Tips for Treating and Preventing Dry Skin in Winter

With the colder months well and truly upon us, you may notice the skin on your face and hands getting drier as the temperature drops. Dry skin in winter is very common, so it's important to be prepared with everything you need to keep the skin on your face and hands as hydrated and healthy as possible.

What Causes Dry Skin in Winter?

It's true that the winter elements can really take their toll on our skin. The combination of cold outdoor air, warm indoor heat, and low humidity levels work in unison to strip the naturally occurring moisture from our skin.

Signs of Dry Skin

Winter dry skin commonly occurs on skin that is exposed to cold air, so it is often most prevalent on your face and hands. Some of the common tell-tale symptoms of dry skin in winter include:

• Redness
• Itchiness
• Cracked skin
• Roughness
• Flakiness
• Irritated skin

How to Treat Dry Skin in Winter

There are several ways to switch up your winter skincare routine to help prevent dry skin from taking control of your life. Follow these tips:

1. Moisturise More Often

Since the cold weather strips the skin of its moisture quickly, it needs topping up more often. A good quality face and hand moisturizer applied regularly helps to keep the skin moisturised, working to relieve uncomfortable dry skin in winter.

Looking for the best moisturizer for dry skin in winter? Try the Watermans Moisture Me Skin Cream. Designed to be used on your face, hands, and lips, the deeply moisturizing blend of Cupuacu Butter, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Allantoin, and Almond Oil helps to nourish the skin and support moisture retention. The non-greasy formula absorbs quickly, delivering long-lasting hydration and instant relief for winter dry skin.

2. Wear Gloves

Acting as a physical barrier against the cold, gloves not only prevent chilly fingers and numbness but also protect your hands from dry skin. Apply Moisture Me before putting on your gloves, so your hands can absorb the nourishing goodness while encased in your winter gloves for maximum rehydration.

3. Try a Humidifier

The lack of humidity during the colder months is also a huge contributor to dry skin in winter. When the heating gets cranked up, you may benefit from using a humidifier, which helps reinject moisture into the air. More moisture in the air can help to keep the skin hydrated, preventing dryness.

4. Use Products with Occlusive Ingredients

A great quality moisturizer provides a physical barrier, locking moisture into the skin. The ingredients that offer this protection are called occlusives and go beyond standard emollient ingredients to keep the skin hydrated in winter. Occlusive ingredients include Shea Butter and Cocoa Butter, both of which feature in our Moisture Me Hand and Skin Cream formulation.

5. Hydrate from the Inside

Our final tip for preventing dry skin in winter is ensuring you're hydrated from within, and that means drinking plenty of water! It's recommended that you drink around 3 liters of water per day. Not taking in enough H2O can leave skin looking dull, lackluster, and more susceptible to drying out.