Battling dry and patchy skin this winter? You’re not alone! As temperatures drop, we face unique challenges that can leave our bodies craving moisture, often without even knowing it. The dryness of cold, crisp air and indoor heating can diminish your skin’s glow, while shorter days and seasonal stress drain your energy and weaken your immunity.
Staying hydrated during winter is about much more than drinking water — it’s about nourishing your skin, bolstering your immune system, and maintaining energy levels to thrive during the darkest months of the year. We explore how to combat dry skin, dehydration and how to achieve hydration this winter. With a few of our go-to winter wellness tips and HUM’s best supplements, you’ll have everything you need to stay hydrated, healthy, and radiant all season long.
Why Are We Dehydrated in The Winter?
“Hydration in the winter is crucial due to lower humidity levels and increased use of heating systems,” says Tatiyana Canady, a Holistic Nutritionist and founder of aesthetic atelier Aurum. “All of the fluctuations can cause transepidermal water loss, which negatively impacts the skin, and prohibits your body from retaining needed moisture. Our body is made up of 75% water, and relies on water to keep our systems healthy.”
What Winter Hydration Means For Your Overall Health
Skin Health, Immunity, and Skin Supplements to Help
Winter’s dry air and indoor heating can wreak havoc on your skin, stripping it of moisture and leaving it dull, flaky, and irritated. Hydration replenishes your skin from within, restoring elasticity and maintaining a radiant glow even in harsh conditions. But drinking water alone isn’t enough, supplements can help drastically—HUM’s Arctic Repair helps support skin elasticity with omega 3 and 6, maintaining the skin’s moisture barrier and locking in hydration. It also works as an anti-inflammatory, soothing dry, irritated, inflamed skin.
HUM’s Daily Cleanse supplement furthers skin health by supporting your body’s natural detoxification processes. Ingredients like chlorella and dandelion root enhance the body’s ability to flush out toxins through the kidneys, liver, and skin, helping combat winter dryness and environmental stress.
This detoxifying harmony also benefits your immune system. By reducing the load on vital organs like the liver, Daily Cleanse frees up energy for immune defense. Its antioxidant and antibacterial properties fight free radicals and environmental stressors, which can weaken immunity during cold and flu season. Pairing Daily Cleanse with proper hydration can help keep your mucous membranes moist, creating a stronger barrier against viruses. Together with hydration, it offers your immune system protection and the boost it needs to thrive in winter.
Energy and Mental Focus
Even mild dehydration can sap your energy and cloud your focus, making the shorter, darker days feel even more challenging. While also a go-to for its detoxifying benefits, HUM’s Celery Juice Gummies are essential for restoring energy and sharpening mental clarity. Celery is naturally packed with important electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium. Combined with other added nutrients like Vitamins A, C, B6, and folate, the gummies help maintain a healthy balance, supporting cellular energy production and reducing fatigue. Their nutrients also enhance circulation, ensuring your brain gets the oxygen and nourishment it needs to stay sharp. Together, the nourishment helps keep you energized and focused, even in the midst of winter’s sluggishness.
Tips for Handling Dry and Patchy Skin and Staying Hydrated All Winter Long
Increase Water Intake and Track Your Progress
Hydration often takes a backseat in cold weather when thirst cues are less noticeable. Luckily, it’s an easy fix, and Canady says that many people notice an immediate improvement in their hydration levels by incrementally increasing their water intake. To do this, start by setting reminders to drink or using a water-tracking app to ensure you’re drinking enough throughout the day. The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommended the following daily water intake:
- About 15.5 cups (91 ounces) of fluids per day for men
- About 11.5 cups (125 ounces) of fluids per day for women
Many people don’t like the taste of plain water, and if that’s the case for you, adding fresh fruits and vegetables can give drinking water a whole new experience. You can also try warm, hydrating beverages like herbal teas, warm lemon water, or even heated (diluted) fruit-infused waters.
Incorporate Hydrating Foods
Loading up on fresh fruits and vegetables (thanks to their naturally high water content) contributes to your daily water intake and can significantly improve hydration levels in cold weather. Even winter’s produce lineup is surprisingly rich in hydrating options while providing essential nutrients to support the body. Citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits are high in water content (86% and 91%) and packed with immune-boosting vitamin C. Vegetables like cucumbers (96%) and celery (95%) or even leafy greens can be great additions to winter meals like soups or even salads for a hydration boost. Broth-based soups, especially those made with vegetables and lean proteins, are an optimal choice, combining warmth, hydration, and nutrients in one comforting bowl.
