For many of us, the cold is not particularly beloved, and despite the warm Christmas holidays and the fluffy snow outside, winter eventually starts to feel unfairly long. On top of that, our skin openly rebels against the freezing temperatures – it cracks, dries out, and becomes red. The unpleasant but objective truth is that the icy wind and cold weather outside, combined with overly hot showers and air conditioners running at full blast, which we instinctively resort to at home, often lead to skin dehydration, irritation, and even inflammation.
As illogical as it may sound, the gloomy, cold-marked winter days are actually the most suitable period for exfoliating the skin. It turns out that bad weather is a good reason to get rid of the dead layer of cells, which causes a number of skin problems (from clogged pores to the feeling of almost painful dryness). You may ask why? The answer is short – because of the weaker sun and our preference to stay indoors and warm (unless, of course, we are devoted to all-day skiing or snowboarding). According to dermatologists, during winter we can safely increase skin exfoliation to three to four times a week, while, of course, not forgetting to use moisturizer and hydrating cream. And one more thing – every skin type should be exfoliated (though with different frequency and exfoliant suitable for the specific skin), because by removing dead cells, the risk of inflammation decreases, the complexion smooths out, the skin regains its softness, and fine lines and wrinkles significantly reduce.
Here are the steps for exfoliation without mistakes.
How to exfoliate your skin properly?
Let’s start with the fact that it is advisable to exfoliate your skin in the evening. Even though the sun rarely shows itself in winter and is not so harsh, harmful UV rays continue to act strongly even on cloudy days. The process of removing the top layer of skin makes it more sensitive to external factors, so it is important to avoid sun exposure immediately after removing the dead layer of cells. That is why our advice is to include exfoliation in your evening routine.
Cleanse your skin with your usual washing product before proceeding to exfoliation. Use lukewarm water – hot water feels pleasant to the touch but will further dry out the epidermis.
Always apply a moisturizing product or hydrating night cream after exfoliation. This way, you will provide your skin with what it needs most – the proper water balance, which ultimately is responsible for its softness and freshness.
Choosing the right exfoliant is key
There are two types of exfoliants – physical and chemical, with dermatologists advising to start with a chemical exfoliant, which is gentler on the skin and has a lower risk of irritation.
Physical exfoliants usually contain small particles like coffee, jojoba, grains, sugar granules. With these, you need to manually rub the product into the skin – it is important to do this with gentle circular motions using your fingertips and without any pressure. If you choose, for example, a cleansing product with exfoliating action, it is important that it does not contain large particles but fine and less abrasive ones, because coarser particles can cause micro-tears in the skin and disrupt the skin barrier. Physical exfoliants are most suitable for denser and oily skin because, besides deeply cleansing it, they remove excess sebum (the main culprit for blackheads or pimples).
Chemical exfoliants include low percentages of various acids and gently cleanse the skin of dead cells. They are available as toners, serums, and sometimes even as moisturizers (which saves you from applying an additional hydrator). Most often, they contain AHA (alpha hydroxy) and BHA (beta hydroxy) acids.
For normal to combination skin, opt for a toner or serum containing glycolic acid, which is among the gentlest AHA acids due to its smallest molecular structure. This acid also has the property of retaining moisture in the skin, which evens out the complexion, tightens pores, refreshes the skin, and even fights acne scars acne.
For sensitive, dry, or mature skin, chemical exfoliants containing lactic acid are recommended. It detoxifies the skin and nourishes it more than glycolic acid, while gently peeling the dead layer of cells and smoothing the complexion.
For oily, acne-prone skin, choose an exfoliant containing BHA acid, such as salicylic acid, which has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and, besides cleansing dead cells, prevents the appearance of pimples and comedones.
The exfoliating facial tonic from the Pure Skin series by Biotrade is also a suitable choice for dull skin with enlarged pores, blackheads, and uneven complexion. The product is suitable for normal to oily skin and is a combination of azelaic acid with alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids, which exfoliates dead cells, regulates oiliness, removes blackheads, tightens enlarged pores, and brightens and evens out the complexion. This peeling stimulates collagen production, which also helps smooth fine lines.
Using an exfoliant at night goes hand in hand with applying SPF during the day. And this step is absolutely mandatory. Sun rays are harmful both in the warm summer months and in winter, and after peeling, the skin is even more vulnerable and sensitive to external factors.
The illuminating day cream with SPF 50+ from the Pure Skin series provides you with two in one – hydration and protection against UV rays. It is suitable for all skin types, which means you cannot go wrong with it.
In summary, we can say that exfoliation has many benefits not only for a good radiant appearance but also for health. As you have already understood, it successfully treats clogged pores and blackheads, smooths the complexion, and reduces fine lines. You can confidently apply it to the skin of your face during the cold winter nights, just don’t forget to provide it with the necessary hydration and sun protection afterwards.
