How To Get Soft Skin This Winter

When the temperature drops, so can your body’s immune system. The frigid weather can heighten your risk of sickness and skin irritation. Dry winter air can dehydrate skin, causing its protective barrier to weaken and leaving you more vulnerable to dry skin, breakouts, discoloration, irritation, and inflammation. Prepare for the winter blues this season with these soft skin tips.

1. Use a Gentle Skin Routine

Your skincare routine should change with the seasons. Temperature, weather, allergens, and other factors can dry out your skin during the winter months. No matter what your skin type, you can have smooth skin all year long when you change your beauty regimen. Avoid harsh exfoliates and products containing drying agents like alcohol. Severe treatments can strip your skin of its natural oils, causing rashes, inflammation, and breakouts. If you have oily skin, dehydrating products can actually exacerbate the issue by stimulating your glands to produce excess oil. Face peels and similar treatments also remove the top layer of skin, exposing your fresh skin to the frigid winter weather. 

Retaining moisture is important this time of year, and our Hydrate Skin Smoothie is packed full of lush botanicals that soak right into the skin, never sitting heavy on top. Designed for oily to normal skin, it can revive your skin by itself or under your makeup to reduce the effects of the cold, dry air.

Quench Thirsty Skin

A skin smoothie for your face. This lightweight, breathable moisturizer is packed with botanicals and good-for-you ingredients.

Indulge Your Skin

2. Take a Short, Warm Shower or Bath

It may be tempting to step into a hot, steamy shower on a cold winter’s day, but the high temperature can dry out your skin. Hot water can burn, causing rashes, blistering, aching, itching, and flaking. It can also damage and remove the top layer of your skin, which leaves fresh skin vulnerable to the cold. The steam also opens your pores, which makes you more susceptible to breakouts. Keep the hot showers to a minimum and opt for cool to lukewarm water to rejuvenate your skin.

Decreasing your bathing time can keep your skin hydrated and smooth all season. Limit your shower time between 5 to 10 minutes, or step out of the bath before your skin becomes wrinkled like a prune. If you don’t do any strenuous activity during the day, you may be able to take shorter showers to maintain your body’s natural oils.

Avoid soaps with ingredients that can dehydrate your skin and cause irritation. Your skin might be extra sensitive in the winter, which means you need gentler products. If you’re experiencing redness, itching, or a rash, check the label of your soap and make sure it doesn’t include any skin-irritating ingredients.

We recommend using our gentle and all-in-one body wash, Sudsy. Chock-full of juicy, body brightening citruses like Tangerine, Grapefruit, and Lemon, this bubbly treat will moisturize and cleanse, leaving your body silkier, smoother, buffed, and beautiful.

Lather Up

Indulge your body in a brightening, juicy citrus treat. Drench yourself with botanicals while washing away ick, revealing beautifully balanced, silky smooth skin.

Get Sudsy

3. Get Cozy

Do sweaters make you itchy? You can get hives or a rash from the material you’re wearing. It’s sweater season, so make sure the fabrics you’re wearing are made of soft, skin-friendly material. Choose clothing made of breathable fabrics like cotton, mohair, cashmere, or wool. The fibers in these materials don’t scratch your skin, and they allow ventilation so fresh air reaches your skin. If you still experience irritation, you may have a skin allergy. Test different fabrics to see whether you have skin sensitivity, and opt for those that provide the most comfort.

Make sure your sheets are clean before you snuggle in bed to prevent body blemishes. Every time you lay in your bed, your sheets collect your sweat, dirt, dead skin cells, and bacteria you’ve gathered throughout the day. Dirty sheets can clog your pores, causing breakouts. Wash your sheets at least once a week with a skin-friendly laundry detergent to keep your sheets fresh and soft. Clean sheets made of natural materials can help prevent blemishes, itchiness, and rash.

4. Don’t forget the SPF

Summer has come and gone, but the sun’s harmful UV rays can affect your skin no matter what season it is. Even on overcast days, UV rays can filter through clouds and cause skin damage, including sunburns, rashes, blisters, itching, and peeling. Overexposure to the sun can also increase the look of aging, and your risk of skin cancer. No matter what time of year it is, make sure any exposed skin is covered in SPF 20 or higher to keep your skin safe.

Don’t like the slick feel of sunscreen lotion? Use skin care products that shield you from the sun without the oil, smell, or residue of traditional sunscreen. If your skin gets irritated by sunscreen, choose water-based creams or cosmetics with SPF. Remember to add a new layer of sunscreen every two or three hours to keep your skin protected.

5. Stay Hydrated

If you want to know how to have a smooth face this winter, start with water. Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day to stay hydrated, and drink more if you engage in physical activity. Replenishing your fluids throughout the day helps improve circulation, so your body can flush out toxins and bring vital nutrients to your skin. How do you know when you need to drink more water? By the time you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. As soon as your mouth or your lips feel dry, it’s time to drink up. Replacing your fluids is one of the best ways to keep skin hydrated and soft through the winter months. Remind yourself to drink water by carrying a water bottle wherever you go. Keep one in your car, one at the office, and one in your gym bag to keep you hydrated. If you want more flavor, add fruit and let it soak in the water to add natural sugar and taste.

Treating dry skin in the winter doesn’t have to be a hassle. If you want to know how to get soft skin this winter season, follow these tips for a smoother, silkier complexion. For more, check out our top natural beauty tips to keep skin glowing all year long.

Abby Vinas

Abby Vinas has long been an active member of the holistic health community, advocating in favor of its benefits to both our physical and emotional well-being. Her commitment to leading a healthy lifestyle has made her an authority on self-care practices. Abby is passionate about fitness, nutrition, and proper skincare, and is also an avid lover of avocado toast and dog-petting.