Balance Electrolytes
“Proper hydration requires more than just a clean water source,” Canady says. “Our bodies need electrolytes to hydrate properly so our fluid stays in the body and isn’t released in the urine.” Dry indoor air and heating systems can increase water loss through the skin and respiratory system, leading to electrolyte imbalances. Foods rich in potassium, magnesium, and sodium—like bananas, sweet potatoes, and leafy greens—can help, but supplements like our Celery Juice Gummies offer a convenient alternative. These gummies provide a natural electrolyte boost in a delicious, easy-to-take form, ensuring your body stays hydrated and energized without the need for sugary sports drinks.
Upgrade Your Skincare Routine
Staying cooped up inside with the dry air and heating systems most likely means that you’ll have to upgrade your skincare routine. After evaluating your water intake and electrolytes, Canady suggests taking a closer look at your skin health and asking yourself what changes you can make to determine your new skincare needs. “Is it time for an upgrade to a heavier face cream? Can I include a hydrating serum in my regimen? “Most times, the answer is yes,” Canady says, “so chat with a skincare professional to choose the best one for your skin.”
In addition to upgrading your skincare products like moisturizers and serums, consider other aspects of hydration. A hot, steamy shower, while as tempting as it is to take when it’s cold out, can further dry out the skin. If you notice your skin is dry, itchy, or flaking, consider switching to an extra-hydrating body wash and moisturizer for the time being. Using a humidifier can also be extremely beneficial and help the skin replenish lost moisture from indoor heating.
Thirst-Quenching Hydration Drink Recipes
Looking for creative ways to stay hydrated? These drink recipes provide optimal hydration levels with extra nourishing benefits for healthy body function.
Cozy Lemon Ginger Water
Ingredients:
- A cup of hot water
- Juice of half a lemon
- 1-2 teaspoons of freshly grated ginger (add to taste, depending on your preference of ginger strength)
- 1 Tablespoon of honey
Optional Add-Ins: You can also add a pinch of turmeric or cinnamon for extra anti-inflammatory benefits. The spices’ active ingredients, cinnamaldehyde (cinnamon) and curcumin (turmeric), fight against free radicals and reduce oxidative stress, providing inflammatory relief.
Benefits: Supports digestion, Boosts immunity, Reduces inflammation
Winter Berry Green Smoothie
Ingredients:
Optional Add-Ins: Adding chia or flax seeds to your smoothie provides omega 3 and 6, which Canady describes as “waterproofing” our cells- helping us better retain moisture within the body and regulating the skin’s natural oil production.
Benefits: Provides hydration (from the water-rich produce), Aids in detoxification, Supports skin health
Arctic Cucumber Mint Refresher
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cucumber, thinly sliced
- 5-6 fresh mint leaves
- Sparkling water (or adjust to taste)
Optional Add-Ins: If you want to add an extra splash of flavor, lime supports the immune system packed with Vitamin C, aids in liver detoxification, and maintains healthy electrolyte levels with potassium.
Benefits: Provides hydration (from the water-rich cucumber), Boosts immunity, Reduces inflammation
Dry and Patchy Skin FAQs
1. What causes dry and patchy skin?
There are many factors that can cause this. Some including:
- Hot water
- Soaps
- Dehydration
- Lack of moisture in the air
- Medications
2. What are the Symptoms of Dry and Patchy Skin?
- Flaky skin
- Itching
- Cracks on your skin
3. What Can I Do to Combat Dry and Patchy Skin?
There are a few topical ways that you can ease dry and patchy skin in addition to diet and your supplement routine. Consider a thicker moisturizer, using a humidifier in your home, and using gentle soaps.
The Takeaway on Hydration
Hydration isn’t just a summer priority but a year-round necessity. Winter demands extra attention to hydration to keep your skin radiant, immune system strong, and energy levels steady. However, combining good hydration habits, skincare, and HUM products like Daily Cleanse, Arctic Repair, and Celery Juice Gummies will provide both relief and maintenance to your overall health. Give your hydration routine the attention it deserves and upgrade your winter wellness this year.
Ready to start your winter hydration journey? Explore HUM’s products to nourish from the inside out and make this winter your healthiest and most radiant yet!