Why are the cold months suitable for exfoliating the skin?
For many of us, the cold is not particularly beloved, and despite the warm Christmas holidays and the fluffy snow outside, winter eventually starts to feel unfairly long. On top of that, our skin openly rebels against the freezing temperatures – it cracks, dries out, and becomes red. The unpleasant but objective truth is that the icy wind and cold weather outside, combined with overly hot showers and air conditioners running at full blast, which we instinctively resort to at home, often lead to skin dehydration, irritation, and even inflammation.
As illogical as it may sound, the gloomy, cold-marked winter days are actually the most suitable period for exfoliating the skin. It turns out that bad weather is a good reason to get rid of the dead layer of cells, which causes a number of skin problems (from clogged pores to the feeling of almost painful dryness). You may ask why? The answer is short – because of the weaker sun and our preference to stay indoors and warm (unless, of course, we are devoted to all-day skiing or snowboarding). According to dermatologists, during winter we can safely increase skin exfoliation to three to four times a week, while, of course, not forgetting to use moisturizer and hydrating cream. And one more thing – every skin type should be exfoliated (though with different frequency and exfoliant suitable for the specific skin), because by removing dead cells, the risk of inflammation decreases, the complexion smooths out, the skin regains its softness, and fine lines and wrinkles significantly reduce.
Here are the steps for exfoliation without mistakes.
How to exfoliate your skin properly?
Let’s start with the fact that it is advisable to exfoliate your skin in the evening. Even though the sun rarely shows itself in winter and is not so harsh, harmful UV rays continue to act strongly even on cloudy days. The process of removing the top layer of skin makes it more sensitive to external factors, so it is important to avoid sun exposure immediately after removing the dead layer of cells. That is why our advice is to include exfoliation in your evening routine.
Cleanse your skin with your usual washing product before proceeding to exfoliation. Use lukewarm water – hot water feels pleasant to the touch but will further dry out the epidermis.
Always apply a moisturizing product or hydrating night cream after exfoliation. This way, you will provide your skin with what it needs most – the proper water balance, which ultimately is responsible for its softness and freshness.
Choosing the right exfoliant is key
There are two types of exfoliants – physical and chemical, with dermatologists advising to start with a chemical exfoliant, which is gentler on the skin and has a lower risk of irritation.
Physical exfoliants usually contain small particles like coffee, jojoba, grains, sugar granules. With these, you need to manually rub the product into the skin – it is important to do this with gentle circular motions using your fingertips and without any pressure. If you choose, for example, a cleansing product with exfoliating action, it is important that it does not contain large particles but fine and less abrasive ones, because coarser particles can cause micro-tears in the skin and disrupt the skin barrier. Physical exfoliants are most suitable for denser and oily skin because, besides deeply cleansing it, they remove excess sebum (the main culprit for blackheads or pimples).
Chemical exfoliants include low percentages of various acids and gently cleanse the skin of dead cells. They are available as toners, serums, and sometimes even as moisturizers (which saves you from applying an additional hydrator). Most often, they contain AHA (alpha hydroxy) and BHA (beta hydroxy) acids.
For normal to combination skin, opt for a toner or serum containing glycolic acid, which is among the gentlest AHA acids due to its smallest molecular structure. This acid also has the property of retaining moisture in the skin, which evens out the complexion, tightens pores, refreshes the skin, and even fights acne scars acne.
For sensitive, dry, or mature skin, chemical exfoliants containing lactic acid are recommended. It detoxifies the skin and nourishes it more than glycolic acid, while gently peeling the dead layer of cells and smoothing the complexion.
For oily, acne-prone skin, choose an exfoliant containing BHA acid, such as salicylic acid, which has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and, besides cleansing dead cells, prevents the appearance of pimples and comedones.
The exfoliating facial tonic from the Pure Skin series by Biotrade is also a suitable choice for dull skin with enlarged pores, blackheads, and uneven complexion. The product is suitable for normal to oily skin and is a combination of azelaic acid with alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids, which exfoliates dead cells, regulates oiliness, removes blackheads, tightens enlarged pores, and brightens and evens out the complexion. This peeling stimulates collagen production, which also helps smooth fine lines.
Using an exfoliant at night goes hand in hand with applying SPF during the day. And this step is absolutely mandatory. Sun rays are harmful both in the warm summer months and in winter, and after peeling, the skin is even more vulnerable and sensitive to external factors.
The illuminating day cream with SPF 50+ from the Pure Skin series provides you with two in one – hydration and protection against UV rays. It is suitable for all skin types, which means you cannot go wrong with it.
In summary, we can say that exfoliation has many benefits not only for a good radiant appearance but also for health. As you have already understood, it successfully treats clogged pores and blackheads, smooths the complexion, and reduces fine lines. You can confidently apply it to the skin of your face during the cold winter nights, just don’t forget to provide it with the necessary hydration and sun protection afterwards.