Winter Skin Care Tips & Home Remedies for Every Skin Type

You might find thousands of winter skincare tips all over the internet. In fact, there would be numerous tips shared with you by your friends and elderly, but is any one of them useful for you?

While the winter season is wonderful, it can be brutal for your skin. Cold winds and low humidity along with indoor heating systems can impact your skin's health. It can zap away your skin's natural oils and dehydrate it, leaving it dry, flaky, inflamed, and sensitive. With a proper winter skincare routine in place, you can easily avoid common winter woes. And the good news is, you don't need expensive products or harsh chemicals for that - natural ingredients and a few DIY solutions will do the trick. 

Common Winter Challenges for Skin

• Dry & Dehydrated Skin: Your skin's natural moisture level depletes, leaving it dry and tight.
• Flaky & Itchy Skin: Flaking is common in winter around areas like cheeks, elbows, and legs. These conditions worsen if you neglect regular moisturizing and exfoliating.
• Skin Sensitivity: Fluctuating temperature can cause sensitivity, discomfort, and irritation.
• Neglected Areas: People often neglect to moisturize and nourish skin areas like knuckles, feet, ankles, elbows, and lips as they often bear the brunt of the season.

DID YOU KNOW?

Your skin tends to lose 25% more water in winter than in other seasons. When we talk about keeping hydrated it is not just about drinking lots of water, rather it's about sealing the moisture with the right care.

Winter Skin Care Tips Based on Skin Types

For Dry Skin:

Care Tips:

• Use a gentle cleanser, specifically a cream-based one to prevent overdrying of your skin.
• Use a rich moisturizer or natural body butter to lock in the moisture right after the shower.
• You can also use natural oils for extra nourishment. Oils like almond, avocado, or olive oil can greatly help you.

• Ingredients: 1 mashed banana, 1 tbsp honey, and 2 tbsp aloe vera gel.
• Application: Mix all the ingredients together to get a thick paste, and apply it evenly to your face and neck area. Leave it on for 10 minutes or till it's semi-dry and rinse it with lukewarm water.

2. Honey Oatmeal Face Mask

• Ingredients: 2 tbsp of oatmeal, 1 tsp of walnut shell powder, 1 tbsp of honey, and 2 tbsp of warm milk.
• Application: Mix all the ingredients together to make a smooth paste and apply it to your cleansed skin. Leave it on for 20 minutes and rinse it with warm water.

For Oily Skin:

Care Tips:

• Use a light gel-based moisturizer for hydration which will prevent clogging pores.
• Exfoliate once a week with a mild scrub to remove dead skin cells and prevent buildup.
• You can use a clay mask once a week to reduce excess oil production.

DIY Remedy:

1. Oil-Control Face Mask

• Ingredient: 2 tbsp of multani mitti (bentonite clay) and rosewater.
• Application: Mix the two ingredients together to make a smooth paste and apply it to your face. Leave it on for 10 minutes or until it's semi-dry and rinse it off with lukewarm water.

2. Exfoliating Face Mask

For Combination Skin:

Care Tips:

• For oily skin, you need targeted care, a rich moisturizer for dry areas, and a lightweight for the oily zone.
• Layer your skin with a hydrating toner followed by a moisturizer.

DIY Remedy:

1. Balancing Face Mask

• Ingredients: 1 tbsp of rose petal powder, 2 tbsp of yogurt, and 1/2 tbsp honey.
• Application: Mix all the ingredients to make a paste and apply it to your face and neck area. Leave it on for 15 minutes and rinse it with lukewarm water.

2. Natural Face Mask

For Sensitive Skin:

Care Tips:

• Use skincare products with minimal ingredients and avoid harsh chemical products.

DIY Remedy:

1. Soothing Oatmeal Face Mask:

Additional DIY Hacks

• Rice Water Toner: Save the water you use to rinse your rice with. It is an excellent toner packed with vitamins.
• Cucumber Ice Cubes: Freeze and make ice cubes of cucumber juice. Use it twice a week to calm and refresh your skin.
• Glow Mask: Mix honey and lemon juice in equal parts for a quick brightening hack.

DID YOU KNOW?

Honey is a natural humectant, meaning it draws moisture into your skin and helps retain hydration.

Conclusion

Skincare might demand a little effort and some time, but it is all worth it and it does not have to burn your pocket. With these simple winter skin care tips and a few home remedies that you can easily DIY, it becomes easier to maintain healthy skin. Make sure you are consistent with your skincare routine.

FAQs

• How often should you use DIY skincare masks?

It certainly depends on your skin type, but you can use it once or twice a week.

• How to get rid of cracked heels?

You can use a mixture of coconut oil and glycerine or petroleum jelly. Apply it to your cracked heels and leave it overnight with socks on.

• Can I skip moisturizer if I have an oily skin type?

Definitely not. Even if you have oily skin, hydration is essential. Opt for a gel or water-based moisturizer to avoid clogging pores.