Winter Skin Saving Tips
Winter is hell on the skin. Dry, windy weather and relentless central heating systems suck moisture right out of the epidermis, leaving it tight, itchy and all-around uncomfortable. Under these conditions, fine lines look deeper, complexions appear rough and flaky, and no one looks or feels their best. Here are ten invaluable tips for banishing your dry skin woes during the most punishing season of the year.
- Turn Your Home Into the Tropics
The humidifier is your best friend this winter. They’re not too pricey, so get one for each room of the house that you spend a lot of time in. Pick up a little one to keep under your desk at work as well.
- Moisturize, and Then Moisturize Some More
Whether you prefer lotion, cocoa butter cream or body oil, apply liberally and often all over your body. Slather it on as soon as you get out of the shower in the morning, and keep a small bottle with you during the day to re-apply to your hands after washing, or any other part of the body that dries out quickly. For both facial and body moisturizers, you may want to switch to a thicker formula during the winter months.
- Don’t Forget to Exfoliate
Keep a gentle body scrub and a less abrasive facial exfoliant in the shower and remember to use them both once or twice a week. This gets rid built-up dead skin cells and exposes a fresh layer of skin ready to suck up all the moisturizer you’re going to apply when you step out of the tub.
- Supplement with Flaxseed Oil Daily
It’s not the best-tasting stuff, but flaxseed oil could be a useful supplement for essentially moisturizing your body from within. The refrigerated kind generally has a milder, fresher taste than un-chilled oil. If you can’t stand the thought of swallowing one to two tablespoons of straight oil every day, you can also pick it up in capsule form. Just about any Whole Foods or health food store should carry both kinds.
- Take Oil-Infused Baths Instead of Hot Showers
This may not be practical advice for rushed mornings when you’re on your way to work, but a soak in a warm bath amply infused with sweet almond or jojoba oil is a soothing and skin-nourishing way to end the day
- Don’t Skip the Sunblock
Just because the sun isn’t shining as bright or as often as it did during the summer doesn’t mean it won’t still burn your skin. Applying Sunblock, preferably SPF 25 or higher should be a part of your daily skin care routine all year long. Remember to apply to all parts of your body that will be exposed during the day: face, arms, neck, etc.
- Wear Natural-Fiber Clothing
Synthetic fabrics and wool can be very irritating to dry skin, so opt for soft cotton clothing instead. If you need to wear wool to keep warm, wear a long-sleeved cotton shirt or turtleneck underneath to provide a “buffer zone.”
- Stop Licking Your Lips
We’ve all been guilty of this assault on our kissers: When our lips feel dry, we lick them. Of course, this only leaves them more chapped. Keep a tube or jar of lip balm with you at all times, and apply every time you get the temptation to lick those dry lips. In a pinch, you can also apply the balm to chapped hands and irritated, over-blown noses.