Winter months are probably one of the harshest months for our skin. The lack of moisture in the air, the frigid cold, and the dropping temperature can lead to a myriad of skin concerns, including dryness, skin flaking, redness, inflammation, etc.
To combat the impacts of the winter months on the skin, building a robust and effective skincare routine is key. But, the first step is to identify your skin type. Are you one of those people whose skin type changes with seasons? If yes, it makes sense that you’d need a completely new skincare routine for the winter months.
Don’t worry because Dr. Leslie Baumann’s skin care routine quiz has got your back through and through. This quiz, based on 16 Baumann Skin Types, serves as a gold standard diagnostic tool to guide you in selecting the best barrier repair moisturizers for the winter months. We will discuss more about that and your ideal winter skincare routine in this guide.
Elements to Include in a Winter Skin Care Routine
Building a skincare routine for winter requires adjustments to address the specific challenges posed by cold temperatures, low humidity, and harsh winds. You want to pick a heavy face cream that will align with your skin type and also address other skin concerns that you might be struggling with such as dark spots or redness.
Following are a few elements that are a “must add” to your winter skincare routine:
- Moisturizer
Given that your skin will undergo a lot throughout the winter months, picking a barrier strengthening moisturizer for the winter months is key. You want to look for barrier cream with active ingredients like saturated fatty acids, vegan cholesterol, and ceramides. Body and face creams for winter that show a Maltese Cross Pattern when viewed under a microscope are the most protective against the cold and dry air of winter.
- Milder cleansers
Since the skin is already subject to so much dryness, the last thing you want is to add to it. Harsh cleansers will strip the skin’s moisture barrier, leading to further dryness. What you want to do instead is switch to mild and hydrating cleansers that are cream or oil-based. Cleansing oils area a good option for winter. Stay away from face soaps with strong detergents and thick foam.
3.Gentle exfoliation
Harsh exfoliation during the winter months may exacerbate the dryness. Hence, you want to stick to mild exfoliants like alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) for better results. If you have a sensitive Baumann Skin Type, you may want to avoid exfoliants completely.
- Sunscreen
Irrespective of the time of the year, sunscreen is a must-include in your skincare routine. Even during the winter months, exposure to UV rays can be damaging to the skin. Hence, including a broad-spectrum sunscreen is a must in your skincare routine especially when skiing or spending a lot of time outside.
How to Know Your Skin Type?
Remember when we highlighted how people experience a shift in their skin type during the winter months? Well, it’s true. It happens a lot more than you’d like to admit. That said, one thing that’s essential to understand is your skin type and how it changes seasonally.
There’s no point picking a moisturizer for the harsh winter months if it doesn’t sit right with your specific skin type and texture. For this, it is mandatory that you first ascertain what kind of skin type you have. Before you buy any skin care products for winter- take the skin care quiz to see if your skin type changed when the weather became colder and drier. We recommend retaking the quiz with every season change so you can keep your skin care routine up to date.
For that, we’d recommend you rely on Dr. Baumann’s 16 Baumann Skin Types. These skin types are based on if you have the following skin concerns:
- Dry, dull, rough skin (Dehydration)
- Red, stinging, or acne-prone sensitive skin (Inflammation)
- Dark spots or uneven skin tone (Hyperpigmentation)
- Thin sagging skin or fine lines and wrinkles (Aging)
When you combine these skin concerns, you get 16 distinct skin types:
- Here’s a breakdown of the 16 Baumann Skin Types®:
Skin Type 1- DSPT – Dry, sensitive, hyperpigmentation, tight
Skin Type 2- DSNT – Dry, sensitive, no hyperpigmentation, tight
Skin Type 3- DSPW – Dry, sensitive, hyperpigmentation, wrinkle-prone
Skin Type 4- DSNW – Dry, sensitive, no hyperpigmentation, wrinkle-prone
Skin Type 5- OSPT – Oily, sensitive, hyperpigmentation, tight
Skin Type 6- OSNT – Oily, sensitive, no hyperpigmentation, tight
Skin Type 7- OSPW – Oily, sensitive, hyperpigmentation, wrinkle-prone
Skin Type 8- OSNW – Oily, sensitive, no hyperpigmentation, wrinkle-prone
Skin Type 9-OPRT – Oily, resistant, hyperpigmentation, tight
Skin Type 10-ORNT – Oily, resistant, no hyperpigmentation, tight
Skin Type 11- ORPW – Oily, resistant, hyperpigmentation, wrinkle-prone
Skin Type 12- ORNW – Oily, resistant, no hyperpigmentation, wrinkle-prone
Skin Type 13- DRPT – Dry, resistant, hyperpigmentation, tight
Skin Type 14- DRNT – Dry, resistant, no hyperpigmentation, tight
Skin Type 15- DRPW – Dry, resistant, hyperpigmentation, wrinkle-prone
Skin Type 16- DRNW – Dry, resistant, no hyperpigmentation, wrinkle-prone
Once you have diagnosed what kind of skin type you have during the winter months, Skin Type Solution’s quiz will match you with a relevant moisturizer that would be the best face cram for your skin type during the harsh winter months.
How to Make the Most Out of the Personalized Skincare Product Recommendations?
While you can read more about the best barrier repair moisturizer on Skin Type Solution’s blog section, how do you pick the one that’s best suited to your needs?
To be fair, the steps are a lot simpler than you think. Here’s what you need to do:
- Simply visit the official website of Skin Types Solution or you can directly open the quiz at this link.
- You will be redirected to the quiz and there you have to answer all the relevant questions that are mentioned on the website. The 3-5 minute quiz considers factors such as how your skin reacts to different products, its level of sensitivity, and your specific skin concerns.
- Once you are done answering all the relevant questions, you will receive a detailed report related to your skin type based on the 16 Baumann skin types.
- This might surprise many, but the true magic happens after you have taken the quiz because that’s when you are matched with relevant skin care products and you get to build a custom skin care routine from many different brands. In this case, our highlight is the moisturizer that you need to add to your skincare routine during the winter months.
- When it comes to moisturizers or product recommendations in general, the Baumann Skin Type Test provides personalized, science-backed product recommendations from a variety of medical-grade skincare brands. This guarantees that the moisturizer that you pick from the list of options addresses the unique needs of your skin.
With decades of experience and expertise, Dr. Baumann has curated a skin type quiz that guarantees tailored solutions to address specific skin concerns. If you are still worried about certain aspects of your skin and want a more detailed and in-person outlook, you can always consult a dermatologist and have them take a closer look at your skin concerns and provide better and more personalized solutions.
Conclusion
As winter creeps in, it is the type to take your skincare more seriously and ensure that you include moisturizers that specifically help with skin barrier repair. Taking the Skin Type Solutions quiz isn’t just about identifying your skin type; it’s a gateway to a customized skincare routine that caters to your unique needs.
So, before you blindly reach for the “thickest” moisturizer on the shelf, take a minute or two to understand what your skin truly needs during the harsh winter months.