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Winter is a beautiful time of the year, especially when the crisp, chilly air sets in, or the first snowfalls depending on where you live. It is also a season that ushers in a drier climate and indoor heating, and your skin will pay the price unless you prepare. Leading skincare experts have some sound advice for preventing dry skin this winter and maintaining a complexion that glows feels smooth, and is silky to the touch.

 

1. Plug-In A Humidifier

 

Your skin barrier is crying out for help when wintertime arrives. It needs protective moisture, but when the air is very dry, your skin will be dry. That can lead to itchiness, dry flakes, redness, and even irritation and acne.

 

Your skin is freaking out trying to stay balanced with the indoor and outdoor dryness. Your best bet is to invest in a humidifier. It can make a world of difference, according to Dendy Engelman, MD, a dermatologist in NYC.

 

Engelman told Cosmopolitan Magazine that you have great options when choosing a humidifier. These amazing beauty gadgets come in all sizes and styles. Some are silent, which are attractive during sleep time. Others are large enough to humidify a sizable room.

 

Engelman suggests the optimum humidity should be between 40 and 60 percent and placed in the room where you spend the most time. For many of us, this is the bedroom.

 

Some beauty pros recommend purchasing a cool air humidifier because it boosts the moisture level in the air, and this will help your skin barrier to stay hydrated.

 

2. Exfoliate Your Skin Gently

 

When winter approaches and your complexion is being challenged with an onslaught of dryness in the air, your skin still needs proper exfoliation. You want to avoid aggressive scrubbing because that can inflame your skin.

 

Instead, try a gentle buffing formula that will loosen grime, old makeup, and layers of dead skin cells that accumulate. Lactic acid is an excellent and non-aggressive beta hydroxy acid that can penetrate deeply with its lipid-based capabilities.

 

If your complexion is super-dry, then try a wet washcloth, and skip the exfoliation cleanser. You don’t want to strip the skin of its natural oils.

 

For those who use Retin-A, you may want to use it only two or three times a week because it can cause extra dryness during winter, says New York City dermatologist Shari Marchbein, M.D.

 

After your skin is buffed, pores are clean, skin texture is smooth, and when you apply moisturizers from natural anti-aging skincare online, these formulas are able to penetrate deeper and promote skin elasticity.

 

Hyaluronic acid (HA) serums/creams are also effective on dry, winter skin. The reason for this is HA’s unique ability to hold 1,000 times its weight in water. This incredible gel helps skin to retain moisture and enhance the effects of your moisturizer.

 

3. Apply A Richer Moisturizer

 

Winter is the season that is ideal for layering your skincare products, and in this case, hyaluronic acid is considered a wonderful product for layering with heavier moisturizers.

 

Now is the time to buy those thick moisturizers to pamper your thirsty complexion. Look for creamy textures and those that contain SPF for daytime application. Some formulas also contain vitamin C to protect your skin against environmental damage.

 

When you’re in the shower, use lukewarm water to avoid overdrying your skin, and try a rich body cleanser like Dove, for example, to nourish your winter skin. Shea butter is an amazing dry skin conditioner that soothes both the complexion and the body.

 

Here’s another tip that dermatologists often share: When you get out of the shower or bath, this is the ideal moment to apply your face and body moisturizers. Moisturizer spreads more easily on damp skin.

 

We all want to have fun outdoors in the winter air, but it certainly takes its toll on skin of all ages, and when you head inside for indoor heat and warmth, your complexion is getting a double whammy of extra dry air. Your complexion needs TLC, and if you follow our three dermatological steps, your skin will survive winter’s unforgiving chilly, dry climate and glow like crazy!