When winter rolls around, people with skin that is prone to dryness often get in a frenzy. Tips and tricks pop up all over the Internet to appease their struggles. However, a lot of people forget that those with oily skin also experience troubles in the winter months.
No matter what your skin type is, winter is always a struggle. The days are over when all you had to worry about was completing your daily cleansing and sunscreen application. Now, the temperatures have flipped, and so has your perfect skincare routine.
Everyone’s skin is different, and while you may want a step-by-step guide to perfect skin protection in the winter, there is no guarantee that it will work for you. Thus, use the information in this blog to build your perfect skincare routine and protect your oil-prone skin in the winter.
Why Winter Weather Is Damaging
With the sun making fewer appearances and the winds picking up speed, dry air gets swirled around, affecting your skin. Even if you have oily facial skin or combination skin and think you don’t have much to fear, you are mistaken. In the winter, the temperatures drop, the wind becomes more violent, and there is almost no humidity to hydrate your dry skin–all this is a recipe for skin damage.
Escaping the dry winter weather outside people spend most of their time indoors, where the air is likely to be even drier. The combination of dry air, both indoors and outdoors, is not good for your skin’s health. Without proper care in these drier times, even oily skin, can become:
• Uncomfortable
• Dry
• Tight
• Flaky
• Sensitive
• Prone to breakouts
Remember: all skin is created differently, so you may not have dry skin in the winter season. Instead, your skin may produce more oil to compensate for all the dry air. No matter what you feel in the wintertime, you cannot keep your skin fresh and healthy without proper care.
Causes of Oily Skin
Oily skin appears when the Sebaceous glands produce too much sebum, which is the oily substance that protects your skin and keeps it hydrated. When the glands on your face produce too much sebum, you may experience oily skin as well as clogged pores and breakouts.
There are several reasons your skin is producing too much sebum and causing the oil to build up. Some possible explanations include age, genetics, where you live, enlarged pores, using skincare products incorrectly, and not using a moisturizer.
When the temperatures drop, and the humidity escapes from the natural air, your face can also overcompensate for the lack of hydration. As a result, oily skin protection becomes an issue in the winter. It is important to make a protection plan to keep the skin hydrated.
What to Avoid
If you have skin prone to excreting excess oil, especially on your face, creating a proper cleaning routine is critical. Though you may think that all products are contenders to be used on your skin, you actually need to avoid certain products given the nature of your skin.
Experts say that if you know your skin is prone to oil production, you should avoid oil-based products. Make sure you review the ingredients before making a purchase. Additionally, if you use a product that feels greasy or that clogs your pores, toss it! Maintaining moisture in the skin is important, but too much is damaging.
You should also avoid products that include drying substances like eucalyptus, menthol, witch hazel, and denatured alcohol. Although you may think these are ingredients that your face wants to balance out the oil, they can actually be counterproductive and dry out certain areas in your skin.
How to Prepare Your Skincare for Winter
The harsh temperature change means that your routine cannot stay the same as it was in the summer. An emphasis on moisture, toner, and lightweight products can make a difference. However, it is crucial to know that all skin types are different. Therefore, you should find products that work for you and a routine that keeps your skin healthy over time.
The cold weather is your skin’s worst enemy when it comes to battling dehydration. To keep your skin from becoming too dry, focusing on layering can mean the difference between too much hydration and too little.
Layering means applying light products one-by-one that help your skin. Skipping the little things and going for the thicker all-in-one serum can do more harm than good. So, you should look for products that are free from unnecessary ingredients and have one particular function.
Building the Perfect Skincare Routine
When it comes to building the perfect skincare process for your face, you should always do what works. Oily skin is different for everyone and reacts in a unique manner. Therefore, just because an expert says you need to apply certain creams or liquids does not mean you need to continue doing it if it doesn’t work.
For your combination to oily skin, there are specific elements you should consider adding to your caring process:
• Wash your face with unscented soap and water
• Apply a serum that contains vitamin C
• Apply a moisturizer
• Never underestimate the value of sunscreen
The best thing you can do for your skin, no matter your skin type or oil combination, is to wash it with soap and water. Without this step, there is no reason to maintain a healthy skincare process. The best type of soap to apply is unscented soap that is free of damaging acid. You may also want to apply a cream. It does not matter if you choose soap or cream, as long as it is free of harmful chemicals like acid.
To appease your pores and greasy areas, applying a vitamin C-based serum is extremely helpful. Even in the cold months, Vitamin C is one of the best types of natural ingredients that eliminate oily and greasy skin.
The cold also brings drier weather, meaning that you need a product that can repair skin that gets too dry. A moisturizing product is your best friend. There are many types of moisturizing brands, so find whichever one you like best.
Finally, though the sun does not come out as much as it did, applying sunscreen is critical. If you travel to areas that don’t see much sunlight, you should still wear a sun protectant, as it can prevent all types of skin-damaging effects.
Bonus: drinking green tea can help in minimizing the amount of oil your skin produces.
The Bottom Line
All in all, if you have a combination or oily skin, then protecting your skin in the colder months is essential. Keep your standards high when looking for the right products, and you can be sure to have a perfect skincare process that protects your skin for winters to come.