Winter weather is harsh on every inch of your skin, especially the exposed parts of your face, hands, and feet. Low temperatures, low humidity, and dry air rob skin of much-needed moisture. In addition, hot showers, long baths, and central heating also contribute to causing dry, sore, scaly skin or even eczema.
If you don’t take proper care, your skin will dry out and feel tighter than normal. Therefore, you should pay more attention to skin care in winter than in any other season. Below are helpful winter skin care tips to keep your skin soft and supple.
hydrate
Keeping skin well hydrated is the cornerstone of all winter skin care tips. In winter, your skin needs more hydration than ever. Apply a moisturizer right after you shower, wash your hands, or wash your face. The longer you wait, the more your skin will dry out.
Always keep a moisturizer close by and use it liberally after every wash. More importantly, massage your hands and feet with a deep moisturizing lotion every night. Hands, elbows and feet have very few oil glands and tend to be drier. Wear socks and gloves to retain moisture.
Use oil-based moisturizers
Remember to use an oil-based moisturizer during the winter months. The oil creates a better seal on the skin than water-based products. Opt for non-clogging oil lotions and night creams with shea butter, lavender, chamomile, evening primrose, avocado, or almond oils. Creams containing sorbitol or glycerin are also a plus. Avoid petroleum-based products and harsh cleansers that contain salicylic or glycolic acid, as they tend to dry out your skin.
your lips are also dry
It is also essential to take care of the lips to prevent them from cracking and drying out. Use a natural lip balm with natural oils like grapeseed, coconut, shea butter to lock in moisture and prevent chapped lips.
apply sunscreen
We tend to think that sunscreen is only necessary for the summer. However, the winter sun along with the glare from the snow can damage the skin. The UV rays that cause sunburn will ruin exposed skin even on cloudy days. Apply a sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF) for best results. Protect your face and hands from the sun and cold wind by wearing a hat, scarf and gloves.
turn on the humidifier
Central heating can keep us warm and cozy in winter, but the hot, dry air blowing into our homes and offices dries out the skin. In fact, any heating, whether wood, oil or electric, will dry out the skin. Turn on the humidifier every day to add moisture to the air. Install smaller units around the house, especially in the bedroom for best results.
Keep hydrated
Drinking more water in winter can seem unnatural. After all, having a glass of water is not the first choice on a cold day. We all love our hot chocolate and lattes in the winter. However, these hot drinks can keep us warm, but being diuretics, they make us lose water. Try to drink more water, even when you are not thirsty.
You can heat the water and add a little lemon for a refreshing taste. Eating water-laden fruits and vegetables like watermelon, oranges, tomatoes, and cucumbers will also help you stay hydrated. Also, your skin needs vitamins and other nutrients from fresh vegetables to stay soft and supple.
It’s also important to use natural skincare products that add moisture to the skin, keeping it soft and smooth and preventing it from drying out, which can damage and age it.