• Why is our skin most susceptible to irritation in winter?
• How can we protect our skin from adverse winter weather conditions?
• Natural products that form a protective barrier on the skin
• Skin care in the winter season

We often talk about the need to protect our skin in the summer, when our bodies are heavily exposed to the sun. Most of us usually think about protecting our skin from excessive UV rays. However, not everyone remembers that in winter, both the skin on our faces and hands is exposed to harmful external influences. Low air temperatures, excessive or high humidity, and strong winds all contribute to the skin becoming excessively dry, irritated, and reddened very quickly, beginning to peel, and even itching and cracking. In addition to the weather outside, there is also the problem of dry air in the house when the heating is on, and we often unknowingly dry our skin when we prepare a hot bath after a whole day of freezing. Therefore, to prevent our skin from drying out and becoming irritated in winter, we should protect it properly, preferably using proven and natural methods.

Why is our skin most susceptible to irritation in winter?

During the winter months, our skin becomes dry and irritated by strong cold winds, frost, and snow, making it more prone to breakouts. This is because the air is polluted by increased smoke from chimneys, dust, smog, and dense cloud cover. Therefore, winter skin protection should be completely different than in other seasons. During the coldest months, our skin is less moisturized than during the rest of the year, and there are fewer lipids in its natural protective barrier. This is the reason for its increased vulnerability to external factors and its poorer appearance. It is then necessary to restore the skin's lost nutrients.

How can we protect our skin from adverse winter weather conditions?

The foundation for protecting facial skin is proper hydration immediately after cleansing, but you shouldn't apply moisturizer immediately before leaving the house, and even more so when you're outside. Outside, ideally just before entering, we should protect previously moisturized skin only with oily cosmetics, the so-called occlusive layer, which locks in moisture (from the Latin occlusio , "to close," consists in forming a film on the skin that protects it from excessive water loss). These are products based on fatty components that add an additional layer of protection to the natural hydrolipid barrier.

Natural products that form a protective barrier on the skin

Our mothers and grandmothers used cosmetic petroleum jelly for this purpose, but today we know that its long-term use clogs the pores of the skin, worsens the complexion, and is difficult to wash off daily. Therefore, the best way to provide the skin with such a lipid barrier is to use only natural products that provide the skin with a partially permeable protective film. When the temperature outside drops to around zero degrees, it's worth applying natural fats to the face and skin of the hands, which form a solid protective layer, i.e.:

• cocoa butter,
• Shea butter (karite butter),
• beeswax,
• Jojoba oil ,
• Coconut oil,
• sweet almond oil,
• extra virgin olive oil,
• Avocado oil ,
• Argan oil,
• Squalane.

When applying a liquid oil to your face, it's best to use just a few drops and dab them onto the moisturizer you've previously applied. Solid products like shea butter, cocoa butter, or coconut oil only take a few seconds to warm up in your hands.

It's also worth noting that not all oils form an antifreeze layer. Those with a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids penetrate the epidermis. Therefore, oils from borage, wild rose, linseed, sea buckthorn, borage, raspberry seed, safflower, and black cumin are not a good solution for protecting the face from freezing temperatures.

Skin care in the winter season

In winter, it's especially worth limiting washing sensitive facial skin with degreasing and rather strong soaps and alcohol-based cosmetics. For people with sensitive and dry skin, micellar fluids may also be unsuitable in frosty weather, as they strip the outer layer of skin of its protective water-oil barrier. In this case, it's better to use a natural facial cleansing oil, which not only removes impurities and makeup, but also adds an additional layer of protection and nutrients such as vitamins and plant extracts. Let's also remember that in winter, we should also apply sunscreen, especially if it's snowing outside and reflects the sun's rays. Ultraviolet radiation reaches the skin and significantly contributes to accelerating the aging process, as well as dehydrating and weakening its condition.

As it turns out, winter skincare based on natural and readily available products isn't difficult at all and doesn't require any special, additional, or complicated treatments from us. Simply choose one of our favorite natural plant oils and apply it to previously cleansed and thoroughly moisturized skin before leaving your warm home and heading outside into the winter weather.