rissywoo — Tweak Your Skin Care Routine This Winter by Swapping Moisturizers

It’s that time of year again…winter is among us! Caring for you skin is equally as important as caring for your body during the wintertime. You don’t want your skin to turn into a dry, flaky mess. A lot of people wonder whether switching out their skin care products is necessary when winter rolls around, and the answer to that question is ‘not entirely’. You can get away with using the same skin care products that you did in other seasons, but swapping out your moisturizer is recommended. A good moisturizer is super important to have during the winter as cold temperatures and harsh winds have a tendency to dry out the skin (oily skin folks, I’m speaking to you too).

During warmer months, I typically reach for lighter, gel-like moisturizers, which work great for my skin. However, after doing some research as well as learning my skin a bit more, I’ve realized that they aren’t that beneficial to use during colder months as they don’t provide much protection due to their lightweight nature. During the fall, light jackets and wind breakers will work perfectly, but they aren’t gonna fly during the winter. When it’s cold out, you want to reach for thick coats to protect your body; the same idea goes for the skin!

During the winter, you should reach for moisturizers that are thicker and more rich in formula to combat harsh weather conditions. I also want to put you on to a secret ingredient that your should look for in a winter moisturizer to help combat the cold weather and replenish the skin; ceramides!

Soooo…what are ceramides and how do they benefit the skin?

To keep it short and simple, ceramides are fatty acids that make up the majority of the skin’s composition. Ceramides create a protective shield that holds skin cells together, protects the skin from environmental irritants and keeps the skin moisturized. While ceramides are found naturally in the skin, extreme temperatures can cause ceramide depletion, which is where topical ceramides come in. Products containing ceramides will help replenish the skin, and get the ratio of ceramides needed to protect the skin back to where it needs to be.

How do I locate ceramides on ingredient labels?

If you cannot find the term “ceramide” on the packaging or ingredient label, check for these chemical names: