What's the best season of the year? Summer? Spring? Or even winter? In our latitudes, hardly anyone would think of autumn. The other three seasons, however, are a matter for debate. And everyone's individual arguments are bound to be valid. Unless, of course, the question is posed in the context of a skincare discussion. Then winter comes out on top. And with good reason. Because the time of snowflakes and mulled wine, of Christmas and sledding, is also the time that poses the greatest challenge to our facial skin. The tissue is constantly being tested for resilience. Outdoors, it has to withstand low temperatures, and then immediately afterwards, dry, heated air indoors. This is already a test for healthy skin, making it dry, brittle, and ultimately causing wrinkles or worse: psoriasis, eczema, or neurodermatitis. But what if the skin is already sensitive? Or already burdened by various illnesses? Exactly! A worsening of the problems is very likely. We at the 48grams blog are taking all these reasons as an opportunity to inform you about winter skincare. Because there are numerous helpers that ensure our faces also get through the cold season in good condition.
What cold weather does to our skin
Before we get to practical tips and applications, let's address one question: Why on earth does our skin suffer so much during the winter months? Experts have long known the answer: When our skin is exposed to cold, the following process occurs: To retain heat in the body, the blood vessels in the skin constrict. It's a kind of built-in protective barrier provided by Mother Nature. However, this comes at a price: We absorb fewer nutrients and less oxygen. But that's not the only effect of arctic weather: The sebaceous glands react automatically to the temperatures and reduce their production. Normally, these glands produce one to two grams of sebum per day, thus creating a natural barrier against evaporation. The less sebum on the skin, the weaker the protection. The consequence is dehydration—and therefore cracks and wrinkles.
Dry air = dry skin
Now let's turn to the problem of heated indoor spaces. The often excessively dry air from heating systems (below 30% humidity) acts as a kind of natural wick: it also draws moisture from the fabric. This leads to even more problems that can only be solved with proper care and optimal skincare.
Alliance of shea butter and hyaluronic acid
Here, you only need to follow a few daily rules – and your face will be much less stressed. It starts with your morning routine: Please shower only briefly and not too hot (…even if the temptation is strong) – because warm water washes away the skin's essential oils more easily. If you use shower oils, please make sure they are pH-neutral. After gently drying yourself (never rub!), we recommend using moisturizing lotions and creams. If you don't suffer from oily skin, you should use products with a higher fat content (we recommend shea butter; argan or linoleic acid are also helpful). Even though this is self-promotion – we can especially recommend the following to our readers: 48grams Day 'N Night Cream We highly recommend this product. Here we have combined a high percentage of shea butter with rich aloe juice and the particularly effective oligo-hyaluronic acid to create perfect winter protection.Anyone who wants to do everything right – and thus have rosy skin even in winter – should also use moisturizing masks. Three times a week – ideally with plenty of aloe vera and hyaluronic acid. That's the complete pampering package.
Allergies are part of winter
Winter holds other pitfalls, though. Scarves and turtlenecks often cause skin irritation. And no, we're not talking about allergies here. The skin on the neck is usually used to being exposed to the elements. When it's covered—and constantly in contact with a new material—well, that can easily lead to red patches. We've learned how to prevent this: simply moisturize well, and the problems will disappear within days.
“Skin flooding” is all the rage.
Because we at the 48grams blog are always up-to-date, here are two tips from the world of social media. The following topic is currently very popular among the so-called "SkinInfluencers" on TikTok: the "Skin Flooding" technique. This means applying moisturizing products in layers. This refers to various serums with a high concentration of active ingredients. For example, an OCP serum (like the...) is... 48grams Antioxidant Booster SerumThe product is layered on a niacinamide liquid. The major advantage compared to using creams is that sensitive skin pores are not clogged and remain receptive. However, the time required for this technique is crucial. Each layer must be completely absorbed before the next is applied. Only then will the best results be achieved.
“Skin cycling” is all the rage.
Another very helpful technique goes by the lovely name of "skin cycling." It's currently being celebrated on social media and has the endorsement of dermatologists. "Cycling" here refers to the cycle. And that's precisely the point. If you want to maintain beautiful skin, you use your skincare products in cycles. We tried it ourselves and were thrilled: One evening we applied an exfoliating acid, the next evening just a rich moisturizer. For the third round of the cycle, we used retinol. On the fourth evening, we started the cycle again. A truly wonderful technique.
Alcohol ban for the winter
Finally, a general tip for healthy winter skin. Even if the Christmas market tempts you with mulled wine – alcohol doesn't just have a negative effect on your complexion when it's hidden in cleansing products. For the cold days, it's even more important than usual: abstaining from alcohol leads to more beautiful skin. Alcohol simply causes more moisture evaporation – and that makes everyone look (literally) older.
