5 Winter Skincare Must’s

We are in the middle of winter—the darkest, coldest days of the year. The ground is frozen, the wind is biting at our doors, and many of us are dreaming of the cold thawing and warmer days ahead. While we wait for spring and summer to arrive, making a few minor changes to our winter skincare routine can have a major impact by helping our skin stay as healthy as possible.

Here are five winter skincare must’s that I do during the coldest months of the year:

Ease Up On Your Cleanser

Opting for a gentler cleanser during the winter months can help you be kinder to your skin. Take a look at the active ingredients in your facial cleanser. If you see ingredients like retinol, alcohol, or any ingredients that exfoliate, try to avoid those products for the time being. These ingredients can be a little too harsh and may potentially harm your skin while temperatures are low if used too much. Try gentler cleansers or washing your face less during the day (e.g., dropping from three complete face washes to one).

Ramp Up Your Daily Moisturizer

Every winter, I buy a tub of heavy, moisture-rich cream (my personal favorite is Nivea) so that my skin can stay as hydrated as possible. This kind of cream would normally make my face break out at most other times during the year, but it is the perfect addition to my winter skincare routine.

Save Your Hands with Salve

The cold is particularly tough on my hands. I have to tend to them often so they don’t get cracked or overly dry. I usually have a hand cream in my car, in my purse, and at the ready in my bathroom in the winter. However, I have been drawn to hand salve lately as an alternative to your run-of-the-mill hand cream. A salve is usually beeswax-based and can be thicker than hand cream or lotion. It also has more natural ingredients and can be less processed, especially if you can find one locally made. Check out your neighborhood farmer’s market or wherever you can find local, homemade goods sold near you.

Soften Your Feet With Vaseline

Whenever my feet were cracked and dry growing up, I remember my mom telling me to moisturize my feet with Vaseline at bedtime and then stick a pair of old socks on my feet. My mom swears by this skincare trick to this day and still regularly tells me to do this, particularly in the winter. I am always glad when I do. This can soften cracked heels like nothing else. It’s a great way to keep your feet happy and healthy in the wintertime.

Smile More With Lip Balm

Finding a great lip balm can be a game changer. This is another one of those things that I keep everywhere—purse, car, and house. I often duplicate or triplicate in case I lose one. In the winter, you may want to tend towards products that do not contain menthol, camphor, salicylic acid, or other ingredients that can dry out your lips and cause them to feel more chapped than ever.

What are some of your winter skincare must’s? Leave them in the comments to share with the community.