Autumn has arrived, and while we in the Northwest are welcoming the wettest season of the year. And while the humidity stays high outside, once the heat comes on in our homes, cars and offices, the moisture in our skin starts to evaporate and will become drier and itchier as the winter season continues. In addition, the average temperature of our morning shower goes up significantly to counteract the chill we encounter after reluctantly emerging from our warm beds. And who doesn’t just love stepping into a hot shower on a cold morning? (Guilty!)

So, how can we keep our skin comfortable, hydrated and healthy in the winter? Here are my top 5 tips for doing just that.

Turn down the heat

My brother and I used to crank the heat when we got home from school in the winter, and when my mom came home she would yell, “Why can’t you kids put on a sweater?!” And while I know her concern was more about having to pay a gigantic heating bill, it turns out she was right about keeping the temperature down.

The water in your skin evaporates much more quickly in a hot, dry environment. If you’ve ever visited a desert, you know what I’m talking about. Forced air heat causes rapid dehydration in the skin. In “the biz” we call this TEWL, or Trans-Epidermal Water Loss.

So try keeping the ambient temperature in your home, car and office on the low side of warm. 65 degrees should be just about right for the bedroom, and around 70 in the rest of your home. And once you do what mom says and put on a sweater (and maybe socks) you’ll feel plenty warm without adding super dry skin to your list of wintertime complaints.

Use a humidifier

Your body is made up mostly of water, and the epidermis is just loaded with it. Humidity is your skin’s best friend in the winter. Your sinus tissues and thin, fragile tissues such as the lips and eyes require it, since these are the first areas to show signs of water loss. Placing a small humidifier in your bedroom overnight while you sleep will do wonders for your hydrating your skin and sinuses. Resulting in fewer colds and better protection from the cold, chapping winter wind.

Avoid hot showers

Skin doesn’t particularly like hot water. Warm water, yes. Cool water, absolutely! Cold water is even better tolerated by the skin. Hot water causes scalding and rapid evaporation of moisture in the skin. It can take hours for the skin to cool back down again, and over time it will cause broken capillaries to appear, making the skin look permanently flushed. Keeping the temperature down will help preserve the natural moisture in your skin, and keep your capillaries calm.

Start off with warm water, then gradually turn down the temperature until it’s just warm, or tepid. Not only will your skin stay better hydrated all on its own, it will also absorb serums and moisturizers much more rapidly.

Moisturize your skin. ALL of it.

Moisturizer is important to maintain healthy barrier function and surface hydration on the face and the body. Our faces get all the attention and care, but moisturizing your body only takes a couple of minutes and the rewards are massive. Get into the habit of moisturizing your entire body at least once a day.

Choose products that are free of silicones, mineral oil and petrolatum. These can give a smooth feel to the skin, but they have no benefit whatsoever and can cause further dryness as well as having a toxic load that goes right into your bloodstream.

Look for ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid and Sodium PCA, both of which will help bind moisture to the skin. Natural moisturizing ingredients such as shea butter and cocoa butter and natural oils such as jojoba, sweet almond, kukui, karite and amaranth are ideal for maximum hydration and absorption.

Do you shave or wax? Moisturizing will help prevent ingrown hairs and keeps the skin supple and strong. This allows your razor to glide smoothly across the surface, and for waxers, moisturized skin allows the hair to release more easily, without breakage, and allows the wax to adhere better to the hair itself, causing less irritation on the skin.

Get a facial

Facials feel great. I think we can all agree that relaxing on a warm massage table while someone rubs your face for 90 minutes is the best nap ever. But the true benefits are-

• increased hydration

• smoother texture

• clearer pores

• increased cell turnover

• better oxygenation and circulation

• better absorption of your at-home skincare products.

The long term benefits are pretty remarkable as well, just ask anyone who’s been getting facials monthly for a decade or more. You’ll look positively radiant and ageless.

Hopefully you can see that suffering through winter with dry, sensitized skin is not necessary. So now that you know my secrets to happier, more hydrated winter skin, here’s a list of my favorite body products to help you achieve your best skin ever.

The Tranquillity line from our favorite Italian skincare brand, Comfort Zone, contains a gorgeous blend of essential oils of rose, vetiver, sweet orange, sandalwood and cedarwood to alleviate the states of stress and tension and rebalance body and mind.

Tranquillity Shower Cream

My favorite product, and the unsung hero of the line, this super hydrating body wash leaves your skin soft and gently cleansed. Its creamy texture leaves a silky effect and is suitable for even the most delicate skin, thanks to nourishing amaranth oil.

$33

Tranquillity Body Lotion

An aromatic, silky body emulsion with a light, hydrating texture that leaves the skin velvety and soft. Idea for those who love light, hydrating lotions which absorb quickly. Suited to hot and humid climates, ideal at the end of the day to calm and alleviate stress.

$46

Tranquillity Body Cream

A rich, nourishing, aromatic body cream that is extremely enveloping and makes the body skincare routine a true ritual of beauty and wellbeing. The rich and precious texture fuses with the skin, bestowing silkiness, profound hydration and a sensation of comfort. 

For all skin conditions, in particular those which are very dry and in temperate and cold climates. Ideal at the end of the day to calm and alleviate stress.

$69

Tranquillity Oil

This versatile formulation transforms when in contact with water: applied directly to the body, it is a nourishing oil, which bestows a silky effect to the skin without leaving the skin oily, or add to the bath where it transforms from an oil into a milky fluid. 

$91

Tranquillity Hand Cream

This light hand cream absorbs quickly into the skin, bestowing a silky effect and leaving the skin soft and pleasantly scented. The nourishing non-oily texture repairs and protects the hands against environmental aggressions and skin aging.

$27