While the cold weather in the winter can give you a natural flush, it can also make your skin dry and uncomfortable.
Your face, feet and hands tend to be the most vulnerable to the dryness that winter can cause. The dryness can lead to a tight feeling, but for some it is even worse, causing problems like cracking, flaking and skin inflammation.
If this sounds like your skin in the winter, keep reading. This article presents important tips to help you maintain healthy, hydrated and beautiful skin all winter long.
Make Sure to Moisturize Regularly
It is important to note that your warm weather moisturizer may not necessarily be effective during the winter months. As the weather gets colder, you may need to adapt your skin care routine to better work with the weather.
Since the winter can dry out the skin, you want a heavier moisturizer with an oil base so that it hydrates the skin while also providing it with a protective layer.
One easy way to find a good oil-based option is to look for products that are categorized as night creams.
When you are choosing a moisturizer for your face, you need to ensure that the oil is one that will not clog your pores. Look for oils like mineral oil, almond oil, avocado oil and primrose oil because these do not clog pores.
Shea butter on the other hand may clog pores and cause breakouts.
Products that have humectants can also be beneficial and this includes things like sorbitol, glycerine and alpha-hydroxy acids. These help to hydrate your skin by attracting moisture to it.
Always Wear Sunscreen
Sunscreen is necessary every day of the year, even when the sky is full of clouds.
Remember that snow creates a glare that can make the sun even brighter.
Slather a sunscreen on your entire body that offers broad spectrum protection against the sun. Before heading outdoors, make sure to put your sunscreen on 30 minutes prior so that it has time to absorb.
Reapply throughout the day if you are spending a lot of time outdoors.
Be Sure to Take Care of Your Hands
Many people do not think about their hands when it comes to moisturisation, but your hands can dry out quickly due to having few oil glands.
It is important that you prevent dryness, itching and cracking by regularly applying a thick moisturiser.
You also want to wear very warm gloves to protect the skin on your hands from the frigid air.
Never Wear Wet Socks and Gloves
If you keep your feet and hands in wet socks and gloves, respectively, this can irritate your skin. Common issues associated with this include itching, sores, cracking and eczema flare-ups.
Use Your Humidifier
Space heaters and central heating systems put out dry air and you are living with this air for months. This removes moisture from the air and can leech it from your skin, resulting in dryness.
A humidifier makes the air moist so that your skin does not get severely dry, even when you use your heater all winter long.
Stay Hydrated at All Times
Everyone tells you to drink more water and this is with good reason. Staying hydrated is critical for your overall health.
While this is not specifically related to your skin, you have to be mindful of how much you are drinking. Many people drink less water in the winter because they think they need less since the weather is not hot.
Grease Your Feet
Your feet can quickly dry out in the winter, so they need a little extra love. Look for products with ingredients like glycerine or petroleum jelly because these will moisturize your feet and provide a protective barrier. Make sure to also exfoliate once a week to remove dead skin.
Peel Less Often
If you do a lot of facial peels in the summer, it is time to slow down in the winter because you want to protect the natural oils on your face. Use a mild cleanser and avoid products that contain alcohol.
You can also use a hydrating mask to keep your skin healthy.
Avoid Hot Baths
It is tempting to take a hot bath in the cold weather, but this dries out your skin. Stick to short baths or showers and make sure that the water is never hotter than lukewarm to keep your skin healthy and hydrated.
You can also bathe in baking soda or oatmeal to alleviate the uncomfortable symptoms associated with dry skin.
