Not only does this chilly time of the year come with Christmas carols and mulled wine, it also comes with horrible skin woes. Once the temperature starts to drop, and our skin starts to become dry and itchy, your daily skincare routine should be updated. Your irritated skin is mostly due to the dry and crisp air that can seriously hurt the outer layers of our skin, leading to cracks and inflammation. Now it’s time to gear up and battle those cold winter months that lay ahead of us. I’ve got a few tips for you, that will leave your skin happy and protected.

1. Double Hydration

I belong to the oily girls society. Meaning that I don’t need to usually use a heavy moisturizer. Turns out that my skin was getting so dehydrated in the colder months, that it had completely absorbed my day cream before I put on my foundation. Resulting in an uneven application and dry patches everywhere. So now I double moisturize. I use my regular day cream right after I cleansed my face and then follow up with a product that contains hyaluronic acid before I do my makeup. This way, all the products I use go on extremely smooth and also have more staying power.

2. Switch Your Day Cream with your Night Cream

For everyone who doesn’t want to invest in an extra moisturizer, this trick will already make a huge difference. In general, night creams are richer in texture and also contain more nourishing ingredients. If you feel like your skin is thirsting for more hydration, try using your night treatment in the morning. It might take longer to sink in, but it will provide your complexion with everything it needs during a winter’s day.

3. Choose an Oil and Stick with It!

If you haven’t dipped your toe into the topic of oil yet, now it is the time to finally take the plunge. Oils can not only heal your chapped cheeks, but also improve your overall skin tone and penetrate the deeper layers of your skin. You cannot go wrong my adding a few drops of jojoba, rosehip or argan oil to your daily moisturizer, bath water or conditioner. I even add one drop of argan oil to my foundation to make it last longer whilst hydrating my skin. Oils can also act like a protector from the dry heating air. My colleague Emma has some advice on how to treat your hair with oil here.

4. Say Bye Bye to Silicones

A lot of silicons, like dimethicone and cyclomethicone, are considered ‘skin protectors’, since they are able trap moisture inside your skin. What sounds like a great idea, can actually be harmful in the long run. Since silicons create a barrier on your skin, sweat cannot leave your body and is being trapped under the outer skin layer, resulting in inflammations and bloated skin. Also, other moisturizers you might be using cannot penetrate your skin when strong silicons are blocking the way. Always check the ingredients list of the products your using and try to eliminate anything that can disturb the natural balance of your skin.

5. Don’t forget your Lips

Our Lips cannot hydrate themselves, as they don’t have oil glands. So it is our job to make sure our delicate lip skin stays smooth while being exposed to the elements. Reapply your lip balm frequently throughout the day and try to not lick your lips too often. Running your tongue over your lips leaves saliva behind, which takes moisture from your skin as it dries so you feel the need to lick your lips again. It’s a vicious circle that can only be stopped by fighting the urge to lick and rather use a conditioning lip balm instead. I always have Amazingy’s Vegan Lip Balm handy. It’s super moisturizing and, at only three euros, won’t break the bank.

6. Drink Up

I know, you probably hear this at least once a day, but it is really the easiest thing you can do to hydrate your whole body. This includes the biggest organ we have: our skin. You can slather on the most exclusive oils and serums, but if you don’t drink enough, it’s all money down the drain. So stick to 2-3 liters a day (this excludes coffee btw). Your skin will look plump and refreshed throughout the whole season.

Do you have any winter skincare tips? Lemme know in the comments below!