Here Are The Main Causes—And Solutions—Of Winter Acne

Breakouts, be gone! We break down what’s causing your winter acne and how to treat it.

We’re beginning to feel like the wintertime is an open invitation for our skin to go haywire. We still stand by it being some of the most joyful times of the year, but between dodging colds and avoiding frostbite, all while maintaining a social life, winter can feel like a wellbeing battleground. Here, we’re addressing a year-round concern that seems to exemplify itself in the wintertime: acne.


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Now, if you’re acne-prone, you’ve probably tried a good amount of products and, with time and patience, have found a routine that works for you. With the weather changing into the cold winter, that cushy routine may be thrown out the window. If you find yourself breaking out and can’t seem to put a finger on it, we’ve got the top problems, and solutions, that cause winter acne.

  1. High & Harsh Winds

    When we apply our acne treatments, moisturizers, or any skincare product for that matter, they sit on our skin for some time before penetrating further into the skin to effect change. Acne treatments and products that don’t make it past the surface of your skin, don’t work. So, how do your acne solutions get really affected in the winter? Imagine you’ve just done your morning skin routine using nice-selected acne products, a few minutes later, you step outside to begin your day. If you live in a climate with harsh winter winds, these winds will affect your skin barrier badly, and also dry out your skincare products, therefore not allowing it to absorb into your skin properly.

    To avoid this, a quick solution to this problem is to apply your morning skincare routine a bit earlier, at least 20-30 minutes before you leave the house. This allows the products to do their job without the interference of winter weather.

    Another solution is to choose products that quickly soak into the skin or, more importantly, can still protect your skin barrier even against the harsh winds. A product that can stand the test of winter winds is your best bet because it can act as an occlusive for your serums and acne treatments and protect your skin’s barrier. For Protecting Your Skin BarrierThese two magic products promise to restore skin barrier and hydrate at the same time, so just check them out!

    HABA Squalane

    Sale HABA Squalane 30ml HABA Squalane 30ml @ Amazon Amazon Prime

    HABA Squalane represents HABA’s “non-additive” philosophy. It is a dry and smooth beauty oil that is gentle to the skin. Protects and replenishes skin damaged by dryness, irritation, and UV exposure. Squalane is a natural, safe, stable, colorless and odorless oil with superior skin-penetrating power.

    User @Gioia

    I was really touched! HABA is a long-established, additive-free skincare brand from Japan, and such a smash-hit sweeping across Asia! It is now the most trusted skincare product for me when I have any skin problem! The concentration of squalane is high to 99.99%, the highest one in the world! As you know, higher purity always means much safer, this SQ oil can even be applied on newborns! What my actual thoughts? The fact is that my face always turns to be extremely desirable and sensitive in winter, while the dry wind can make the situation worse every day. I know my cuticles urgently need repair treatments in a gentle way. Squalane in this formula can repair my sebum and nourish me very smoothly. Available at Amazon, you must have it this winter!

    LA ROCHE-POSAY Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer UV SPF 30

    La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer, Daily Moisturizer Face Cream with Ceramide and Niacinamide for All Skin Types, Oil Free, Fragrance Free La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer, Daily Moisturizer Face... @ Amazon Amazon Prime

    Oil-free face moisturizer helps hydrate & restore healthy-looking skin. Formulated with a high concentration of Prebiotic Thermal Water, Ceramide-3, Niacinamide & Glycerin. Suitable for face & hands. Tested on sensitive skin.

    User @Cherly

    Laroche-posay never disappoints me. I’m really surprised at this product after a week’s trial. I was quite annoyed at my acnes these days but this really saved me. It’s suitable to sensitive skin. I felt the acnes reduced magically! Moreover, it really hydrated my skin but if applied on serum, it may be too thick for my face. Anyway, I highly recommend this to you if you have the same acne problem like me in the winter season!! I will definitely repurchase this.


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  2. Indoor Heat vs. Outdoor Cold

    If you’re experiencing some serious cold, chances are you have your home heater on to at least 70 degrees. Most stores and buildings will also have their heater around that point, which means that as you go about your day, your skin is having to adjust from a very cold climate to a very warm one. This is the perfect recipe for… You guessed it, dryness. And with dryness like this, our skin has a natural tendency to balance itself, which means your skin will produce more sebum to restore its hydration and moisture. All that excess oil left unbalanced shows up as acne on your skin. Since you’ll inevitably be going in and out of very cold and very warm climates during the winter, we suggest using a balancing cleanser that helps control excess sebum while bringing hydration and moisture.

    For Balancing Your Skin
    If you want to balance oil and hydrate your skin, try a nourishing facial cleanser. That way, you are able to use it every day without missing a beat.

    YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser

    Youth To The People Facial Cleanser - Kale and Green Tea Cleanser - Gentle Face Wash, Makeup Remover + Pore Minimizer for All Skin Types - Vegan (8oz) Youth To The People Facial Cleanser - Kale and Green Tea Cleanser - Gentle Face... @ Amazon Amazon Prime

    Antioxidant-packed, multifunction gel cleanser that’s pH balanced, non-drying, and removes makeup with ease.

    user @skincareishard

    It contains kale, spinach, and green tea and is sulfate and alcohol free. It cleans to give your skin a really deep cleanse, without drying your skin out. My skin is dry and sensitive, so I was wary about trying a product that many people with oily skin rave about but it’s so good. It’s pretty hydrating, so my skin always just feels soft after using it.

    user @kali.janel

    I’ve been reaching for the Youth to the People Superfood Cleanser pretty often and really enjoying using it! I have combo skin (I’m oily in my t-zone and pretty normal everywhere else) so I need a cleanser that will get rid of the bad oil, but leaves the good ones. I’m looking for in a cleanser is clean my skin BUT I absolutely do not want to feel tight or like my skin has been stripped of healthy oils.

