Why Your Skin Changes in Winter, and How a Facial Helps

Skin that felt fine all summer can turn tight, flaky, or dull within a few weeks of the heat coming on. That's because winter affects your skin from both sides at once: cold, windy air outside and dry, heated air inside both pull water from the outer layer of your skin faster than it can replace it. Understanding what's happening makes it much easier to adjust, and a well-timed facial can do a lot of the catching up for you.

What actually changes

The outer layer of your skin works like a barrier, holding water in and keeping irritants out. In dry air, that barrier loses moisture and starts to break down, which is why skin can feel tight and look dull even if you've never thought of yourself as having dry skin. A weakened barrier also reacts more easily, so products that worked fine in July can suddenly sting. For some people, dryness even leads to more breakouts, as skin produces extra oil to compensate.

Small changes to your routine

Winter usually calls for a gentler routine, not a longer one. Switch to a cream or milky cleanser if yours foams a lot, and use lukewarm water rather than hot. Apply moisturizer while your skin is still slightly damp, and consider a richer one at night. Ease up on exfoliating acids and retinoids if your skin feels raw, and keep wearing sunscreen, since winter sun and snow glare still count. A humidifier in the bedroom helps more than most people expect.

How a facial helps

A professional facial addresses things that are hard to do at home. Gentle exfoliation clears away the dull, dry layer that makes skin look tired, so your moisturizer can actually reach the skin underneath. Your esthetician can choose a protocol focused on calming and rehydrating skin when it's reactive, or on clearing congestion when dryness has led to breakouts. At Hazel, every facial starts with a look at your skin that day, which matters most in winter, when skin can change from one month to the next.

You'll also leave knowing which products from your routine to keep, pause, or swap for the season, which is often the most useful part.

How often to come in

One facial can leave skin noticeably softer and calmer. If you're working on something that tends to flare in winter, a series of facials spaced about four to six weeks apart helps keep your skin steady through the season rather than playing catch-up in March.

If your skin is feeling the change in weather, reserve a facial in East Longmeadow, or text us at 413-526-7266 for help choosing the right one.

We'll See You Soon,

The Hazel Team