Shorter days and colder temperatures can only mean one thing: winter is on the way. And it’s no secret that Canadian winters can be particularly cold and harsh, so now is definitely not the time to let your skincare routine slip through the cracks.

Because each season brings with it different challenges for your skin’s wellbeing, it helps to create a skincare regime that protects against the hardships of each season with products that cater to your skin type and preferences.

We wanted to share a few techniques with you to help keep your skin healthy and vibrant this winter:

1. Stay Hydrated

Some of the biggest skincare problems we tend to face at this time of year are dryness, chapping, and cracking—issues which can be both painful and not pretty. What is it about winter weather that causes our skin to dry out so rapidly?

Think of your skin as a barrier responsible for keeping water inside your body. Cold and dry wintertime air inhibits its ability to retain moisture and causes the water in it to evaporate more quickly, leaving you looking flaky and feeling tight.

One way to avoid dry skin is to stay hydrated. Here are some ways you can do that:

  • Drink plenty of water, and choose foods that are high in water (cucumbers, celery, melons, etc.).
  • Consume tea and coffee in modest amounts, as both are natural diuretics and can lead to dehydration.
  • Use a humidifier in your home to return moisture into the air.

Keeping hydrated from the inside out can help make your skin stronger and better able to stand up against wintertime dryness.

2. Choose the Right Medical Grade Moisturizers

Moisturizers play an important role in preserving our skin’s moisture by bolstering its natural defences.

A few considerations we’d encourage you to keep in mind are:

  • Apply a medical grade moisturizer immediately after showering or bathing to lock in the hydration and once more at night to keep your skin feeling smooth.
  • Avoid harsh fragrances, as they can irritate your already sensitive skin.
  • Use the right product on the right area of your body. Many body moisturizers, for example, can clog your pores and cause breakouts if you apply them too often to the skin on your face.
  • Find a hydrating night cream for your face that can deeply penetrate your skin to deliver lasting moisture throughout the day.

AlumierMD, Teoxane  and ZO Skin Health are brands that recognize that skin care is not a ‘one size fits all’ solution, and that the ideal products will target skin profiles based on their physiology, type, and condition. So, they do just that!

It’s important to emphasise here that, although moisturizer is important for everyone, finding the right moisturizer for you is a highly personal process. Even in the winter, someone with oily skin will likely not find themselves using the same product as someone with dry skin. It’s about finding the products and routines suited to your skin so you can keep it looking your best all year round.

3. Take Gentler Care of Your Skin

Cleansers

Although cleansers play an important role in helping clear your skin of excess oils and impurities, in the winter they can sometimes be too harsh. If you find your skin drying out more quickly or flaking in the cold weather, it might be helpful to switch products for the season and seek something milder. For gentle cleansers, we love the Vivier Hexam Gentle Cleanser which was formulated for most skin conditions and is even great to shave with.

Exfoliation

The general rule of thumb is that you can expect to exfoliate less often in the summer than you might in the winter, though this is something that needs to be adjusted based on your individual needs. If you have really dry skin, for example, you might need to exfoliate once or twice a month in the winter instead of once a week.  ZO Skin Health brand makes a fantastic exfoliating cleanser and an exfoliating polish that targets surface oil without drying skin out.

Again, like with moisturizers, you should focus on finding products and routines adapted to your skin’s unique needs.

4. Protect Your Skin from the Cold

Exposing your skin to cold winds can make it feel red and sore. To avoid this, make sure you:

  • Wear scarves and gloves.
  • Do not go out when your skin is damp.

5. Wear Sunscreen

This can seem counterintuitive. It’s cold, after all. Why do I need to protect my skin from the sun? While the UV Index in Canada is generally very low in the winter, bright and reflective surfaces can magnify exposure to harmful UV rays, with 80% of UV rays being reflected off of snowy surfaces. Keep your skin protected from sun-soaked premature aging and looking fresh by using Sunforgettable Brush On sunscreen in the winter, especially when participating in fun winter activities like skiing, snowboarding, and skating.

At Brampton Cosmetic, we provide a range of skin health procedures and products including dermarollers from Environ® and medical microneedling InnoPen and Beauty Booster. Contact us today to learn more!

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About Dr. Robert Sleightholm

Dr. Robert Sleightholm is one of the founders of the Brampton Cosmetic Surgery Center and Medical Spa. He is the clinic’s Director of Surgery and, since its opening in 1994, has safely and successfully completed more than 200 cosmetic surgery procedures each year. An Ontario plastic surgery veteran, he is a board-certified Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC).

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