Dry winter skin is the worst! There we've said it! Winter is supposed to be one of the most fun times of the year filled with egg nog, Love Actually re-runs, and hot chocolate, not worrying if your skin is going to split open because it's so tight. On a list of things you want to be worried about during the holidays, we're sure dry skin is not one of them. That's why we've compiled a list of dry winter skin remedies and included some tips for acne prone skin, since acne tends to make things even more complicated. To better understand how to prevent dry skin during the winter, however, you need to understand why your skin tends to become dry in the first place.

So Why Does Skin Get Dry In The Winter?

Cold weather dry skin it turns out is actually caused by the fall in humidity. Yes, that same humidity that causes your hair to frizz, actually helps your skin to maintain its moisture balance. Apparently they weren't lying when they said we can't have it all. When humidity decreases, the moisture in the air decreases, making the air dry. When the air is dry your skin tends to lose water at a faster rate i.e. becomes less hydrated resulting in dry skin. This process affects us all including those with oily, acne prone skin.

So How Do You Prevent Skin From Drying Out?

We thought you'd never ask! The best way to treat dry skin in these cold months is to prevent it from happening in the first place, and you can do so by...

Getting a Humidifier

As we explained before, a decrease in humidity is just about one of the worst things that can happen to your skin. A humidifier is one of the best ways to protect your skin during the dry winter months. A humidifier adds moisture to the air, which slows the loss of water from your skin, which in turn helps to prevent dryness. 

Place your humidifier in the room you spend the most time, for example your bedroom, to get the most benefits.

Avoiding Long Hot Showers

Long hot showers may be what winter months are made of, but it could also be wreaking havoc on your skin. Frequently having hot showers can actually result in dry itchy skin. This can be especially bad for those with oily skin. When skin becomes dry it produces more oil to overcompensate for the lack of moisture. This over-production  of oil can lead to clogged pores and breakouts.

So how do you know if the water is too hot? Well if you notice that skin becomes red after a shower then it is definitely time to bring the water temperature down. Instead opt for a lukewarm shower to ensure your skin doesn't lose too much moisture, and stays hydrated.

Use a Thicker Moisturizer

We love a light lotion and gel just as much as everyone else but during the cold winter months they may simply not be enough. Creamy moisturizers tend to have more emollients, and do a better job of sealing in moisture. There is a reason why dry skin moisturizers tend to be creamier in texture.

For skin that tends to get dry in the winter, adding a thicker moisturizer to your routine can make a huge difference. If your skin tends to be oily and acne prone, don't worry, many creamier moisturizers are non-comedogenic and will not clog pores. Our Touch My Skin moisturizer is jam packed with anti-inflammatory ingredients such as turmeric to calm redness, and treat breakouts. It's creamy texture helps it to hydrate and moisturize, and since it's non-comedogenic it doesn't clog pores and won't lead to breakouts.

Add A Facial Oil

The word "oil" is scary for a lot of people, especially those with oily skin. Relax! Oils are nowhere near the scary ingredients they were once thought to be, and if you choose the right one, you won't even have to worry about breakouts. A good facial oil that uses non-comedogenic oils will moisturize, and prevent a loss of moisture from the skin.

Use a facial oil morning and night, as the last step in your beauty routine (second to last if you use sunscreen, which you should!). Oils work as a sealer, preventing skin from losing water, therefore making it great for preventing cold weather dry skin. Our Summer Glow Facial Oil is non-comedogenic so it doesn't clog pores, and it's made with tea tree oil to treat acne. Use under makeup for a perfect year round glow.

Avoid Harsh Ingredients

 Ok, so while this is about cold weather dry skin remedies, this is something you should be doing all year round. The sad fact is a lot of skin care products are packed with ingredients that dry out skin, and help to quicken the loss of moisture. We're talking sulfates, alcohols and chlorides, ingredients that suck the moisture up and leave your skin feeling tight, and flaking.

Some of the biggest culprits for skin drying ingredients are face washes, and toners. These ingredients could be hiding in anyone of your skin care products, however, so be sure to read your skin care labels before adding anything to your routine.

Do Some Gentle Exfoliating

While exfoliating may sound like a bad idea during this time, it actually helps to keep dry skin in check. Exfoliating removes dead skin cells, and works to remove flaking skin that may happen as a result of your skin drying out. A chemical exfoliant is great as it removes flaking skin without being too harsh.

Our Selfie Goals Exfoliating Enzyme Powder exfoliates uses fruit enzymes to gently lift away dead skin cells and treat flaking. During the cold winter months try to limit exfoliating to once per week so as to not overdo it.

Got any additional tips? Tell us in the comments below, our readers would really appreciate the help!