Our cosmetic tips to counter the harmful effects of winter on the skin

Is winter rough on your skin? You’re not alone! To counter the harmful effects of winter on the skin, it’s essential to offer it care adapted to the cold season. With the inclement weather, the skin tends to dry out and become less comfortable. When the leaves start falling from the trees, it's a sign that it's time to rethink your beauty routine and adapt it to winter with more nourishing and hydrating cosmetics.

In this article, we’ll highlight different simple and practical tips to adopt in order to prevent and relieve the harmful effects of winter on the skin, including dryness. We’ll also present you various natural beauty products and food supplements that can support your efforts. The Quebec winter is such a beautiful season, it’s better to be properly equipped to take full advantage of it!

Don't let your skin become a victim of winter

The skin is a precious organ and plays a major role in everyone's well-being. It protects everything inside our body against everything that surrounds us and prevents germs and impurities from entering. However, to do its job well, it must be in good health. Imagine trying to prevent an intruder from entering your home while the door is left wide open. Not very effective, right?

As you already know, winter and its rather irritating climatic conditions are rough on our skin. Very cold temperatures, external aggressions, the often too low humidity level in homes cause the skin to dry out almost instantly. An excellent way to counter this problem and thus promote the balance of the skin and encourage its protective functions is to maintain its moisture level.

Moisturize to prevent skin problems

Unfortunately, moisturizing the skin in winter is often a far too underrated care. But did you know that dry skin can cause more than just discomfort? Untreated dry skin can lead to skin imbalance, painful cracks or infections. Some people may even be bothered by the way their skin looks and suffer from social isolation or a loss of self-confidence. And if you already have a skin problem, you may have noticed that it tends to get worse during the winter. In addition, weakened, dry skin can be more vulnerable to its environment and respond with allergic reactions, irritation or redness. All this is due to the fact that dryness weakens the hydrolipidic film and the stratum corneum on the surface of the skin, keeping it from reacting and protecting itself normally.

It’s therefore essential to moisturize the skin with natural and organic cosmetic products, especially during the winter months. Fortunately, with the advice we offer in this article, it’s possible to have radiant and healthy skin all winter long.

The cosmetic use of vitamin E: a simple gesture for healthy winter skin

Vitamin E is more than popular in the world of cosmetics, both natural and conventional. But there’s nothing innovative here since it has been used for its many benefits for more than 50 years. However, what’s novel are the scientific advances regarding vitamin E. We’re interested in its various forms, its penetration through the layers of the skin, the use that the body makes of it and how to highlight it for the good of its consumers. All this research has led to the development of many effective natural beauty products against skin aging and against the harmful effects of the sun, among other things.

Research has also discovered that the application of a beauty product made with vitamin E on the surface of the skin makes it possible to reinforce the hydrolipidic film by promoting the maintenance of its natural oils, as well as its level of hydration. With better defenses, the skin is able to react normally to its environment and activate its self-healing process. 

Would you like to see what vitamin E can do for your skin? We recommend this cream for your face and this one for your body. If more sensitive areas need a little extra boost, try pure vitamin E. A few drops will suffice to moisturize and support the natural healing process.

Vitamin E in the form of a food supplement, is it as effective?

While its effectiveness when applied topically isn’t up for debate, did you know that your skin (and your health) can also benefit from vitamin E if taken in the form of a supplement? Although we know the benefits of taking vitamin E in its cosmetic form during the winter, taking it as a supplement should be a daily gesture to consider for the good of your year-round health.

Vitamin E supplementation provides powerful antioxidant action to protect the body, skin included, against a multitude of age-related degenerative diseases. It can also support the immune system, which is a huge advantage in winter.

Use oils for optimal skin moisturization during the winter

Skin moisturizing oils have multiple and very varied benefits. In general, they are antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial. The omega content, different for each, will determine the influence of the oil on the skin. Promoting cell renewal, improving collagen synthesis, stimulating regeneration and enabling repair are some attributes determined by the ratio of oleic acid (monounsaturated fatty acid) to linoleic acid (polyunsaturated fatty acid).

