6 Winter Skincare Tips for Glowing Skin

For some, winter means snuggling up in your favorite loungewear, roaring fire ablaze, with a mug of hot chocolate in hand. (Bailey’s optional.)  

For others, winter brings a flurry of activity. Exploring your winter wonderland (and kicking cabin fever to the curb) may involve skiing, sledding, or building a snowman with your kids. Or perhaps you prefer a meandering stroll under bare trees - stillness all around.  

But the good news is, you can.  

One beneficial step you can take to help preserve your skin’s wellness and healthy glow is steam therapy. Here are some the most common winter skincare tips that dermatologists recommend to achieve a coveted dewy glow all season long.   

6 Ways to Achieve Glowing Winter Skin

1. Preserve Moisture

We know it's tempting, but you must resist the urge to jump into too many hot baths or showers. While it will warm you up quickly, it also can cause an unforeseen response that could do more harm than good. 

Showering in hot water not only dries out the skin, but also can damage the surface of the skin and possibly develop into more serious conditions. 

Steam therapy is much gentler on the skin and has been shown to have the opposite effect. It hydrates without stripping the skin of moisture, giving you an enviable youthful glow. And, you get the same comforting warming effect after braving the cold, without drying out your skin.   

2. Detox

Steam therapy is an effective way to support the reduction of toxins from the body. Our bodies are bombarded with contaminants every day, whether through outdoor pollution, recirculated air, or the food and drinks we ingest.  

Steam therapy supports a natural detoxification process. It opens the pores to aid the release of toxins that could be harmful over time, while preventing the loss of precious moisture and protective oils that can help you battle free radicals. 

3. Hydrate

The health and wellness community agrees on one of the most beneficial things we can do for our health: Drink. More. Water.   

However, all water is not created equal. High pH water is typically closer to the pH in your body and some feel it helps promote optimal skin health and overall wellness. Drinking this type of water may help keep electrolytes balanced and promote hydration – which is great for youthful looking skin!

4. Reduce Stress 

It isn't just your skin that undergoes stress during the winter. The lack of sunlight affects many people's moods, as does staying confined indoors during harsh weather conditions. Stress may do just as much harm to your skin as battling the winter elements. Relieving stress is critical for your emotional and physical health. 

Steam therapy may help reduce stress levels by: 

• Encouraging relaxation 
• Supporting mental acuity and cognitive function 
• Promoting deep, restful sleep 
• Fostering a sense of well-being

5. Improve Circulation 

We all envy the healthy, rosy-cheeked look of youth, which is why it’s a pillar of the $511 billion global beauty industry. However, anti-aging benefits may be achieved naturally with more lasting results through increased circulation.   

Your circulatory system is vital for nourishing, plumping, and detoxifying your skin, and one of the main ways to improve circulation is through exercise. It gets your blood pumping and increases oxygen flow in the body. Steam therapy has been shown to be an effective tool to aid in muscle recovery while helping blood circulation. A steam session supports lactic acid breakdown in overworked muscles, loosens stiff muscles, and promotes flexibility to help keep you moving. 

6. Use Aromatherapy 

One of the most underappreciated holistic therapies you can use is aromatherapy. When used in combination with steam, it may have numerous benefits: 

• It may help to balance hormones 
• Some essential oils have been shown to boost immune response 
• Many aromatherapy scents can have an energizing – or relaxing -  effect 
• And it may even help ease symptoms of skin conditions, such as eczema 

The Benefits of Steam for Skin Are Only the Beginning 

Steam therapy just may do wonders for your skin, particularly during the cold winter months. Preserving and replenishing critical moisture while keeping your protective oil barrier intact is a delicate dance. Youthful-looking skin is ultimately a side effect of a successful wellness lifestyle. Rest assured, with steam therapy, you can glow in any season.