Let’s face it: Winter is the worst season when it comes to looking amazing! Your hair is static, your eyes watery and your skin is dry, pretty much everywhere.
Soft, dewy skin that’s immune to the effects of icy temps, whipping winds and Sahara-like heating indoors? Good luck with that, right? Yes, its wintertime and the livin’ ain’t easy for your skin! Did you know that your skin loses up to 25% of its ability to hold moisture in the winter months? As the mercury drops your skin will demand an upgrade to your skincare regiment.
Follow this battle plan to fight the dry-skin epidemic, keeping your skin soft, moisturised and winter-ready.
• Ditch the soap. Fragrant soapy gels might feel (and smell) wonderful after a day at the beach, but they will leave your skin feeling dry in winter. Switch to a soap-free, hydrating cleanser. Pack the gels away and bring out the creamy body wash. You may want to go mild with your laundry detergent too. Designed to remove dirt and oils, residue may irritate dry, sensitive skin. Washing your hands regularly is key to keeping germs at bay, but it wreaks havoc on your skins moisture level. Consider replacing some of those washes with a hand sanitizer. They do contain alcohol that will dry out your skin, but often not to the extreme that soap and water can.
• Shorten those showers. Long steamy showers may sooth sore muscles, but they’re also good at dehydrating your skin. Hot water removes the skin’s natural oils quicker than warm or cold water. The skin care solution? Take shorter showers and use warm water instead of steamy hot. Then, when you’re done, pat dry, don’t rub.
• Soak smart. You’d think that sitting in a bath would hydrate your skin, but no, this will actually break down your body’s natural lipid barriers. Prevent this by keeping the water luke - warm and adding a few drops of almond oil, wheat germ, grapeseed oil or apricot kernel oil to your bath. The oil will create a comforting, moisturizing layer on the skin that locks in hydration.
• Shampoo and condition first. Suds from your shampoo and conditioner inevitably run over your body and face, depositing a film caused by the strong cleansers and heavy moisturizers found in many hair products. Lather up with a creamy body wash afterwards to remove those moisture-zapping, itch inducing chemicals.
• Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise. Apply moisture to damp skin, every time you wash. Switch from a lotion to a cream. Creams provide a stronger oily barrier, which means reduced water loss from the outer layers of the skin as well hydrating the skin at the same time.
• Exfoliate with an oil-based scrub. Start the new season off with a full body exfoliation. A good body scrub and facial exfoliant can help to remove dead skin cells. Add this to your cleansing routine once a week. Try a mix of honey and sugar to soften dry patches on rough hands and knees to keep your skin soft and healthy.
• Get a humidifier. This will help to bring healthy moisture levels back to the skin. Try this at work.
• Wear protection against the harsh weather. When heading into the great outdoors, dress for the weather with a hat, scarf and gloves to avoid wind burn and prolonged exposure to cold air. Also don’t forget the sunscreen, winter sun can be just as damaging.
• Up your intake of Omega oils. Plant oils rich in essential fatty acids will help moisturize your body and skin from the inside out. Omega-3 and Omega-6, help your skin produce more lipids, which naturally retain and balance natural oils and moisture levels. Cold water fish, flax seed oil, avocados, olives and nuts, are all sources to keep your skin supple and hydrated.
• Drink plenty of water. Always a good idea to drink more water although there is no scientific proof that guzzling water can rehydrate the skin.
• Sooth chapped lips. Protect your kisser behind a scarf and always, always use a lip balm with at least SPF 15. Combat winter woes by following these basic skin care tips. Keep your skin healthy and glowing; no matter what old man winter throws your way.
Source: www.sheknows.com, www.health.com, awomanshealth.com, www.womanshealthmag.com, www.wikihow.com, www.drfrankklipman.com, www.webmd.com, allwomanstalk.com, www.womanshealthonline.com, www.huffingtonpost.com
DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need health advice, please consult a healthcare professional.
