Reading Time: 5 minutes

6 Essential Steps for a Winter-Ready Body Skin Care Routine

Healthy skin is not a luxury. It’s a necessity.

Winter is here and it’s time to show your skin some extra love to protect it.

You might be struggling to keep your skin nourished this season. The cold weather can leave your skin dull, dry, and scratchy.

So you need a dedicated body skin care routine to keep your skin healthy and happy all season long. Here are the 6 essential steps to create a basic winter-proof body skincare routine.

Disclosure: Please note this post might contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission if you purchase through the links, at no extra cost to you. Know that I only recommend products that I’ve used personally or believe will add value to my readers.

Cleanse First

You might know that cleansing comes first in any skincare routine.

Use a gentle moisturizing body wash that works best during winter.

I know how tempting it is to take long, hot showers during the colder months! But this can damage your skin barrier, leaving it dry and rough. So, what then?

Switch to lukewarm water that your skin will love. And shorten your shower time to retain its natural moisture.

On days when you don’t feel the need to cleanse, you can simply water rinse your body skin with a bit of hand rubbing. 

However, never skip cleansing your intimate areas, underarms, neck area and other parts of your body where you typically sweat.

Here are some of my favorite product suggestions.

1. Pears Pure & Gentle Shower Gel, Body Wash With Glycerine And Natural Oils, 100% Soap-Free
2. Dove Deeply Nourishing Body Wash 
3. Nivea Shower Gel, Crème Care Body Wash
4. Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash for Dry, Itchy Skin

Pro Tip: Don’t use a loofah to use the body wash. Lather it on your palm and gently massage it onto your skin.

Exfoliate

In winter dead skin cells pile up on our skin, making your skin look dull and flakey. So exfoliating weekly once or twice is important. 

It helps remove dead skin build-ups. It also helps to work your skincare products better.

I absolutely love the exfoliator from Dove that has a cult following.

Pro Tip: 1. Don’t overdo it to keep your skin barrier intact.

2. Don’t exfoliate when your skin is very dry and itchy.

Use Body Oil

In winter you need to layer up for moisturization to avoid that dry and stretchy feel. This is a must if your skin tends to be excessively dry.

And here is a super simple trick to make it even more effective. Apply the oil when your skin is still damp. In that way, it locks the moisture in. This way the product glides on easily and the application becomes much easier.

Based on my experience, this step helps my dry body skin to survive in winter.

Last winter, I tried Parachute body oil for the first time. It is so affordable and works really well.

Moisturize Further

When it comes to keeping your skin happy and hydrated during the winter, layering up is the key.

Applied body oil not only makes it super easy to spread the product but also requires less amount. This easy yet effective trick makes your skin instantly hydrated and the hydration lasts the entire day.

I’ve been using this method for the past 3-4 years. Trust me, it really works! 

For this step, you’ll need a body butter, body cream, or body lotion. Now the question is which body moisturizer should you choose? 

Well, that entirely depends on your skin type.

If your skin doesn’t get very dry and rough, you can go for a body lotion as it is much lighter than the other two. 

If your skin is extremely dry, lotion may not provide enough moisturization your skin needs. In this case, you should go for either body butter or body cream.

Both are thick. But body butter is the thickest of all and takes longer to get absorbed into the skin.

Body creams are perfect for your AM routine, providing the nourishment your dry skin craves.

Here are a few products I love.

Body Lotion

• Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Glow
• NIVEA Nourishing Lotion Body Milk
• CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion
• Parachute Advansed Deep Nourish Body Lotion

Body Cream

• Dove Body Love Silky Pampering Body Cream
• The Body Shop Vegan Body Yogurt Almond Milk Cream

Body Butter

• Mcaffeine Choco Body Butter
• Plum Body Lovin’ Vanilla Vibes Vegan Body Butter
• The Body Shop Body Butter, 96H Nourishing Moisture

Pro Tip: Allow to soak the products for a few seconds. Then put on your clothes. 

You May Also Love: Top 10 Sunscreens to Keep Your Dry Skin Hydrated

Pamper Your Hands and Feet

Don’t ignore your hardworking hands and feet to take care of. They are often left exposed, unlike the rest of your body. You could go for a dedicated cream for hand and foot care.

I usually use coconut oil to protect them. I’ve been using Max Care cold-pressed virgin coconut oil for the past 2-3 years. It’s my go-to favorite to keep my hands and feet soft and nourished.

The choice is yours – go with what works best for you!

Pro Tip: Cover your hands and feet when you go to sleep. This will keep them cozy and protected in this cold weather.

Take Care of Underrated Areas

During the cold months, certain areas of our skin, such as elbows, heels, and knees, tend to become dry and flaky.

To treat these areas, it’s best to use a spot treatment.

Recently, I discovered an affordable pharmacy moisturizer, called Moisturex. It contains lactic acid and urea which can treat these areas very effectively. Lactic acid gently exfoliates, while urea treats dry rough skin conditions.

Plus you may also use it on your body.

Final Thoughts

That’s it, girls!

With these 6 easy steps, your skin will stay healthy and hydrated throughout the entire winter season. Finish with your favorite fragrance.

Your skin is ready to take on the cold weather!

Why stop here? Level up your skincare game with the step-by-step guide to create a winter skincare routine for glowing face skin.

FAQ

Image Source: Adobe Stock, Pixabay, Getty Images