    OLE HENRIKSEN Counter Balance Oil Control Hydrator

    OLEHENRIKSEN Counter Balance™ Oil Control Hydrator 1.7 oz/ 50 mL OLEHENRIKSEN Counter Balance™ Oil Control Hydrator 1.7 oz/ 50 mL @ Amazon

    Hydrates, controls oil, mattifies and reduces the appearance of pores Finally, oily skin meets its matte. Developed as the product Ole wishes he had during his own struggle with oily skin, this lightweight, mattifying hydrator gives oily and combination skin types the essential moisture they crave. Oily skin needs hydration, too, to look its healthy best. This innovative moisturizer is powered by Green Fusion Complex, a proprietary blend of potent active botanicals—green tea, eucalyptus, algae (kelp) and Irish moss extracts—with natural antiseptic properties. Combined with neem seed oil and powerful alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), it helps keep pores clear and skin matte all day long while maintaining optimal hydration and a healthy balance. This groundbreaking formula also significantly improves the wear of foundation for up to 8 hours, making makeup meltdown a thing of the past. The complexion is soft, smooth and refreshed with a healthy-looking, matte Ole Glow!

    user @Cherly

    I’ve been suffering from the acne problems since the season shifts and olehenriksen’s counter balance oil control hydrator is really my savior! I’ve been using this product for a while and there’s no doubt that it worth the price! It contains powerful AHAs to reduce oil and minimize the appearance of pores, also improve the wear of foundation. I layer it under serum. It really gives me a surprising effect as I could see my pores and blemishes became small. What’s more, it can remove the oil from my face and hydrate it, which makes my skin looks dewy and hydrated.

  3. Less Sunlight, More Acne

    As any living being knows, the sun is a super important part of creating and maintaining life. The sun provides natural anti-inflammatory benefits along with supporting your immune system, which is why in the summer, even though you’re profusely sweating, you tend to have such a gorgeous golden glow. We suggest reaching for products in winter that help with anti-inflammation to soothe and calm your skin from acne breakouts. Herbal formula means that it can be soothing and reliable to even the most sensitive skin in winter. Traditional herbal ingredients have been applied for centuries and proofed to be effective. Except for herbal extract, magic botanical ingredients in skincare products are also significantly functional in relieving inflammatory skin. Oil is an optimal form to contain plant extraction, which always is considered to be greasy in other more moist seasons. However, hydration requirement makes this kind of facial oil much more friendly.

    For Anti-Inflammation

    ORIGINS Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience Soothing Treatment Lotion

    Sale Origins Dr Weil Mega Mushroom Relief & Resilience Treatment Lotion, 3.4 Fl Oz Origins Dr Weil Mega Mushroom Relief & Resilience Treatment Lotion, 3.4 Fl Oz @ Amazon Amazon Prime

    user @Gioia

    This toner is formulated with reishi, fermented chaga, coprinus mushrooms, and sea buckthorn, these ingredients have been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine. I was confused initially because I thought I bought a lightweight face lotion. The name “lotion” is a bit misleading. However, I want to shout out “unbelievable”! I do have very sensitive skin and find it hard to avoid harm. My skin barrier is vulnerable, especially in autumn and winter. BUT, I started to feel that my skin became stronger, hydrating, and I also noticed much less redness, I don’t see any irritation whatsoever after applying it. Normally, I pour some onto my palm and pat it into the skin. AM and PM. I genuinely believe purchasing this was a fantastic choice. 100% add it in my winter skincare routine!

    SUNDAY RILEY U.F.O. Ultra-Clarifying Face Oil

    Sunday Riley U.F.O. Ultra-Clarifying BHA Salicylic Acid and Tea Tree Acne Treatment Face Oil Sunday Riley U.F.O. Ultra-Clarifying BHA Salicylic Acid and Tea Tree Acne... @ Amazon Amazon Prime

    This fast-acting, quick-drying, medicated oil with 1.5% salicylic acid clears acne & blackhead-causing buildup & debris from congested pores. Milk thistle & cucumber seed oil nourish the skin and smooth the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

    user @thehappyskinglow

    This is Sunday Riley’s UFO ultra clarifying acne treatment facial oil, and it’s magic in a bottle! The product is marketed to be ultra clarifying and includes 1.5% salicylic acid, in addition to black cumin seed oil. I love to layer this product as the last step of my skincare routine or mixed in with my moisturizer, and it’s so effective at reducing the size of my acne overnight. It has a strong scent (black cumin seed oil I think) but it’s honestly worth it in my opinion. The only reason I would give this product 4 stars is because of the high price point, but if you’re willing to splurge, I think this is a great investment that will last you quite a long time. Only a few drops are required each time, and you really only need to use it 3-4 times a week.

 

 

 

This article was taken from Cherie to make it available to all.

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A passionate beauty specialist and blogger with a deep love for skincare and wellness. More about me here.

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