Central Heating Can Leave Skin Dry & Dull—Here Are 5 Ways To Combat It
Yes, you can keep central heating and have hydrated skin—here's how.
Hollif
Author:
November 16, 2022
mbg Assistant Beauty Editor
mbg Assistant Beauty Editor
Hannah Frye is the Assistant Beauty Editor at mindbodygreen. She has a B.S. in journalism and a minor in women’s, gender, and queer studies from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Hannah has written across lifestyle sections including health, wellness, sustainability, personal development, and more.
Image by Leandro Crespi / Stocksy November 16, 2022 Our editors have independently chosen the products listed on this page. If you purchase something mentioned in this article, we may When winter rolls around, it’s only natural to crank up the heat. While this may make you feel cozy at first, your skin will likely beg to differ. Why? Well, central heating dries out the air. This is why you might wake up with irritated skin, dry nostrils, or chapped lips, as the arid air robs your skin of moisture. Now, this doesn’t mean you have to abandon your heaters to keep your skin dewy all winter long. Instead, follow these tips. 
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“Low humidity, cold air, brisk winds, [and] dry indoor heating are all factors that can increase moisture loss from the skin and increase risk of dry skin,” board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D. tells mbg. In order to combat that moisture loss in the air, add a humidifier to your bedroom, living room, desk area, or wherever else you spend most of your time. Here are seven desktop humidifiers that will get the job done without taking up too much space. 2. This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features. 3. Using a highly occlusive moisturizer over your regular moisturizer (a technique commonly referred to as slugging) is an A+ method for preserving skin moisture in the wintertime. Simply layer on your go-to face lotion or cream and follow up with an occlusive oil. Some people opt for petrolatum-based products and ointments, but we’re not huge fans of these mineral oil products at mbg due to their environmental impact—you can read more about that here. Instead, botanical oils like squalane, jojoba, marula, rosehip, algae, etc., will do the job. Here’s a list of our top 13 face oils, if you want to shop now. 4. While you might focus on hydration during summer to compensate for sweat, wintertime deserves just as much attention. When your skin lacks water, it’s more likely to become irritated and, therefore, lack radiance. Luckily, this is a fixable situation: Up your water intake and add ingredients like hyaluronic acid supplements to your smoothies for an added boost. This is also another reason to prioritize skin-hydrating beauty supplements (like ones that include phytoceramides) if you need an extra nudge.* This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features. 5. Your skin barrier can easily weaken during the winter (again, because of that arid, dry air), which means you should be extra careful when it comes to potentially drying topicals—think clay face masks, astringents, witch hazel, tea tree, etc. Instead, focus on hydrating and soothing products that nourish your skin microbiome; find our favorites here.Invest in skin supplements for wintertime.
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Use an occlusive moisturizer.
Focus on internal hydration.
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Minimize drying products.
The takeaway.
Central heating can dry out your skin if you don’t take proper precautions and compensate for the lack of humidity. Do your best to stick with hydrating products, use an occlusive oil at night, and always prioritize skin hydration from the inside out. Want more tips for dry, wintry skin? Check these out.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medications, consult with your doctor before starting a supplement routine. It is always optimal to consult with a health care provider when considering what supplements are right for you.
