5 Ways to Optimize Your Skin Health This Winter

With temperatures dropping outdoors and indoor heating on blast, your skin may start feeling dry and irritated. Here are our team’s top tips to protect and optimize your skin’s moisture levels this winter. Following these practices regularly will help decrease your skin’s vulnerability to the elements brought on by the cooler climate.

1. Limit Hot Water & Shower Time: We understand how amazing a steaming, hot shower can feel on a chilly winter day. But hot water (coupled with a longer shower, especially) can deplete your skin of the natural oils that help keep it healthy and supple. Don’t worry–we’re not suggesting you need to start taking ice baths. Warm water is fine, but try to limit your showers to no longer than 10 minutes daily.

2. Use Skincare For Your Skin Type: Our skin type can change across the seasons. If you’re prone to drier skin during the winter months, incorporate moisturizing ingredients that are packed with emollients, such as plant oils.

   At Revea, we believe everyone’s skin needs are different. Our advanced hypergraph technology and patented algorithm measures over 1 million data points to identify the root cause of your skin’s specific needs. In under 5 minutes, our machine learning platform creates a layer-by-layer skin evaluation that takes into account various skin characteristics, such as your hydration and oxygenation levels. Our team is then able to create your custom formula along with an action plan to meet your skin goals. Interested in taking our skin assessment? Click here.

3. A Humidifier is a Must-Have: When the air around us is dry and moisture isn’t present, the air will draw moisture from the environment, including your skin. According to our formulation chemist, Liyuan, “The air gets especially dry during the winter months due to the combination of cooler temperatures and indoor heating. This change in environmental humidity disrupts the skin’s barrier, causing increased sensitivity, dryness, and irritation.” Investing in a humidifier can help increase indoor hydration levels and keep your skin healthy. Remember: keep your humidifier in the room you sleep in!

4. Don’t Skip the Sunscreen: It’s easy to be fooled by the cold, overcast weather, but the sun’s harmful UV rays can permeate the clouds and still cause damage. Apply a sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 daily, as the last step in your morning skincare regimen. Sunscreen helps protect against free radical damage, skin cancer, fine lines, and environmental stress for skin that’s radiant and healthy.

5. Stay Hydrated: Not drinking enough water can lead to dehydration and affect your skin’s condition. Liyuan adds that “our bodies lose large quantities of water throughout the day from activities and metabolic processes. It’s essential to have adequate water intake to replenish our body and skin’s hydration.” To maintain your skin’s moisture levels, follow the 8:8 rule. Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily. We really are what we eat–and drink.

Additional wintertime skin protection measures we recommend include:

• Opt for a non-stripping facial cleanser to prevent stripping moisture

• Use a gentle exfoliant weekly to help shed dead skin cells

• Moisturize your hands and skin right after washing

• Maintain a healthy diet and sleep schedule

Let us know which skin health tip you’re looking forward to implementing this winter!