As it is important to nourish your skin according to its specific needs, try to favor the oils that best complement your skin type, its condition and the season. Among the most popular at the moment are hemp oil and avocado oil, but they are definitely not the only moisturizers to consider.

Hemp oil : a beauty product made in Quebec

Made in Quebec, hemp oil comes from cold pressed Cannabis Sativa seeds (cultivated hemp seeds). Its popularity is mainly due to the fact that it’s generally suitable for all skin types, even oily skin. It penetrates quickly and leaves no greasy residue. It naturally contains essential fatty acids (omega 3 and 6) and vitamin E, making it an anti-aging oil well suited for winter. For your daily winter beauty routine, hemp oil is definitely worth a try!

Avocado oil for its regenerative power

Avocado oil is perfect for winter. Apply it before going outdoors for a protective layer on your face against external aggressions, such as cold, snow and wind. Avocado oil is known for its softening, repairing and regenerating properties. Suitable for dry and fragile skin, it nourishes gently and deeply. A versatile moisturizer, it's ideal for dry hands and dull hair, yet gentle enough for the face.

What to consider when choosing a moisturizing oil for the skin ?

Of course, you can just choose the oil that worked wonders for your neighbor's skin or even a popular Instagrammer's favorite and see noticeable benefits on your own skin. However, knowing your skin and learning about the best vegetable oil(s) for it will allow you to enjoy all its benefits and see a more lasting effect.

Choose a pure, organic, cold-pressed oil

The quality of the oil is definitely the first factor to consider. A poor quality oil, added with chemical agent or fragrances may worsen the condition of your skin. In winter especially, your skin already has to face the harsh climatic conditions, offer it the softness and purity of a pure and organic oil. In addition, the cold extraction of oils doesn’t alter the precious lipids as would a method using heat or chemicals.

Go for the oil that will meet your needs

Learn about the properties of each one first. Do you need an anti-aging oil or one that offers deep hydration? Maybe you prefer an oil that's gentle for your sensitive skin or one that can help reduce redness and inflammation? Do you have normal skin, oily skin or dry skin? Our natural and organic cosmetics advisers will be able to help you choose, don’t hesitate to ask your questions. 

Organic natural beauty products for healthy skin all winter-long

Here are some simple and practical tips offered by our cosmetic advisers that you can use throughout the winter.

Apply a cold cream before going out in the cold. This cream is much richer than a normal moisturizer and acts as a protective layer against external aggressions.

If you have very dry skin, apply your day cream or night cream and then apply a thin layer of cosmetic oil on top.

Don’t neglect sun protection during the winter. Even if the rays are less direct and much less hot, they are still present and intensified by the reflection on the snow. Protect your face with a non-irritating mineral sunscreen.

When the cold hits, swap your usual makeup remover for an oily or milky formula. It’s more effective for preserving the hydrolipidic layer of the skin.

Shea butter could be your biggest savior during the winter. Very rich and inexpensive, it soothes very dry skin, deeply nourishes it and promotes the healing of fissures.

Your lips also need moisturizing and repairing care. To avoid dryness and chapping, have a natural moisturizing and nourishing lip balm on hand.

Choose a body soap that preserves skin moisture or a soap that's made with nourishing ingredients for the skin.

Although hot showers or baths are very enjoyable in winter, limit yourself to just one a day and set the water temperature to lukewarm.

Collagen and hyaluronic acid are part of the structure of the skin. Give it a little boost with adapted and bioavailable food supplements.

As mentioned above, omega helps maintain the hydrolipidic layer of the skin and helps it preserve its hydration. Consuming an omega 3 dietary supplement will internally support your good external care.

Since the skin is more fragile in winter, prefer laundry detergents and fabric softeners free of chemicals that can irritate the skin.

Heating systems inside homes dry out the surrounding air. Consider using a humidifier to limit the damage to your skin.

You’re now ready to face winter with healthy and radiant skin. Dress warmly and build igloos and snowmen without fear of drying out your face!