Winter Skincare Mistakes That Make Dry Skin Worse

Does your skin feel tight after washing your face? Despite moisturizing, are you experiencing rough, flaky, or dull skin? During winter these problems can be worsened due to the lack of moisture in the skin caused by cold weather, low humidity, indoor heating and hot showers.

But it's not always just the weather. Some daily skin care routines may aggravate dry skin without you even knowing!

When skin gets uncomfortable in winter, it's time to check your skin care regimen! Some common winter skin care mistakes can leave your skin dry and uncomfortable all day long.

1. Washing Your Face with Hot Water

While the hot shower can be comforting on a cold winter's day, very hot water can strip some of the natural oils that help keep your skin moist. These oils work to maintain skin barrier and minimise moisture loss.

If the skin is already dry, the use of hot water frequently tightens, roughens or irritates it.

What to do instead: Use lukewarm water when washing your face. Don't have long showers, and dry off skin with a towel with a gentle pat. Moisturising just after cleansing can also do a wonderful job of holding the moisture.

2. Using a Cleanser That Leaves Your Skin Tight

A cleanser must be able to clean your skin without stripping it.

If you notice that your face feels very tight or uncomfortable after each use, you probably need to use a softer cleanser. This may be more apparent during the winter months when skin may be more sensitive to losing moisture.

You don't necessarily need to stop cleansing. Instead, look for a gentle formula that is suitable for your skin.

A hydrating cleanser can be a useful option for dry or sensitive skin. Trego Hydrating Facial Cleanser might be a good product to consider if you're looking for a facial cleanser for a winter skin care regimen that's focused on keeping skin hydrated. Review the instructions and ingredients for the product to ensure it is right for your skin.

3. Not Using Moisturizer When Your Skin is Oily

An error that's made is that people believe that oily skin doesn't require moisturizer. In fact, oily-skin can be dehydrated as well, especially in cold weather.

Without moisturizer, your skin can still get oily, but may feel uncomfortable or flaky.

The solution is not necessarily a heavy cream. A moisturizer should be moisturizing and comfortable on the skin.

A thicker moisturizer might be more effective for dry skin and help to prevent moisture from escaping. If you have oily or combination skin, a light, non-comedogenic formula might be best.

If you're seeking hydration and skin-barrier support, there's something to consider: Trego Moisturizing Cream with the ingredients of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, ceramides and panthenol.

4. Exfoliating Too Frequently

The process of exfoliation may help to eliminate dead skin cells and leave the skin looking fresh. However, too much use of exfoliating acids or scrubs can cause irritation and the dryness can become more prominent.

Adding more exfoliation may not help if your skin is already flaky. Can make skin more reactive, particularly when used in conjunction with retinol or other active products.

An alternative: Avoid exfoliation if skin is dry or irritated. Do not use multiple exfoliating products at the same time; use instructions for each individual product.

If your skin continues to feel unpleasent, apply soft cleansers and moisturizers until it is more comfortable.

5. Applying Serum Without Following Up with Moisturizer

Serums may offer beneficial ingredients to hydrate, brighten or help with other skin concerns. But, a serum will probably not be sufficient to make your skin comfortable during winter.

There are ingredients in your routine that attract water, but you need to support moisture retention too, like hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid.

Once you've used your serum, apply a moisturizer that is appropriate for your skin. This can help to maintain hydration and skin barrier in place.

If you are using a product containing niacinamide or hydrating formula during the winter, stick to a simple routine and don't overload yourself with products.

6. Forgetting Sunscreen During Winter

Often, people think of sunscreen as something for summer only, but the sun's UV rays are present all year round. UV rays can also cause skin ageing and tanning, even on cloudy or cold days.

Not using the sunscreen will also make it more difficult to control existing dark spots.

Use a wide-spectrum broad-band sun cream, apply during the day to bare skin (SPF30 or above). Reapply as necessary, particularly if sweating, swimming, or spending prolonged time outside.

Trego Sunscreen SPF 50++ can be used as part of your daily sun protection regimen. Use the instructions on the product, and apply evenly to bare skin.

7. Changing Your Entire Skincare Routine at Once

When wintery skin is dry, it's easy to grab a handful of new products when you go shopping. However, the use of several products at the same time can render it difficult to determine which is aiding and which is irritating.

A drastic change in lifestyle can also aggravate sensitive skin.

Rather, make incremental changes. Go with a mild cleanser, the right moisturizer and daily sun cream. Add and test one product at a time to see if your skin reacts to it.

If skin continues to bleed, itch, hurt and crack, consult a dermatologist.

8. Neglecting your skin barrier.

Your skin barrier is responsible for retaining moisture and shielding your skin from irritants. Once it's compromised, your skin can feel dry, tight, rough and very sensitive.

Excessive cleansing, hot showering, excessive exfoliation and neglecting moisturizer can all cause discomfort.

If your skin barrier is looking irritated, keep it as simple as possible. Use gentle products, don't over exfoliate and moisturize regularly. Adding ingredients that can help with skin barrier care, such as ceramides or panthenol, can be beneficial.

Allow the skin to recuperate from frequent product changes in search of a quick fix. 

Final Thoughts

Sometimes the causes of winter dryness are not solely due to the cold weather. Your skin may feel worse in the colder months, especially when using hot water, harsh cleansers, over-exfoliating and not using moisturizer.

The ideal skin care regimen for winter is one that hydrates the skin but doesn't over-hydrate it. Use mild products, moisturize regularly and apply sunscreen throughout the day.

When dryness is more intense, causes pain or lasts a long time, see a dermatologist to determine the cause of the dryness and get the correct treatment.