Winter is here, whether we like it or not! And the cold weather, combined with the dry heat in our homes, car and work spaces, and wind are wreaking havoc on our skin. Ugh!
If you have noticed that the surface of your skin is feeling dry, looks drab or is flaky in some areas, welcome to the Winter Skin Club. It’s time to give your skin some much-needed TLC.
Our skin produces and needs a balance of moisture and oil (sebum). When there is an imbalance brought on by the harsh weather and the dry heat we are exposed to from the great indoors, the skin becomes dry, flaky and irritated. To counter winter’s impact, here are a few tips to bring your skin some relief:
1. Bring on the moisture!
- Keep hydrated by drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day to keep your skin looking and feeling its best
- Place a humidifier in your home (your bedroom, if not the entire home) to fend off the effect of the dry heat coming from your home’s heating system.
2. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Invest in a good moisturizer that is appropriate for your face and neck and use it daily and nightly. For the body, use lotions or body oils and balms (especially for dry feet, elbows and knees) after every shower and bath to keep the moisture in and on the skin.
3. Don’t forget the sunscreen. The sun still shines and the skin-damaging rays still reach our skin during the winter season. And when it snows, the sun’s rays reflect off of it. So, protect your skin daily by using sunscreen on every exposed part of your body whenever you go outside. That means your face and neck (please don’t forget the neck), your hands (especially when you’re driving without gloves). To make it easy, mix your sunscreen with your moisturizer and your lotions. Keep sunscreen in your car or your purse so that you can reapply to your exposed parts.
4. Exfoliate! Exfoliating the skin once or twice a week helps to remove dead, flaky dead skin cells, revealing smooth skin. Use an appropriate exfoliant for the face and neck, based on your skin’s concerns. For the body, use a sugar scrub, loofah, or exfoliating glove while showering or bathing to achieve that healthy glow. Dry brushing before you shower is an excellent form of exfoliation.
5. Avoid long, hot showers or baths. No matter how tempting it is to linger in a hot shower or soak in a hot bath for a lengthy period of time, such practices actually lend to skin dryness. Instead, take a short warm shower or bath.
Hope that you find these tips helpful. If you need help with finding the appropriate skin care products for your face, consult with a licensed esthetician in your area. If you are in the Wilmington, DE area, make a skin consultation or a facial appointment at You Got the Look Spa.