How you can finally defeat dry skin this winter

Dry skin and winter (unfortunately) tend to go hand in hand. But when you're struggling with the winter sniffles and trying to avoid rain wreaking havoc on your hair, the last thing you want to deal with is dry and flaky skin.
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Luckily, Tilly Barnett, owner and operator of No.13 The Beauty Avenue, is sharing her advice on how to defeat dry skin this winter.
Why do we get dry skin in winter?
There’s a whole STACK of reasons why our skin dries out each winter. “When the season changes so does our skin,” Tilly says. “Between the colder, drier air outside, the heating inside, hotter showers, an increase in coffee and tea and drinking less water all effects our skin.”
What can make dry skin worse in winter?
You know those icy mornings where the only thing that’ll wake you up is a nice and scalding-hot shower? We really hate to break it to you, but those showers aren't doing your skin any favours. Tilly says that even though the hot water is tempting in winter, it strips the moisture from your skin. So try not to make it too hot, beauties! Tilly also advises that you avoid soap. “Avoid using anything with soap as this will strip our skin of moisture,” Tilly says.
Is piling on moisturising products the answer?
Does anyone else panic at the first sight of dry skin? Do you then proceed to slather as many hydrating oils and moisturisers onto your skin as possible? Same. But as it turns out, that is not how you fix dry skin. Tilly says that if you’re using the right products, you shouldn’t have to stack them on. “It really depends on the product but you shouldn’t need loads to get the desired amount. A moisturiser is usually the size of a pea warmed up In the hands and pressed into the skin and a serum just 1-2 pumps under your moisturiser,” explains Tilly.
How should we alter our skin care routines for winter?
Product swaps
You should switch your cleanser to something more milky and creamy when winter hits. beautyheaven loves the NIVEA Creme Care Cleansing Lotion or Blessed by Nature Deep Cream Cleanser.
You should also swap your usual moisturiser for a richer one like the Sebamed Moisturising Facial Cream and DermaE Hydrating Day Cream.
Add serum
If you’re not already using a serum, winter is the time to do so. “Serums penetrate much deeper than creams so adding that extra hydration under your moisturiser really helps in the cooler months,” Tilly explains. If you're unsure of where to start with a serum, Tilly (in general) suggests using products with hyaluronic acid in winter because of its ability to hold moisture.
Try the Ultraceuticals Ultra B2 Hydrating Serum or the Environ Skincare Ionzyme Focus Hydrating Serum. Both contain hyaluronic acid.
Keep exfoliating
“It’s really important to keep exfoliating over winter too so we don’t get a build up of dead skin cells,” says Tilly. If you don’t remove dead skin cells it’s harder for your serums and moisturisers to get through and do their thing. “I like using lactic acid (AHA) which is both exfoliating and hydrating," Tilly says. She recommends the Elizabeth Arden Pro Gentle Facial Cleanser.
Looking to add lactic acid into your skin care routine? beautyheaven loves Environ Focus Care Moisture + Alpha Hydroxy Night Cream and Dr. LeWinn’s Reversaderm Corrective Skin Peel.
Can you alter your diet, too?
You sure can! “Make sure to drink plenty of water. It’s easy to forget in winter. I love adding Hydration Beauty Boost from The Beauty Chef into a glass of water to increase my water intake and get the great hydrating benefits it gives at a cellular level so we are looking after our skin both inside and out," says Tilly. "Avocados are great at the moment with healthy fats and oils it will give the skin some moisture from the inside. Try opting for herbal teas instead of black tea and coffee."
Don’t forget that the skin on your body can also get dry in winter! To combat dry skin on your body, try using the Trilogy Exfoliating Body Balm, Planet Eve Organics Luxe Body Creme and A'kin Replenishing Body Cream.
Do you get dry skin in winter? What is your winter skin care routine like?
Have you tried any of the products mentioned above?
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85 Member Comments
My skin will also become very dry in winter. After washing my face, I will feel uncomfortable if I don't apply cream. I also read some tips about skin care in this blog, my blog, share it to you all~
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Fortunately this winter was kind of mild, so not too much dryness to my skin.
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Should serums still be used in summer or are they mainly for winter?
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Great tips and advice, I try to exfoliate my face and body and make sure I moisturise after wards. Am using the Body shop shea body butter which is great on my hands but need to buy another one as I'm about to run out.
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My skin tends to be dry, especially my hands. I’m using The Body Shop Hemp hand cream at the moment. It’s a bit heavy for during the day, but great for last thing before turning the lights off at night.
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My hands are a wreck in winter, so it's lots of hand creams for me :)
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I totally agree! Using a moisturising night cream has made sure my skin isn't dry and flakey in certain placed, makes it way easier to put make up on in the morning without skin flaking everywhere (gross!)
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I have dry skin, which gets worse in winter. Have been paying attention more to my skin this winter though. I try to use facial oils more too.
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Looking forward to trying the welda skin food facial lotion from the natural beauty event. Feels like it will be great for my dry skin
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Yes! I agree the Weleda Skin Food is a treat for dry winter skin. The body butter would have been heavenly to use in this winter too, so thick and nourishing!
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Some great tips.
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I used to love having the shower as hot as possible until i worked out the damage it was doing to my skin and my hair. Now I have warm showers instead of super hot.
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I was going to say, serum would be my ultimate tip for dry skin in winter.
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Definitely need to up my water intake. I've been including lots of good oils in my diet from things like avocado and salmon. Not sure it's helping my skin but at least it's healthy!
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My skin definitely becomes very dry in winter, especially my elbows and my hands. I really do try to moisturise more and use body oils, which I find so good for extra hydration.
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I swap my skincare and do masks more often. Never skip a serum.
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I have far fewer issues with everything in winter as I enjoy the cold so much more than the heat.
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Mmm suppose I should add hydrating masks, seem to just use clay alot lately
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I'm on my way home to the last week of winter after two months away so I'm really looking forward to getting back into my regular skincare routine.
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I like winter it’s the only time of year my oily forehead is helpful lol.
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I do get dry skin in Winter, such a great & helpful read - thanks!
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I do suffer from dry skin in winter. I find as long as I make sure I'm drinking enough water, it's mostly under control. It's mostly my lips that get really dry in winter.
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I definitely try to increase my use of serums and hydrating masks to avoid dry skin in winter.
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My face doesn't really get dry during the winter but my hands do! It makes my eczema worse and at times it can be painful
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I'm so glad that we're in the last month of Winter, I'm so over it. I do find I have to hydrate my skin more in the cooler weather
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