In the four seasons we experience each year, the skin must adapt to each type of weather like a chameleon. This does not happen without a struggle. Winter, in particular, hits it pretty hard. Your facial skin gets quite a beating then.
The air, especially when it's freezing, is very dry and your skin struggles to cope. Therefore, we need to give our sensitive skin a helping hand to get through these dark & cold days comfortably. That cries out for a good skincare routine. You don't wear a winter coat to be comfortable for nothing. So do the same for your sensitive skin.
What happens to your skin in winter?
In general, your skin becomes dry and flaky in winter. This is purely due to the severe temperature fluctuations and crackling dry air. Especially if you are regularly indoors and outdoors. Inclement cold weather alternating with 20+ degrees at home or in the office chop into it. Your skin simply reacts strongly to these violent changes.
Skin symptoms in winter
- Stretchy skin
- Red skin
- Flaky skin
- (Very) dry skin
- Eczema
- Itching
- Thin lines/chapped skin
- Cracked/bleeding lips
- Hypersensitivity to creams or soaps
These symptoms leave your dehydrated skin vulnerable to infections or other discomforts, which you can prevent simply by taking the best possible care of your skin. What can you do to keep your skin in good condition?
Switch to balm
During the winter season, it is best to take care of your skin with a good facial balm that will protect it from the elements. A face balm often has a denser and more protective formula. In addition, a face balm, of the right quality also possesses natural ingredients that moisturize and nourish the skin.
During this period, we also recommend using a nourishing and restorative hand balm. Especially important to use this product to soothe and soften your cuticles and knuckles. Besides your dry hands, these vicious spots suffer a lot in this season.
A good lip balm can be used all year round but is a must especially in winter. With this you arm your lips against the dryness and cold so they don't crack and bleed. Especially painful.
Use an exfoliant instead of a scrub
In winter, your skin is much more prone to pimples or other unevenness. Therefore, the importance of a proper skincare routine. The facial balm is an essential part of this. But removing dead skin cells is just as important. This can also free pimples.
Then chemical exfoliation is the right approach. In any case, we recommend including a good exfoliant in your skincare routine all year round, but especially in winter. Scrubs with crystals that physically abrade are better left out, by the way. That will only damage sensitive winter skin.
Using the right exfoliant dissolves dead skin cells. But also other blemishes, dark colors and grooves you polish away with this. Do this a maximum of twice a week. If you exfoliate too much, you can dry out your skin and irritation can quickly occur.
Shave in the evening
It is not practical to shave in the morning during the winter season. Your skin is already under a lot of stress from shaving and shaving removes the top layer of your facial skin that provides protection. If you step out into the cold early in the morning after shaving, your skin is unable to quickly rebuild that protective layer.
The result? You will have migratory skin and irritations such as redness, chapping and other discomforts all day. That's why it's much better to shave before you go to bed. After shaving, lubricate your skin with the best aftershave balm and apply a good night cream as a finish. Your skin will have recovered enough during the night that you will have laid the foundation for another winter day.
Tip: For variety, make sure you have argan oil in the house as well. If you massage your skin with this 100% natural, softening and nourishing oil after shaving, you will have silky smooth skin the next day.
Warm water is better than hot water
In winter, it is much better to wash your face with lukewarm water. This is because if you use hot water you will only dry out the skin. You lose the natural oils in your skin from the hot water that you desperately need to protect yourself from the cold weather. With all the irritations and skin damage that results.
Use mild cleansers
Cleansing your skin in winter is best done with a mild moisturizing facial cleanser. Especially if you suffer from sensitive skin. It's best to use a good cleanser with only natural extracts such as aloe vera and vitamin E.
It purifies your skin and gently removes the dirt so that the pores don't get clogged and soothes and calms your skin. With this perfect basic facial routine, you won't give a dull complexion and pimples a chance, and along with a good facial balm, you'll ensure an even skin that can withstand a winter surge.
Don't forget SPF
Even though the sun doesn't have a lot of power in winter and won't suddenly turn your head into a raisin, the UVA radiation present does have an impact on the health of your skin. Therefore, we recommend that on top of your face balm, you apply a good sunscreen so that your skin can withstand this as well!
A quality sunscreen with a high SPF also protects you from skin aging and skin cancer.
In conclusion
It is very important to hydrate your body throughout the day by drinking plenty of water/herbal tea. Then you hydrate your body from the inside out. This is just as important as a good facial care routine in which you also use a good toner, moisturizing face cream and a facial mask.
If you have any questions we would love to hear from you. Then we'll help you get started quickly!
Good luck.
Your friends, The Alpha Men.