"Winter Is Coming." It's three dreadful words that many of us are never prepared to take on when the time comes - even though it happens every year. It comes as no secret that winter can be very harsh, especially when it comes to our skin.
Yes, Mother Nature can wreck some serious havoc on our skin during the colder months. But, with the right natural ingredients, and a little upgrade to your skincare products, you can protect your glowing skin all year 'round. Here are a few tips on how you can winterize your skin and keep it hydrated even during the harshest winter.
Try using heavier creams rather than lotions to lock in moisture.
During the warmer months, our skin will naturally produce more sweat and it becomes a little easier to stay moisturized with a lighter lotion. However, to combat the winter's drying conditions, you may need to consider locking in moisture with heavier creams rather than lotions. Natural oils such as avocado oil, grapeseed oil, olive oil, and shea butter are richer in texture and hydrate skin much more than just lighter lotions. They also prevent skin from feeling itchy during the winter too.
Avoid really hot showers
Nothing beats the feeling of a nice warm shower, especially during the winter. But, shower takers beware! You don't want the temperature of your shower water to be too hot. Why? Hotter water temps have a tendency to dry skin out more than lower temps. During the winter the last thing you want is for your skin to be hindered from getting all the hydration and moisture it needs. So keep your shower time short and with lukewarm water rather than scalding hot.
Consider a Humidifier
During the cold winter months in some areas, we tend to use our home heating systems more often than even our cooling systems. As a result, our homes can become rather dry inside and cause our skin to work harder to grab moisture from the air. So for some, considering a home humidifier is a good addition to winterizing your skincare routine. Depending on the size of your home, you can choose to have several or just one in your bedroom where your skin will do most of its self-repairing at night.
Protect Your Skin Outside
Even though we are still mostly spending our days indoors (especially in the winter), you still want to protect your skin when you expose your skin to the sun's rays outside. Even though we don't feel the sun's dangerous UV rays as intensely as we would in the summer, you still want to protect your skin. So don't skip out on using a sunscreen with a good SPF even though the sun isn't as intense this time of year.
Stay Active
In the winter it can be very challenging to find the energy to get out and get active. But even finding ways to work up a sweat indoors will encourage your body to sweat, produce more blood circulation, and encourage that circulation to go to your skin cells bringing out healthier looking skin. In addition to sweating, your body will crave more water which is the ultimate healthy hydrating ingredient for your skin. So even if you don't have the energy to head to the gym, turn on YouTube and find some quick workout videos to follow. You can do it!!!
Exfoliate 1-2 Times Per Week
It's no secret that exfoliating the skin helps to get rid of dull and dead skin cells, and reveals soft glowing skin. But don't skip out of this during the winter. In fact, because the winter months are drying to the skin, it becomes more important to exfoliate a few times a week rather than every few weeks. Even if you have sensitive skin, try to use a smoother and less harsh exfoliating scrub, or simply opt for using a scrub brush or loofah in the shower.
Winter can be quite harsh on our skin, but with the right products and proper skincare routine, you can winterize and protect your skin all year long.