Most of us have something we love about winter – and something we hate. While the freezing season is still a short month or two away, it’s still a good idea to prepare for it so that you’re able to enjoy everything you love about the season so much more.

All of those festivities, for example, the cozy evenings in front of the fireplace and walks in the snow when the air is crisp and fresh will feel a lot better if your skin is glowing and healthy.

Unfortunately, this isn’t something that is always that easy to ensure since it’s so cold and dry everywhere. When you’re outside, the crispness is simply a bit too much for your skin and you end up looking all red and dry by the time you’re back inside. Being inside, on the other hand, isn’t that good for your skin either since we keep heating up our space with electrical heat.

It means that we’re going to be dry, glowless, and itchy for a couple of months and there’s nothing we can do about it – or is it? Luckily, you can take care of your skin a bit better this winter and ensure that you have that healthy glow when you attend all of those Christmas parties. Start immediately, and you’ll have a much better chance and locking in that moisture.

Here is a comprehensive guide to excellent skincare during winter no matter what type of skin you have. Now you can enjoy the beauty of the season without drying up at the same time.

#1 Oily skin and breakouts during winter

For some reason, the dryness in the air seems to make oily skin even more prone to breakouts. It’s no secret that most skin types tend to look a lot better when it’s warm and sunny outside while these freezing temperatures make us look both dry and spotty. It’s no fun at all – but, luckily, there are a few ways to take care of it.

Keep in mind that these tips may not work if you’re suffering from acne, though, and especially not if you have inflamed acne. The only thing that will clear up your skin is a quick trip to the doctor and a prescription for a cream that contains antibiotics.

Yes, it will make your skin a bit drier but at least you won’t have those painful zits the whole time.

Oily skin, on the other hand, that leads to comedones and whiteheads can be dealt with without antibiotics. Unfortunately, it will get worse when it’s cold outside as your skin dries out quicker than it would normally do – and, by trying to compensate for the lack of moisture, it will increase the amount of sebum it produces. Sebum, as we know, is what tends to block our pores and lead to the development of a zit.

Remember to moisturize

That’s why you need to look after your skin this winter and ensure that it has the kind of moisture it needs in order to thrive. Start by using a mild cleanser and treat your skin to a nice scrub once in a while; it will clear away any dead skin cells and make sure that your skin won’t clog up all the time.

Add a layer of a good moisturizer when you’re done but don’t use too much – a little goes a long way. Pay special attention to the area around your nose as well as the thin skin around your eyes and the corners of your mouth. These areas will dry out a bit quicker than the rest, and you might want to get a separate cream for your under eye area.

While it is important to scrub your skin if it’s oily, you shouldn’t scrub it too much and especially not if you’re struggling with acne. Scrubbing might irritate your skin even more and make your zits a bit more painful and difficult to cope with. Be gentle with your skin and treat it right so that it has time to heal.

Use a mild and moisturizing face mask

Treat yourself to a good face mask once in a while as well, by the way, and make sure that it’s suited for your skin type. Although it may be tempting to use a face mask that promises clear skin and fewer breakouts, you really want to look for something that gives a bit of moisture this winter.

Keep the clearing range for when the sun is back and give your skin the gift of moisture instead. If you manage to keep it up, you’ll have both clear skin and a healthy glow by the time spring is back – and that’s all we ever asked for.

#2 Dry skin during winter

Your dry and cracked skin is going to suffer this winter unless you look after it. While both oily and dry skin needs moisture when the air is crisp and cold, a skin type that is generally dry tends to get even worse over the next couple of months – and you can pair that dryness with itchiness and patchiness as well to make matters even worse.

Luckily, it’s a lot you can do to make it a bit easier for yourself, though, and it’s not just about what you put on top of your skin. At home, for example, you may want to make sure that the air isn’t sucking the moisture right out of your skin by investing in a little humidifier.

It will make a huge difference for your skin this season as it has a chance to relax once you get home and away from the ice cold air outside. Typically, we tend to get out of the cold and into the dry warmness inside – but not this season.

Have a look at these excellent humidifiers right away and keep in mind that it doesn’t have to cost too much as long as it works alright and doesn’t make too much noise.

That way, you’re actually taking care of the skin on your entire body rather than just on your face. Sure, your face is what most people see when you’re out and about but it’s really not that nice to have dry patches and itchiness on your body either. Have a look at this article on 11 ways to treat & prevent cleavage wrinkles as well, by the way, to make sure that your entire body is covered and protected this winter.

It’s going to make it a lot nicer to shed those layers of clothes when the temperatures rise again since you won’t have to worry about anything else than being slightly pale. It’s a lot better than being pale, wrinkly, and dry, that’s for sure.

Change your skincare routine

When you want to look after your dry skin during winter, it’s important to have a look at the products you’re using first. Just like we tend to change our wardrobes when the temperatures take a sudden drop, we should also change our skincare products – or at least a few of them.

Allow your lighter products to retire until summer is back and treat your skin to something that’s a bit more moisturising this winter. Your cleanser, for example, may be too harsh for your skin – consider how your face feels after using it and swap it out if it feels too tight.

Similarly, you might want to use a richer moisturizer this season and allow the lighter one to rest until the temperatures rise again. Dry skin during summer needs help as well but dry skin during winter will surely need all the help it can get.

Look for ingredients at the back of the products that are particularly nourishing and steer clear of anything with alcohol or similar ingredients that can dry your skin out.

Remember to eat and drink right

Finally, the only thing you can add in order to ensure a healthy glow this winter is to remember to drink enough water. While most of the water we drink will go straight to your inner organs, it’s important to prevent dehydration; if you don’t drink enough fluids, your body will help itself to some of the moisture in your skin.

While drinking enough water won’t make sure that your skin is hydrated, not drinking enough of it is a quick way to make it dehydrated. Prevention is therefore key, and you’d want to give your body exactly what it needs in order to stay hydrated.

The food you eat can also have a lot to say about the moisture levels in your skin, though, and you can treat yourself to heaps of nuts, avos, and fatty fish this season to ensure a healthy glow.

That way, you’re looking after your health as well as your skin and it will show on the outside.