3 cold weather beauty problems + solutions

As the weather cools and the air becomes less humid, I need to switch up my skincare and hair routine. If I’m not careful, my skin will become so dry it flakes or cracks and my scalp will get dry, especially when the Santa Ana winds are in full effect.

Over the years I’ve realized what typical problems come up for my skin and hair during the fall and winter months, and I’ve come up with a few solutions. I have some favorite products for dealing with dry skin, chapped lips and hat hair.

I have been thinking about transitioning to more natural, clean beauty products, but haven’t fully committed to it. The majority of these products have been my staples for years, but there are a few new things I picked up that are more natural/nontoxic.

For your skin

Jergens Soothing Aloe moisturizer
Aquaphor Healing Ointment
Trader Joe’s Vitamin E oil
Burt’s Bees Ultimate Care Hand Cream

Problem: My skin get so dry in the winter. I find myself washing my hands often to avoid the spread of germs and that dries out my hands, which isn’t pretty. It can even be painful. I bake more often in the winter, so I have to wash more dishes this time of year too.

Solution: To soften my skin and get a glow, I use make sure to moisturize all over and pay extra attention to sensitive areas like my elbows, shins, and the heels of my feet. I’ll slather lotion on right after a shower and follow it with Vitamin E oil on my cuticles and any dry spots. Last year when I was working at an early childcare center and frequently washing my hands, Aquaphor really helped. The ointment is pretty thick though and leaves my hands a little greasy, so I mostly use it at night. I recently bought this hand cream to use throughout the day.

For your face

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
Clinique All About Eyes Rich eye cream
Visine eye drops
Blistex Complete Moisture lip balm

Problem: When you have flaky skin, you may be tempted to scrub it off with a rough exfoliator. That could still be fine once a week, but more often will only aggravate your skin. A change in the seasons can also bring up allergies, causing dry eyes, red noses, and chapped lips.

Solution: I’ve found that the best thing for skin in dry weather is a gentle face wash followed with a toner, some serum if I have it, and a thick moisturizer. I also make sure to apply lip balm that soothes my chapped lips and prevents sunburn. For a gentle, non-abrasive face wash that still leaves my face feeling smooth, I’ve been using Acure Brilliantly Brightening cleansing gel for a few little while now and loving it. I found it from Lucia of The Food Wright’s post on her natural skincare favorites.

For your hair

Herbal Essences Smooth shampoo
Love Beauty & Planet Murumuru Butter & Rose Blooming Color Conditioner
Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Texturing Dry Shampoo
Carols Daughter Black Vanilla Leave-In Conditioner

Problem: In fall and winter, my hair scalp tends to get oily and my ends get dry. I’m not sure why, but it could be because I wear hats more often and I get product buildup.

Solution: Using a paraben-free shampoo helps avoid product buildup. That makes me feel more confident and less likely to hide my hair with a hat. When applying conditioner, I make sure to mostly distribute it from “ponytail area” down. In other words, I avoid my scalp. Also, I tend to wash my hair every other day when it’s cold, instead of every day during the oppressive heat of summer and that seems to help.