Prepare Your Skin for Colder Weather and Decrease the Impact of Aging

older months are coming, and it's going to take a toll on your skin.

We've got a few tips on how to make sure your skin stays strong through these colder months.

Switch up your exfoliation.

Exfoliation is one of the best ways to reveal younger, healthier skin. It removes dead skin cells and allows your skin's natural oils to penetrate more deeply into your pores. This helps prevent dryness during harsh weather conditions. Also, when done correctly, it can make your face appear radiant and brighten dull complexions.

To start, use a gentle exfoliant at least once a week (some people find that daily is best). A good scrub with microbeads —or an exfoliating cleanser if you prefer something more gentle on your face. You can also use an exfoliating scrub with loofah pads for extra deep cleaning power!

Use an anti-aging SPF every day of the year.

Even when the weather is cold and cloudy, you should still use an SPF every day of the year!

You may think that SPF only refers to summertime, but this simply isn't true. Even if it's gloomy outside, UV rays can still damage your skin and cause premature aging—not to mention skin cancer in some cases!

If you have any questions regarding which products are right for your needs, a dermatologist can be a great resource—they'll be able to walk through what kinds of lotions or creams will work best for you.

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!

As the weather gets colder, your skin will be exposed to more wind, which dries it out. This can cause fine lines and wrinkles over time. The winter wind also causes your skin to lose natural moisture, leading to dryness.

To protect your skin from the effects of winter weather, use moisturizer! We recommend products made with hyaluronic acid (HA). HA is a natural substance found in human tissue that helps hold water in the body. It hydrates dry skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by plumping up skin cells.

HA is found in many popular moisturizers, including CeraVe Hydrating Facial Moisturizing Lotion PM and CeraVe Moisturizing Cream PM (both are fragrance-free), as well as Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Cream Multi-Retinol Wrinkle Smoothing Treatment 1.7 oz.

Get a humidifier to avoid dry air in your home.

A good way to add moisture to your home is by using an air purifier. The air in most homes gets very dry during the winter because people are typically keeping their windows closed more often and running the furnace more often. As the heating system dries out the air, it becomes more difficult for our bodies to create enough moisture on their own through breathing and sweating.

The weather outside will have less of an impact on your skin if you are prepared.

You're out in the cold and you're feeling the effects of dry air. You might feel like that's just a temporary inconvenience, but it can also have an effect on your skin long-term if you don't take prepare it.

If you follow these tips and keep your skin healthy, it will be that much better equipped to handle cold weather. Your skin will feel better, look younger, and stay moisturized all winter long.

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