8 Tips for Non-Toxic Winter Skincare

Winter can be brutal on the skin. Cold weather, cold winds, and low humidity are a recipe for dry skin. Excessively dry skin and head to wrinkles, sagging skin, and even give you a dull complexion. While it is important to replenish your skin’s vital moisture, it’s also just as important to use natural non-toxic skin care. Often, conventional skin care products are packed with synthetic ingredients which can actually cause dry skin. We’ve put together a list of the top eight non-toxic skin care tips to keep your skin hydrated this winter.

1. Always Wear Sunscreen

Many people don’t realize that sunscreen is just as important to wear during the winter as it is during the summer. While it may not be as hot outside, the sun’s ultraviolet rays are just as powerful and can still cause damage to the skin. Sun damage can weaken collagen and elastin bonds which causes premature aging like dark spots, sagging skin, and wrinkles. The best sunscreens for winter have an SPF of 30 and are made with natural minerals like non-nano zinc oxide.

2. Use an Oil-Based Cleanser

Traditional cleansers often contain synthetic preservatives, fragrances, and harsh soaps like sodium lauryl sulfate. Ingredients like these can actually cause your skin to become dry. How? Because they are so strong that they strip away our skin’s natural protective oils. This is especially troubling during the winter months when the weather is already particularly dry. If you don’t want to experience dry, irritated, flakey skin, then choose an all-natural oil-based cleanser. These cleansers feel more like creams and don’t foam up. Don’t let the lack of foam fool you, oil cleansers are fantastic at removing dirt, oil, and makeup without leaving you skin high and dry.

3. Switch to a Hydrating Toner

Did you know that toners can help to balance your skin’s pH and replenish any lost moisture from cleansing?  Because of that, a hydrating toner is a must have for any natural winter skin care routine.

There are two types of toners: hydrating toners & mists and astringents. Astringents are typically made with drying ingredients like alcohol and work by removing oils from the skin. This winter, skip the astringents (even if you have oily skin) and opt for a natural toner with soothing ingredients like organic aloe vera juice, coconut water, honey, hyaluronic acid, algae, and rose waters. These ingredients will add a ton of moisture to the skin.

4. Add a Moisturizing Serum

A hydrating serum is a great tool for glowing winter skin. Serums are skin care treatments designed to be applied after cleansing and toning. They are made from ingredients which are capable of penetrating into the deepest layers of the skin—much deeper than traditional cream-based moisturizers. This winter, try using a natural serum made with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, aloe, and rose oil.

5. Don’t Forget to Exfoliate with a Mask

While exfoliation is a great way to treat dry skin, you’ll want to avoid using harsh exfoliants during the winter months. Too much exfoliation can actually irritate the skin and exacerbate dryness. Instead, opt for a gentle exfoliating mask. Clay masks in particular are perfect for removing dead skin cells, dry skin, and clearing clogged pores. The best masks for the winter contain healing clays (like French green clay or bentonite clay) and moisturizing natural ingredients such as coconut oil, honey, shea butter, avocado oil, and argan oil.

6. Keep Your Lips Moisturized & Protected

Did you know that your lips need SPF protection too? Most people are constantly slathering their lips with balms and creams during the winter, but many people neglect to protect their lips from the sun with SPF. Just like our undereye area, our lips have incredibly thin skin. They can’t produce enough melanin to protect them from the sun and they can’t retain as much moisture as the rest of our facial skin. This is why it is crucial to wear an SPF balm during the winter months. Again, the best SPF products are at least SPF 30 and made with natural minerals like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

7. Use a Night Cream or Oil

Night creams and oils are typically thicker than traditional moisturizers and they work to heal your skin while you sleep. The use of furnaces and heating devices can make the humidity inside significantly lower than the already low winter humidity outside. This means that your skin could be losing a ton of moisturize during the night hours. If your skin can tolerate it, oil-based night treatments are superior to creams. Oils create a protective barrier from moisture loss on the surface of the skin.

8. Drink Plenty of Water

A lack of hydration is often the culprit behind dry, dull, and flaky skin during the winter. Staying hydrated is just about the simplest and most effective thing you can do to have a major impact on the quality & condition of your skin. Our skin cells are made up of primarily water. Without water, these cells have a hard time functioning properly. This can result in dry skin, flaky skin, and even premature wrinkling. Our bodies tend to send nutrients to organs based on priority and, unfortunately, our skin is one of the lowest priority organs for hydration. So, you’ll have to drink at least 8 glasses of water daily or more during the winter in order to ensure that your skin gets the hydration that it needs.