Looking for ways to combat dry, winter skin? Look no further!
Among the many inconveniences that come with the winter months is the impact of the cold and dry air on your skin.
Well-moisturized skin is less likely to break, crack, and become inflamed. When skin is dry, on the other hand, it becomes vulnerable to a range of potential issues, leaving your skin crying out for its natural radiance and looking years older than it actually is.
In this article, we’ll discuss
- How dry air zaps your skin of a crucial anti-aging nutrient
- Why loss of moisture in your skin is one of the number one reasons our skin ages
- How to naturally protect your skin during the colder, drier months
- The best way to improve skin moisture for youthful-looking skin that lasts
Cold and Dry Weather and Skin Aging
Research shows that living in dry climates can increase the production of wrinkles compared to living in humid climates[1].
When the air is dry outside, it impacts the outermost layer of your skin (known as the epidermis). This layer of skin often matches the humidity of the air around us, which means that when you frequently find yourself in dry climates, your epidermis is likely frequently dry as well.
As mentioned, dry skin leads to several issues, including inflammation, itching, lack of luster, and increased wrinkles.
Why does dry air make us look older? Low moisture in the air not only steals the natural glow from your skin, but it zaps your skin of one of its most crucial nutrients – hyaluronic acid.
Why does hyaluronic acid (HA) matter so much for skin health and radiance?
HA is a major component of the extracellular matrix in your skin. This layer acts as a scaffolding supporting the outer layers, and it plays a crucial role in skin moisture, as this compound has a unique ability to bind and retain water molecules. Thus, the more HA-rich your skin, the more moisture will be trapped in your skin cells, and the healthier your overall skin appearance will be[2].
But the benefits of HA are not solely linked to skin moisture. Research shows that HA is also involved in skin repair, blood vessel formation, and activation of immune cells in acute injury and inflammatory conditions[3].
And when it comes to aging skin, research shows that the most dramatic changes we see in the appearance of our skin are due to a loss of HA in that outer layer, the epidermis[4].
Therefore, maintaining healthy HA levels in your epidermis should be your number one goal when you start to see signs of aging. Of course, dry air isn’t the only HA-thief to be aware of, UV rays from the sun, air pollution, smoke, and other toxins can also cause a burden for your HA stores.
So, how do we keep our skin moist, glowing, and healthy during the winter months? Read on for some simple yet effective tips.
5 Natural Ways To Keep Your Skin Hydrated In The Winter
#1 Use An Air Humidifier
The air in your home will often become more dry as the air outside gets dry. To remedy this, you can use a humidifier to naturally bring more moisture into the air. Setting your humidifier to around 60% humidity is ideal for bringing moisture to your epidermis[5].
If you do choose to use a humidifier, be sure not to allow the air to get too humid, or you may increase the risk of mold production in your home. It’s a delicate balance, but once you have your humidifier working, you’ll be able to manage the humidity and keep it in an ideal range.
#2 Wash Your Face With Lukewarm Water
The outer layer of your skin contains natural oils that play a vital role in trapping moisture in your skin. When you wash your face with hot water, it can wash away these oils, leaving your skin feeling dry. You don’t have to wash your face with cold water to keep the moisture, but lukewarm water is ideal as it will allow your skin to cleanse without stripping the crucial oils that sit on your epidermis.
#3 Use Natural Soaps
Harsh soaps can also strip your epidermis of the layer of oils that help to keep your skin moist. Look for soap options with fewer ingredients and natural oils like jojoba, shea butter, argan oil, and so on.
Fragrance-free soap is also ideal, as many fragrances come from chemical compounds that are hard on the skin. Since the skin on your face is already pretty sensitive, the fewer chemicals you use on it, the better.
#4 Apply Moisturizer Right After Washing Your Face
The magic of moisturizer comes from its ability to help your skin trap the moisture that’s already present. Therefore, to get the most out of your moisturizing products, it’s best to apply them right after you wash your face or get out of the shower. Applying moisturizer to damp skin will trap that dampness in there, which is much more effective than applying moisturizer when your skin is already dry. If you can, use a moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid; this will give your skin an extra boost.
#5 Take High-Quality Hyaluronic Acid
Of course, you can do everything under the sun to try to bring more moisture to your skin, but if hyaluronic acid isn’t there to trap it, your efforts won’t get you very far. And while using a moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid can be very helpful, research shows that taking hyaluronic acid orally (in supplement form) can improve the appearance of wrinkles, reduce water loss in the skin, and increase skin elasticity – all of which are factors that contribute to beautiful, glowing, ageless skin[6].
The power of oral HA is the reason that I added this nutrient to my Ageless AF formulation. In addition to skin-rejuvenating nutrients such as biotin, silica, and selenium, HA helps to build a healthy extracellular matrix in your skin and, as you know, creates the ideal conditions for enhanced moisture and reduced wrinkles.
So many of us spend hundreds of dollars on serums and lotions that just sit on the surface of our skin. With HA added to the mix, your skin can pull that moisture into its tissues and give you the results you’ve been looking for.
Takeaway
Low skin moisture is at the top of the list regarding skin aging. If you want a bright, lustrous glow, your skin must be well-hydrated. Unfortunately, many of us live in areas where the weather becomes dry and cold in the winter, leaving our skin to fend for itself.
Simply put, the drier the air outside, the drier your skin will be. And the drier your skin, the older you’ll look.
If you’re feeling the effects of dry air this winter, give your skin the boost it’s craving by quenching it with some hyaluronic acid. Ageless AF is a simple formulation comprising my top beauty-enhancing nutrients, including HA. While moisturizing is crucial, ensuring that your skin can soak up that moisture is half the battle – and HA will do just that.
