How to Treat Acne During Winter - Cold Weather Skincare Tips
I used to associate hot weather with my acne. The experience of sweat mixing with makeup, skincare, and copious amounts of my own oils during the hotter months led me to believe that winter should be an easier period for my oily, acne-prone skin. No such luck!
As it turns out, cold weather can aggravate this type of skin even more, since the lower humidity and temperature can lead to surface dehydration. This can cause the skin to overproduce sebum (oil) where bacteria can thrive within your pores thanks to a low-oxygen environment and lead to a nasty breakout.
But fear not! I have a substantial wall of skincare with recommendations that will help keep your skin clear even when the weather outside is frightful! Read on for a little science and a lot of clear skin! (p.s. you can watch my YouTube video on this topic here- make sure to subscribe).
Use Non Drying Products
You should probably do this all year, but drying products like alcohol based toners, products with known irritants, even certain acne medications like benzoyl peroxide can dry out the skin even further. Instead, I reach for natural acne oils whenever possible, and innovative products like ZitSticka which help knock out incoming zits before they even surface thanks so non-drying, skin-loving ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.
Lose the Abrasives
Sorry to all face scrub users, but these harsh physical exfoliants can:
Break down the skin’s protective barriers and cause micro tears and
Move acne causing bacteria from active breakouts onto clear areas of the skin, causing acne to spread. No!
Try chemical exfoliants that use BHA and AHA, or Beta-Hydroxy Acid and Alpha Hydroxy Acid. These popular skincare acids will help keep your pores clear by dissolving the bonds that hold dead skin cells to your face, but they won’t irritate your skin like a physical abrasive can.
I love Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Skin Perfect Gel because it’s easy to apply and makes my skin look so glowy and poreless. This product has helped me keep my skin in check for years!
Moisturize More
I know this often feels counterintuitive when you have oily skin, but as we’ve said: dry conditions cause the skin to overcompensate by producing more oil. More oil leads to more bacteria and a greater potential for breakouts! Using an oil free moisturizer like the Origins Clear Improvement Pore Clearing Moisturizer With Bamboo Charcoal (hello, long name) will help the skin’s hydration levels stay balanced. When I began using a dermatologist recommended oil-free moisturizer religiously, I noticed a huge drop in the apparent oiliness of my skin. I love this Origins one for a splurge because it’s got an extra kick of salicylic acid, which my skin tolerates well.
Serums
Admittedly, I was late to the game with using a serum regularly, but now I’m hooked! Recently, I have gotten into Banish Oil, a Vitamin C serum for Banish Skincare which is all natural and great at fading dark spots. But during the winter, I really like using Hyaluronic acid and Niacinamides to draw in moisture from the air and hydrate my skin without clogging pores. These ingredients are lightweight, and Niacinamide also reduces oil production and redness!
Sun protection is Key!
People don’t always realize, but the risk of sun damage causing inflammation is even higher in the winter. While the sun and sand reflect only 10%-15% of the suns rays back onto your face, snow can reflect as much as 80%. I love wearing high SPF products, and I was excited to try Papa Recipe Honey Moist Sun Essence as a lightweight SPF 50+ sunscreen that looks beautiful on my skin! It’s a big win for me.
Final Thoughts
The bottom line is this: winter time leads to dry skin, and dry skin can lead to more oil production. Take these extra steps to make sure your skin stays balanced and healthy all winter long, and let me know what your cold weather skincare tips are in the comments below! Watch my full video on YouTube here.
