Why you need a different skincare in winter
Author: Jenny Schadow, Co-Founder MAYUNO
TL;DR: In winter, your facial skin is particularly stressed by temperature changes, cold and dry air. Moisturising, protecting and lipid replenishment are crucial to avoid dry or reddened skin. For the right winter skincare, your skin needs particularly oily creams in the cold season and yet a good supply of moisture.
Why your skin suffers particularly in winter
Even in the warmer seasons, there are a number of factors that cause our skin to lose oil and moisture. These include excessively hot water, conventional soaps, stress and fatigue, excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption and unsuitable make-up. Hereditary factors and age also play a role. From the second half of life onwards, the skin produces less oil and is therefore less able to bind moisture.
In winter, our skin dries out particularly quickly due to the cold and wind. This applies to all skin types. Facial skin is particularly sensitive as it is not protected by clothing.
The Problem:
- Cold reduces the skin's sebum production.
- Dry heating air also removes moisture from the skin.
- Without adequate protection, this can lead to red, dry, flaky skin or even cracked patches.
The skin barrier needs support during the cold season to compensate for the harsh environmental influences. This means that your winter skincare routine must be fundamentally different from your summer skincare routine.
What happens if the skin is not properly protected?
Without the right care, the cold season becomes a real stress test for your skin.
Already at temperatures below 8 degrees, your skin produces less oil. The cold makes it firmer and less evenly distributed, which makes your skin's protective layer more permeable and leads to increased moisture loss.
The change between frosty air outside and dry heated air inside also deprives your skin of important moisture and weakens its natural protective barrier.
Dangers of unprotected skin in winter:
- Dryness and tightness:
Due to the low humidity and cold temperatures, your skin loses more water. The thin skin on your face in particular dries out quickly, making it feel rough and uncomfortably tight. - Weakened skin barrier:
Without sufficient oil and moisture, your skin loses its natural protective layer. This makes it susceptible to environmental influences, redness and irritation. Reddened, dry skin or even cracked patches can be the result. - Premature skin aging:
Permanently dry skin can increase fine lines and wrinkles. Due to the weakened skin barrier, your skin becomes less elastic and quickly appears tired and dull. - Cold damage:
There is a particular risk of cold damage at temperatures below freezing. Without a protective film of oil, localised frostbite causes ice crystals to form in the cells, destroying cells and blood vessels.
In summer, light, water- or gel-based face creams or moisturisers with a higher water content are often sufficient. In winter, however, your skin needs more oil or fat for effective protection against the cold and to be prepared for the harsh conditions. The colder it is, the more oil your skin needs.
The solution: natural skincare in winter
With the right skincare, you can protect your skin from the rigours of winter and keep it glowing at the same time.
1. Oil instead of water - Why fatty creams are important now
In winter, you need an oily cream that supports your skin barrier and reduces moisture loss, like the nourishing Regena Enriched Cream from WAPHYTO. Ingredients such as jojoba oil, beeswax, shea butter or squalane cover the skin like a protective layer. A good winter face cream or a classic cold cream reliably protects your face from the wind and cold.
2. Moisturiser: The basis for healthy winter skin
Even though oil is important, moisturising should not be neglected. Moisturisers with hyaluronic acid or glycerine, such as SHIGETA Dual HA Serum, provide your skin with sufficient moisture without weighing it down. For the best result, a cream combines lipid replenishing and moisturising properties.
3. Natural ingredients for gentle care
Natural skin care in winter is particularly gentle and effective. Ingredients such as shea butter, wild rose oil or rice germ oil have a soothing effect and help reddened, dry skin. Minimal, natural formulas also avoid unnecessary irritants, such as synthetic colourants and fragrances, which could put additional strain on your skin in winter.
Skin care routine in winter: Step by step
- Gentle cleansing: Use mild cleansing products and lukewarm water to avoid drying out the skin.
- Moisturising serum: Apply a moisturising milk or a moisturising serum.
- Oily face cream: A rich winter face cream with natural oils and fats protects your skin barrier. In winter, always apply the cream from liquid to solid.
- Cold protection for the face: A special cold protection cream offers optimum protection in very cold weather and when spending long periods outdoors.
- Don't forget sun protection: UV radiation is also present in winter, especially on sunny days, in the snow and at higher altitudes. A cream with a sun protection factor or a sun cream may be useful here.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about skin care in winterAlcohol is almost indispensable in many cosmetics, it prevents bacterial growth and makes the products last longer. Alcohol has an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect, which benefits blemished skin, for example. In natural cosmetics, active ingredients that are not water-soluble are dissolved from the plants using alcohol. Alcohol also helps to distribute active ingredients in the cream and ensures that the cream is easier to apply to the skin.
Not all alcohols in cosmetics are harmful, but some can dry out the skin and weaken the skin barrier by removing oil and moisture.
These include:
- Benzyl alcohol
- Denatured alcohol (Alcohol Denat)
- ethanol
- Ethyl alcohol
- Isopropyl alcohol
- methanol
- SD alcohol
However, so-called fatty alcohols or ‘good alcohols’ have a moisturising effect and do not dry out the skin. They do not irritate and even very dry skin tolerates them well.
- Behenyl alcohol
- Cetyl alcohol
- Cetearyl alcohol
- Lanolin alcohol
- Myristyl alcohol
- Stearyl alcohol
Tip: In Switzerland and the EU, there is no specific legal regulation as to when a skin care product may be labelled alcohol-free. It is common for products containing alcohols that do not dry out the skin to be advertised as alcohol-free.
Besides protection from the cold in winter, oily or greasy skin still needs more moisture than oil. Use mild cleansers and care products that are non-comedogenic (do not clog your pores). Moisturising masks with a high oil content provide additional support for your skin during the cold season. High-quality, natural Japanese skincare is particularly suitable, as every product - even when cleansing - has moisturising properties. SHIGETA Awakening moisturising cream, for example, is ideal for oily skin in winter.
In natural skin care, the following ingredients are particularly suitable for your skin care routine in the cold season:
- Camellia oil: Antioxidant, moisturising and quickly absorbed
- Hyaluronic acid: Moisturises deeply
- Jojoba oil: Non-comedogenic and strengthens the natural protective barrier
- Rice bran oil: Protects against environmental influences and nourishes the skin
- Shea butter: Moisturising and soothing
- Squalane: Strengthens the skin barrier and retains moisture