Winter Sports and Your Skin: Skin Care for Sports in the Snow

For many people, the coming of winter means the return of their favorite outdoor sports. From snowboarding to ice hockey and every snow sport in between, the chance to get out and have fun in the snow is evident in the popularity of ski resorts and outdoor skating venues. However, being outside in the harsh winter elements can have a negative impact on your skin no matter how good your skin care products are. How do you keep beautiful, healthy skin if your preferred athletic activity involves being outside in the cold? Here are some tips from the skin care experts at Murad. 

Protect Your Skin with a Moisturizer with UV Protection The most important thing you can do for your skin while engaged in outdoor winter sports is to protect it from the elements—the dry winter air and UV rays from the sun. In fact, keep in mind that when you’re participating in an outdoor winter sport, your UV exposure may actually be heightened from what you’d experience on a beach during the summer. That’s because you’re not only receiving the direct rays from the sun, but you’re also getting the diffused rays reflected by the snow. Make sure that whenever you go outside to play in the winter, your skin is protected with a daytime moisturizer that includes SPF protection. If you are using acne treatment products to help get clear skin, make sure your moisturizer is oil-free! You wouldn’t hit the beach or go hiking in the summer without sun block or sunscreen. The same should be true for outdoor winter activities.

Don’t Forget to Protect Your Lips and Eyes
While protecting your entire face is obviously important, make sure to pay special attention to your lips and eyes. These areas don’t produce moisture like the rest of your face. Use a lip balm (with, of course, SPF protection) when you’re outdoors, and then apply a moisturizing lip treatment immediately when you come in from the cold. Likewise, select an eye cream with SPF protection to ensure proper hydration of the eye area while you’re out in the snow and ice.

Wear Sunglasses!
Repetitive facial gestures can cause the development of lines and wrinkles, and squinting in particular can cause crow’s feet to form or deepen in the corner of your eyes. Because the sun’s rays are both direct and reflected by the snow, the winter outdoors can be very bright. Make sure to wear sunglasses so you don’t find yourself constantly squinting. If your winter sport requires the use of goggles, opt for a pair that are tinted. While there are many anti aging and anti wrinkle products that will minimize and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, the best defense against the signs of aging is a preventive one!

Use a Gentle Skin Cleanser and Vitamin C Moisturizer
Just because your sport happens outdoors in the snow doesn’t mean you’ve sweat or damaged your skin any less than if you were training in the desert. When you come indoors after your exercise, use a gentle skin cleanser. It’s important to select a gentle cleanser because your skin may be dry and sensitive from exposure to the elements and you don’t want to cause any further irritation. Then apply a Vitamin C moisturizer, such as Murad Essential-C Day Moisture SPF 30, to replenish antioxidants and immediately combat the damage done by sun and environmental exposure.

Winter sports can be great fun, and that doesn’t have to come at the expense of healthy, beautiful skin. Just as you would make choices to keep your body in shape for winter sports, make choices to keep your skin healthy all winter long.

Click to learn more about Murad skin care products, including Essential-C and Environmental Shield® Vitamin C skin care regimens.