Rescue Your Dry Winter Skin in Japan

Got dry skin? You are not alone.

These beautiful Tokyo winter days are notoriously tough on the skin, leaving it dry and dull. Here are seven easy ways to fight scaly, itchy, dehydrated winter skin in Japan. The good news is that just making a few small adjustments to your daily routine can make a huge difference.

1. The Five-Minute Rule

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You have probably heard it before. As tempting as it is, it’s important to skip long, hot showers. Hot water strips natural oils from the skin faster than warm water. So a long, hot shower or bath will dry out your skin. Limit yourself to a five-minute warm shower or bath. This is enough time to get clean, without over-drying your skin. Make sure you use a gentle, unscented cleanser or shower gel with moisturizing ingredients. The best ones will be formulated specifically for dry and sensitive skin.

Product recommendation: Curél Body Wash (around ¥1,100). This range is delicate enough for use on baby skin and is widely available in Japanese drugstores.

2. Moisturize While Moist

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Once you are out of the shower, moisturize your skin while it’s still moist. Gently pat your skin dry with a towel, just until it is slightly damp. Then, quickly get to work applying your facial moisturizer and body lotion within three to five minutes of washing to lock moisture in.

Product recommendation: Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Nurturing Body Cream (¥3,300 for 125mL bottle at Kiehl’s stores or online). Packed with natural hydrating and nourishing ingredients, including jojoba, sesame oil and shea butter, it leaves the skin thoroughly moisturized but not greasy. A little goes a long way.

3. Update Your Facial Moisturizer

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You don’t have to spend a fortune on a new moisturizer, but you will need to swap to a richer formula to help fend off dry, dull winter skin. Look for key ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid that help your skin retain moisture.

Product recommendations:

• La Roche Posay Toleraine Sensitive Rich Moisturizer (¥5,280 for 40mL). The fragrance, alcohol and preservative-free formula soothes and protects even the most sensitive dry skin.
• Avene Skin Balance Hydrance Optimale (¥3,080 for 39g). A hydrating moisturizer that quickly replenishes dehydrated skin. It is available in formulations to suit normal/combination and dry/very dry skin types.
• Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentre (¥3,465 for 75mL). A cult moisturizer in France for a reason. It hydrates dry skin with a mixture of beeswax, soy protein and shea butter and beautifully prepares skin for makeup.

4. Dust-Off the Humidifier

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Using a humidifier at home will help keep skin hydrated during winter months when indoor air is particularly dry. Look for an ultrasonic humidifier, as they are quiet and produce cool steam. When using a humidifier, it’s really important to use fresh water every day and to diligently clean the machine according to the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid mold growth. Many humidifiers come with built-in anti-bacterial cartridges, so keep an eye out for those.

Product recommendation: Shizuku Ultrasonic Aroma Humidifier (around ¥7,980 at home goods stores)

5. Protect Your Skin from the Elements

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Before you go outside into the cold, dry winter weather, create a moisture barrier on the most sensitive, exposed areas, such as your face, lips and hands. Reapply moisturizer, lip balm and hand cream before you leave the house.

Product recommendation: Dr. Hauschka Lip Care Stick (¥1,980 each). A hydrating lip treatment that contains all-natural ingredients.

6. Pay Special Attention to Your Hands

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The skin on your hands is thinner than on most parts of the body and has fewer oil glands. This means it can be really difficult to keep your hands hydrated. Ideally, you would apply a non-greasy nourishing hand cream each time you wash your hands to help retain moisture, but this is not always practical (especially when you have small children), so aim to apply hand cream at least three times throughout the day and wear gloves when you go outside.

Product recommendation: L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream (¥1,870 each). This penetrates the skin quickly and leaves hands super soft, but not greasy.

7. Drink Plenty of Water & Increase Intake of Omega-3 Foods

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Making sure you drink enough water can be difficult in the cooler months when drinking an ice-cold glass of water is definitely not as appealing as a steaming hot café latte. So try drinking more green tea, herbal tea or even warm water with fresh lemon and ginger. Soups are also a great way to increase your water intake in the cooler months. Eating more foods rich in essential fatty acids can also help fortify the skin’s natural oil-retaining barriers. So add plenty of omega-3-rich foods like salmon, tuna, walnuts, tofu, flaxseed and beans to your winter meals.

Here’s to healthy, hydrated and happy skin throughout the cold Japanese winter. Feel free to share your dry winter skin tips in the comments, too.