness. Stick to lukewarm water and limit your showers to 10-15 minutes.

2. Use Anti-Redness Ingredients
There are several skincare ingredients specifically designed to calm redness and soothe irritation. Look for products containing:
Niacinamide: This vitamin B3 derivative helps reduce redness and strengthen the skin barrier. ( NEWLOOK’S NIACINAMIDE FACE SERUM)
Green tea extract: Known for its anti-inflammatory properties, green tea can calm irritated skin and reduce redness.
Colloidal oatmeal: This natural ingredient soothes itchy, irritated skin and provides a protective barrier.

How to Treat Specific Winter Skin Issues

1. Cracked Lips
Use a lip balm with beeswax, shea butter, or lanolin to keep your lips hydrated.
Avoid licking your lips, as it dries them out further.

2. Flaky, Dry Patches
Apply an occlusive ointment like petroleum jelly or aquaphor to lock in moisture and heal dry patches.
Use a gentle exfoliant to remove dead skin and apply a thick moisturizer immediately after.

3. Itchy Skin
Use a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic body lotion daily.
Take oatmeal baths to soothe irritation.

Conclusion
Winter weather poses a unique set of challenges for your skin. From cold winds and low humidity to indoor heating and reduced oil production, the season can wreak havoc on even the most resilient skin. However, with a thoughtful skincare routine that focuses on hydration, protection, and gentle care, you can maintain healthy, glowing skin all winter long.
By understanding how your skin works to prevent dryness and recognizing the impact of winter weather, you’ll be better equipped to adjust your routine and combat common seasonal skin issues like redness, irritation, and flakiness.