The skin must be taken care of at all times of the year. However, in winter, we are subject to a constant change between high and low temperatures, moving from the interior to the exterior. This strong contrast between temperatures causes our skin to dry up much more than usual and makes the use of moisturizers and facial creams essential.
Reasons why the skin needs to be hydrated
Protective barrier
The skin works as a protective barrier. It is one of the first lines of defense we have against the various factors we are exposed to. Normally, we do not protect it as we should do. Men have thicker and stronger skin than women, in addition they produce more fat due to the amount of androgens they have.
Nevertheless, this does not imply that they should not apply facial or body creams and hydrate their skin as well. Women’s skin is thinner and more sensitive. Having a hydrated skin allows the epidermis to look fresh, youthful and smooth.
Winter effects on our skin
The skin dries up much more in winter, but it does not matter what time of year it is because it must always be hydrated. Just as it does not matter what type of skin you have. There is a hoax that says that oily skin does not need creams. False! All the cells in our body need water to function properly and the skin is no different. So, skin types need water to defend themselves from external factors that accelerate aging. And the water we drink is not enough, although it is still necessary. Therefore, it is vital to supplement the hydration of the skin with various creams and self-care.
Another reason why it is necessary for us to hydrate our skin is that with the passage of time the sebaceous glands become less active. This causes the skin the lose its ability to retain water, letting it dry more easily. Not only that, after 25 years the body generates collagen more slowly, so we will have to look for a cream that provides us with hydration as well as collagen.
Also, another reason is the existence of external factors such as heating, air conditioning, sun, alcohol or tobacco that cause the evaporation of water from the skin. So, if you can avoid these last two especially, your skin will thank you.
Furthermore, if the skin does not have its cells and tissues in good condition, the appearance of wrinkles, spots, cellulite or flaccidity will be more likely.
There are many ways to keep skin hydrated
So, to keep the skin hydrated, it must be provided with water and for that there are different ways, all of them complementary and non-exclusive. First of all, you have to stay hydrated at all times of the year. In winter, it’s more difficult to drink water because it is not hot and our body does not ask for it, but we have to continue drinking our 2 liters a day.
Equally, a good diet is key to everything and for the skin it could not be more true. Vegetables and fruits provide a natural hydration to the body. Lastly, use moisturizing facial creams, both in the morning and at night, such as the ones we recommend below.
In conclusion, we have to hydrate the skin because it acts as a protective barrier against external factors such as the cold using moisturizing facial creams. A resistant protective barrier holds up longer and better than one that is not cared for, thus multiplying the risk of problems such as dermatitis. In addition, we also have to hydrate our skin to avoid dryness, because it improves its physical appearance and delays the appearance of wrinkles.
How cold affects our skin
The cold causes vasoconstriction in the capillaries of the skin. This means that the capillaries diminish due to a contraction of the muscle fibers. This causes a lack of oxygen or nutrients reaching the cells of the epidermis, leaving the skin without luminosity. What’s more, the cell renewal cycle is also delayed and dead cells accumulate, leaving the skin dry and sensitive.
Another way that the cold affects our skin is the appearance of redness. The skins that are more prone to redness are the thinnest ones, the driest and those with the clearest complexion. Being thinner, microcirculation overlaps the surface of the skin.
Should makeup be avoided in winter?
On the one hand, there are many people who wonder if makeup should be avoided in winter. Of course not. Today, makeup bases contain a high concentration of moisturizing and nourishing substances. However, this does not mean that by applying makeup we can or should avoid applying a facial moisturizer.
In fact, quite the opposite. Some face moisturizer never hurts. But returning to the topic of makeup, what is true is that in winter it is preferable to use a liquid makeup or a colored base. The use of powders should be avoided since these dry out the skin. And, most importantly, always, always, always, clean your skin before going to sleep. Going to sleep with dirty skin accelerates the appearance of wrinkles.
Types of skins that exist
There are 4 types of skin: Oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin and mixed skin. And each type of skin will correspond to different types of facial creams as we shall discuss in the next section.
