Why does our skin feel dry in the winter?

Winter is time of year when your skin feels drier than usual and could use a little extra shield. What is the deal with feeling so dry and tight during the winter?

What causes dry, tight skin?

Let’s start with the science and a concept called “relative humidity.” Relative humidity is a measure of the water content of the air around us relative to the amount of water the air is capable of carrying. Think of the difference between trying to dissolve a pack of sugar into a steaming cup of coffee versus a frosty glass of iced tea. The hot liquid dissolves the sugar quickly and effectively while the cold iced tea has a little pile of sugar crystals that sit at the bottom of your glass no matter how much you stir. Air is the same way, hot air can hold more water than cold air.

Now think about central heat, radiators, and the little space heater you keep under your desk. The cold air blowing around your house or your office has a fixed amount of water in it and then you heat it up to a comfortable temperature. Suddenly the air is capable of carrying much more water than it did before even though the amount of water actually in the air has not changed. The end result is that we are spending tons of time in warm, dry air, and this leads to dry skin even if you live somewhere that is normally humid.

What can you do?

But don’t worry–we have the technology. My recommendation is adding a water-based serum to your skincare routine, especially one that contains hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Hyaluronic acid binds water and effectively delivers hydration deep into your skin.

If you're looking for a Seed Theory Skincare solution: Both our Shine Vitamin C Serum and Moon Mushroom Peptide Serum are rich in hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and soothing botanical hydrosols to deeply hydrate and protect your skin. Be sure to follow up with a cream moisturizer or a facial oil to seal in the moisture and protect your skin.