Winter brings so much with it – festivals, celebrations and food – but it also brings some much-dreaded skin concerns like dehydration, dryness and dullness. Winter in India, especially in the north, can be quite unforgiving on our skin. Here are our top tips on keeping Indian skin moisturised and happy, no matter how low the mercury drops!
Why do you need a moisturiser during winters?
Imagine a world without water. Tough, isn’t it? It’s the same situation for your skin without a moisturiser. This simple product is one of the best skincare products that needs to be a staple to your skincare regime come rain, hail or shine.
While the immediate effect of a moisturiser is to make your skin softer and smoother, consistent use can keep your skin healthy in a multitude of ways. A good moisturiser is unparalleled when it comes to hydrating skin, making it plump and firm while minimising the appearance of fine lines. Remember that dry, dehydrated skin succumbs easily to early signs of ageing, which is why a moisturiser is imperative to keep your skin looking younger for longer.
Believe it or not, regular moisturisation can also keep acne at bay. When your skin experiences dryness or dehydration, its sebaceous glands go into overdrive. As a result, your skin produces excess oil which, in turn, causes acne. Keeping your skin well-moisturised ensures that your skin’s production of sebum remains balanced.
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How to pick the best moisturiser for you?
Between decoding your skin type and attempting to mitigate the effects of changing weather on your skin, choosing the right moisturiser can seem confusing. Emollients, body butters, cold creams – heavy, intensely hydrating moisturisers work best in the winter when your skin naturally becomes drier than during the rest of the year. Moisturise indulgently, especially before bed, to ensure maximum absorption overnight.
There’s no single, miracle product that can be labelled the best moisturiser for all skin types. Understanding your skin type plays an important role in choosing between the different types of moisturiser. Here’s a simple method in case you’re unsure— wash your face and avoid applying any products post towel-drying. After an hour or two, if your skin feels stretched, it is dry. If it starts feeling greasy and looking shiny all over, it’s oily. If it feels dry around your cheeks but greasy along the T-zone (that is, your forehead, nose and chin), you have a combination skin type. If you have sensitive skin that’s prone to redness and break outs, its best to consult your dermatologist before starting any new product. Don’t forget to do a patch test to ensure that the product is safe for you.
A good rule of thumb is to pick a moisturiser that feels slightly sticky but not greasy, and leaves your skin feeling supple and soft upon application. The best moisturiser for oily skin is usually one that’s lightweight, maybe water or gel based, and non-comedogenic so it doesn’t further clog our pores or feel heavy on our skin. Contrary to popular belief, a hydrating moisturiser for oily skin is not an oxymoron. You just need to go for a non-greasy, non-sticky variety. A heavier moisturiser, maybe an emollient or body butter even, will help lock in moisture for those with dry skin. Ingredients such as glycerine, hyaluronic acid, mineral oils, or lanolin in a moisturiser will be especially impactful for this skin type. For those with sensitive skin, use a fragrance-free, dermatologically tested, hypoallergenic moisturiser.
How and when should you moisturise?
Step 1: Clean before you cream
The first step is to cleanse your face with a gentle, hydrating facewash that does not strip your skin of its natural oils. People with extra dry skin can benefit from a creamy cleanser, whereas a gel-based wash works best for those with oily skin.
Step 2: Set the tone
Toners are unavoidable during winter, irrespective of your skin type. They add an extra boost of hydration to your skin and prep it for the next steps in your routine. A good-quality, pH-balanced toner is crucial for hydrating skin. It lays the foundation for a moisturiser to easily penetrate the deeper layers of the skin. Take a liberal amount of the toner on a cotton pad or directly on your palms and dab it all over your cleansed face. Let it get absorbed before you proceed to the next step.
A tira tip:
Applying moisturiser on damp skin ensures better absorption and higher efficacy. Next time you want super dewy skin, spritz on your favourite hydrating essence or toner before proceeding to apply moisturiser.
Step 3: The main event
Apply a liberal amount of moisturiser all over your damp face and massage it in gently. Do not forget your neck, décolletage, and ears. Opt for a lighter variant in the AM, and pick a richer, thicker one in the PM to nourish your skin while you snooze.
Facial oils FTW
For years, we have been wary of using oil on our face, lest it make us greasy or worse, cause breakouts. However, face oils can be a gamechanger in the cold, especially for people with dry skin. Make sure you’re using a lightweight, non-comedogenic variant that’ll add nourishment without clogging your pores. Use it as the last step in your skincare routine — simply pat a few drops onto moisturised skin to seal in the goodness.