- Normal skin
We all want this type of skin, but that is almost a utopian idea as it is one of the least common. Normal skin, as you might suppose, is not too oily or too dry, but rather well balanced. It has fine pores, good blood circulation, soft and smooth texture, absence of impurities, and it is not sensitive or easily irritated. This is most common in children before adolescence.
- Oily skin
It is characterized by a massive production of sebum. This large production of sebum is known by the name of seborrhea. The pores in this type of skin are large, the face is constantly shiny and the skin looks pale because the blood vessels are not visible. It has a slippery and thick texture. It is prone to acne and you have to be careful with that because a high and continuous appearance of acne can cause irreversible skin lesions. So, it is recommended that you carry out regular check-ups with a dermatologist. Positively, it is a skin that take longer to age. This skin type usually manifests itself in young skin, since with age the sebaceous glands stop producing excess sebum and it becomes mixed or normal.
- Dry Skin
This type of skin, unlike fatty skin, produces less sebum and, therefore, lacks lipids that retain moisture which form a protective layer. In dry skin there is a deterioration of this barrier and that is why we have the erroneous thought that creams only have to be applied when we notice dry skin. Error! Creams must always be applied, but creams must be used according to each skin type.
- Mixed skin
As its name suggests, mixed skin is a combination of oily and dry skin. Both coexist in the same space, usually on the face. On the one hand, oily skin is usually located in the “T” area (forehead, chin and nose), while on the other, dry skin is located in the cheek area.
The best facial moisturizers according to skin type
Now that you know how to detect what type of skin each of you have, it is time to choose the most appropriate facial cream to maintain skin hydration. So, here are the recommendations.
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Oily skin
Effaclar Mat, from La Roche Posay
This facial cream is oil free and non-comedogenic. It has a double anti-shine + anti-enlarged pore effect. At the same time, it prevents our skin from drying out, which makes it ideal for the cold of a snowy mountain. Among Effaclar Mat’s components we find Sebulyse (a new sebum-regulating active ingredient more powerful than zinc).
Its price is around € 15.
Nivea Intensive Moisturizing Cream – Soft
Nivea Soft Moisturizing facial cream contains jojoba oil and vitamin E to give you smooth, youthful skin. It has a creamy consistency. This product has been tested and approved by dermatologists for a long time. This facial cream is formulated to penetrate the deepest layers of the skin.
Its price is around € 5.
Vichy Mineral 89
This lightweight gel lotion is formulated 89% with Vichy Thermal Spring Water. Mineral 89 only contains 11 ingredients, including hyaluronic acid, responsible for keeping water in your cells so that the skin does not dry out or lose hydration.
It does not contain alcohol, parabens, silicones or perfumes.
The gel is a very refreshing formula that helps fight off dehydration (our skin suffers a lot when skiing) and its terrible consequences: itchiness, tightness and even burning.
Its price is around €20.
- Mixed skin
Acglicolic classic cream gel forte by sesderma
It is an anti-aging gel cream with free glycolic acid and liposomal that renews, regenerates and hydrates the skin. It is formulated specifically for combination skin. Acglicolic classic cream’s Ingredients include vitamins C and E, eryngium maritimum stem cells, aloe vero and natural moisturizing factor.
Its price is around € 30.
A-Derma Hydralba Ligera 24h
The A-Derma Hydralba Ligera 24h light moisturizing facial cream provides immediate hydration, protects from external aggressions and lasts for 24 hours as its name suggests. This makes it ideal for intense skiing days where our skin often suffers excessively. Its ingredients include Rhealbose complex (obtained from the rhealba oat seedling), glycerin of plant origin and vitamin E, with antioxidant action.
It is a perfect cream for combination and normal skin.
Its price is around € 15.
Lancaster Skin Therapy
Lancaster’s skin therapy is a facial cream with a light texture that gently hydrates the skin. It leaves a non-greasy finish and provides pigments a healthy glow, leaving skin looking fresh and flawless. It is recommended for combination or normal skin that leans towards being oily. Its price is around € 25.
