Winter Sports Skin Care

If you enjoy outdoor winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, or ice hockey then you know how harsh the winter weather can be on your skin.  In order to both enjoy the sports you love and keep your skin looking great follow the advice below.

Protect Your Skin From The Cold And Wind

While exercising outdoors during the winter your skin can really take a beating.  You might be having fun but your skin can end up red, irritated, and even sunburned so be sure to take the right precautions before going outdoors.  As any winter sports athlete can tell you finding the right products makes a world of difference for how your skin looks and feels after being outside exercising during the winter.  If you want your skin to feel good ditch the harsh products and concentrate on gentle cleansing and lots of moisturizing.

Be Sure To Gently Cleanse and Moisturize A Lot 

According to Allure magazine your skin can lose up to 25% of its ability to hold moisture in during the winter so that means that you really need to look at what cleanser you are using.

 Since cleansing is the first and most basic step in your home skin care routine you need to adjust it when spending time outdoors in the cold.  Even if you have acne prone skin you should switch to a gentle cleanser like Cetaphil or CeraVe.  Consider using an oil based cleanser particularly for make-up removal.  

When it comes to moisturizing be sure to use a cream based moisturizer - the thicker the better. Lotion moisturizers are not moisturizing enough for the winter conditions your skin will be exposed to while you are participating in outdoor sports.  Think about layering your moisturizers as well - you can use a hydrating spray or serum right on the skin after cleansing, a cream moisturizer on top of that, and end with a hydrating oil before applying sunscreen.  Some winter athletes use wax based products but that is all a matter of personal preference.

Sun Protection

One of the most important things to keep in mind while exercising outdoors in the winter is sun protection.  It doesn't matter that you are skiing during the dead of winter - you still need lots of sun protection.

The Skin Cancer Foundation explains that people who participate in winter sports are at an higher risk for overexposure to UV rays than those who do not participate in these sports.  Skiers and snowboarders are at an increased risk for sun damage and thus ultimately for skin cancer.  Spending the day on the ski slope can be just as damaging to the skin as spending the day at the beach.  Lots of skiing takes place at higher altitudes which increases the risk of skin damage from the sun.  Also the sun reflects off the snow which means you are actually being hit by the same damaging sun rays twice.  

In order to protect your skin always, always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30 when exercising outdoors. Broad-spectrum means that the sunscreen blocks both UVA and UVB rays; it will say that on the front of the sunscreen package.  Apply liberally before going outside and reapply every two or three hours and immediately after sweating.  Carry a small size of your favorite sunscreen with you in order to be able to reapply with ease while outdoors.

Don't Forget Your Lips

Being outdoors during the winter can be particularly hard on your lips.  Look for lip balms with sun protection in them since your lips can get sunburned too.  At night apply a thick ointment in order to heal your lips while sleeping.  Some people swear by coconut oil as a great moisturizer for lips and all over the body; you can certainly try that as well.

Bottom Line: with a little planning you can maintain beautiful, soft skin while still enjoying all the winter sports you love.  Remember to moisturize and use your sun protection.  Your skin will thank you!