Winter skin care

By:

Cold, dry winter air can wreak havoc on your skin: chapped hands, cracked heels, patchy blotches — it’s rough (literally)! Here are some winter skin care tips to help you counteract dry air and keep your skin moisturized and protected.

Winter skin care for your face

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says that you should wash your face in the morning, after sweating, and before bed, using lukewarm water, a gentle moisturizing cleanser, and your fingertips to avoid irritating skin. Gently pat your face dry with a soft towel and then apply moisturizer to damp skin. The AAD also says sunscreen is a year-round “must do” to protect skin from sun damage.

  • Cocokind facial sunscreen lotion | This lightweight, scent-free face moisturizer has SPF 32, without any residual whiteness. $24.99
  • Vika’s Prodigal Sun | Apply this hydrating oil to your face before your moisturizer, or blend it with a toner to make it easier to apply. $27.99
  • Pranarom hydrosol | A quick spritz during the day helps refresh skin and keep skin feeling hydrated. Choose from lavender, rose, neroli, and more. $4.99-$16.99

Skin care for your body

On cold days, it’s natural to want to take a long, hot shower. But that can strip away protective oils from your skin. Take a warm shower and try to keep it short if possible (5 to 10 minutes max). Gently pat your skin dry, then apply a body oil or lotion while your skin is still damp to seal in moisture. You might want to use a humidifier at home to add moisture to the air, too.

  • Waverly soap | This local line of soaps is new to the co-op, just in time for the holiday gift-giving season and for your own enjoyment, too. In scents such as orange-fir, lavender-anise, and lemon-lavender with cranberry, this all-natural soap is gentle on skin. It’s a seasonal item, so get these lovely soaps while supplies last! $5.99 
  • SunLeaf body oils | Non-greasy, soothing body oils can be applied right after your shower to give your skin that first soaking of moisturizer. It comes in glass bottles and is plastic free as a bonus. $13.99 
  • Zatik olive & blackseed conditioner | The winter weather can be hard on hair, too. This conditioner is super moisturizing to detangle and protect hair all winter. $9.99

Wintertime care for feet

What feet go through in the winter! Help keep your feet in better shape by massaging them with a deep-moisturizing cream or ointment and then putting on socks to wear while you sleep.

  • Four Elements peppermint thyme cooling cream | Locally made, this cream was created for feet, with peppermint having a cooling-then-warming feel and lovely smell. $19.99 
  • Epsom salts foot soak | When your feet need extra care, soak them in Epsom salts or Life Flo magnesium flakes with a few drops of peppermint essential oil. Epsom salts $3.79-7.49 | Magnesium flakes $20.99
  • Shikai Borage foot cream | This fragrance-free balm has borage oil, which is an omega-6 fatty acid that helps moisturize. $9.99

Winter skin care for hands

Cold outdoor air plus warm air indoors can make your hands chapped, itchy, and even scaly. The AAD recommends you wear gloves when you go outside and while you’re washing dishes, cleaning, and doing tasks that get your hands wet. After using hand sanitizer, apply a moisturizer to counteract the sanitizer’s drying effects. At night, you can soak your hands in warm water before you apply a thick cream or hand ointment and put on cotton gloves to wear overnight.

  • BeeSpa hand and foot cream | This locally made cream is a perennial staff favorite. Made with botanicals and vegetable-based ingredients, it repairs, smooths, and softens dry hands. $12.99-$29.99 
  • North Naturals healing salve | Handmade in small batches in Minnetonka, MN, this salve smells great and quickly helps moisturize and repair dry, cracked skin. $10.99
  • Weleda Skin Food | Waleda’s original product (from 1926) is a rich, thick base of oils and beeswax that hydrates dry, cracking fingers. $12.99

Inside-out hydration

Hydration starts from the inside. Remember to drink water throughout the day and eat healthful, nutritious food, including plenty of fruit, vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats. Get enough rest so your body has time to refresh and renew itself, too. Supplements are an additional way to support healthy skin.

  • Fish oil | There are a number of fish oil supplements at the co-op, including from Nordic, Wiley’s and Nutrigold. Fish oil contains fatty acids that support skin health and skin barrier function. Wide range of prices, $15.99 on up
  • Elderberry | You might know of elderberry for its immunity support, but it also supports healthy skin. Elderberry contains antioxidants and has antimicrobial properties, too. Two local brands to consider are Apothicare and Good Foods Made Great. $1.79-$22.99 
  • Collagen powder | Collagen supports skin strength and elasticity. It’s easy to add to your diet, particularly with drink powders such as Vital Proteins strawberry lemon. For a plant-based option, consider Anima Mundi’s collagen-enhancing Super-fruit Bliss. $3.99-$53.99

Find moisturizers that soothe and heal, with the reassurance of the co-op’s product standards. For our skin care, that means products that are free from more than 100 ingredients, including parabens, triclosan, phthalates, petrochemicals, chemicals that hurt coral reefs (like ozybenzone and octocrylene), with no animal testing allowed. For supplements, that means no artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners, with a variety of allergen-free options, too. We also have many ways for you to take your preferred supplements, including as liquids, powders, gummies, and more. Our team reads the ingredients so you can shop, moisturize, and stay hydrated this winter with confidence!

Read more about our body care product standards.