Skin deterioration, sullen complexion, and dryness are the common adverse effects of the winter season. Amongst all, dryness and flakiness of the skin is an inevitable intricacy that almost all skin types have to bear.
It is not only the cold air that takes up moisture from your skin but also the indoor heat that further accelerates the problem of flaky skin. On top of that, people moisture less during winters since they are fully covered most of the time. This all contributes to the accumulation and dullness of the dead cells of the skin.
To deal with this situation, you have to take a step ahead and increase the time and ingredients that you use to take care of your skin during winters.
You have to make certain that your skin is effectively moisturized, and for that, you can include some incredible winter care ingredients in your skincare routine. Incorporating such ingredients or making sure that what you use on your skin contains such ingredients to assure that your skin stays hydrated and moisturized since these essential ingredients literally add water to your skin.
Regardless of your skin type, it needs enough moisturizing during the cold winters. With that in mind, some winter hero ingredients that are a must to help retain the moisture of your skin are listed below.
1- Glycerin
Glycerin is one ingredient that adequately moisturizes your skin without making it a greasy mess. It is an ultimate hydrating product containing humectant that assists in adding water to the skin without over-moisturizing it. It is also non-comedogenic, so using it won’t be clogging your pores, and the ingredient will permeate into your skin to show its effects. It helps considerably reduce the dryness of the skin and its humectant content literally attracts water to the skin. This ingredient is considered safe to use for all skin types by many dermatologists. It is a great skin cleanser as well, and its usage also prevents skin irritation.
2- Lactic acid
Lactic acid is another widely found ingredient in most of the moisturizers and beauty products that you get from the market. This acid is obtained from milk, is an ingredient that belongs to the family of alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs). Other AHA ingredients include citric acid and glycolic acid. It is an over-the-counter product, a chemical exfoliant, and a major source of hydration for your skin. Besides keeping the skin hydrated and moisturized during winters, it all improves your skin appearance and makes it wrinkleless and youthful. It also helps in eradicating dead cells from the topmost layer of the skin called the epidermis. Lactic acid peel-off masks are often used in the treatment of acne. Its antimicrobial properties make it usable for sensitive skin types as well. With so many effective properties, there is no reason not to trust this ingredient for winter care.
3- Hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid has become a widely recognized ingredient over the past few years. The reason why it is a hero ingredient to be carried and used this winter is because of its amazing humectant content that is capable of carrying 1000 times of its original weight in water, which means it is the ultimate solution you need to keep your skin hydrated all the time. It is the most recommended ingredient by dermatologists for dealing with skin dehydration and moisture-related problems. However, just because a product has hyaluronic acid does not mean it is all effective since other constituents matter as well, for that, patch-testing is the method that will help you in finding out whether a certain product is suitable for your skin in winter.
4- Squalane
As a natural skin care ingredient, Squalane has a long list of uses and benefits to offer to the skin. This ingredient can be easily seen in a lot of skin products. It is actually a natural oil that is there in the epidermis or topmost layer of the skin and is named Squalane when used as a skincare product. Using this ingredient provides your skin with fresh and rejuvenated skin as it helps in eliminating fine lines from your skin. This lightweight moisturizer nourishes your skin and makes it softer, hydrated, and shiny. It is also non-comedogenic, which means it will not clog your pores, and will also help prevent skin irritation and reduce dark spots.
5- Behenyl Alcohol
Another great ingredient used in most skin care products is to help improve the texture of the skin and make it supplier. Behenyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with a high molecular weight and is extensively used in moisturizing and body lotions. Using it on the skin helps enhance the hydrated look of the skin, balances its moisture, and is effective on all skin types. Though alcohol is considered bad for skin since it is seen as a drying or stinging agent, the scenario is the opposite. Fatty alcohols like behenyl alcohol indeed have great moisturizing properties and are thus, used in many skin-care products of winter. This type of alcohol is squeezed out from the vegetable and plant oil.
6- Ceramides
Ceramides are found in the stratum corneum cells, which are present on the outer layer of the skin. To make your skin appear glowy and youthful, having an adequate concentration of ceramides is crucial since it works as a protective layer assisting in shaping the skin texture. This ingredient also prevents transepidermal water loss, which is the moisture that escapes from your skin during the dry winter season. Ceramides protect this water loss and aids in skin hydration. It also retains the moisture of the skin and helps bring back its liveliness. It is easy to find skin-care products like anti-aging cream, moisturizers, and serums that are enriched with ceramides.
7- Retinoids
Retinoid is another ingredient present in most over-the-counter skin care products. It is highly regarded as one of the most-effective ingredients for curing fine lines and wrinkles. It is important that you look for retinoids in the skin-care products, especially in winters as it provides for moisture retention by accelerating the production of collagen; due to the dryness of the winter skin, our skin produces less collagen that makes it flaky and dull. Retinoids also aid with a smoother and shinier complexion along with reducing the dark spots from the skin.
