Winter weather can be truly frightful. Severely cold air can be one of your skin’s worst enemies, and dry artificial heat is equally as damaging. Susie Galvez, spokeswoman for Mannatech LIFT Skin Care System, shares some expert tips on how to properly care for every single inch of your skin during the bleakest months of the year.
Take a Daily Hot Shower
Taking a hot shower daily is important for the hygiene of your skin. You should do so in winter too. Keep these winter skin care tips in mind when stepping into the shower:
- Avoid harsh (typically colored, fragrant or antibacterial) soaps and stick with mild non-drying soaps.
- Apply your moisturizing cream immediately after bathing and toweling dry. This will seal in the moisture. Use moisturizing creams and ointments that are more appropriate for the body than the face.
Your Skin Still Needs Moisture
One big misconception is that the thermal sprays and the hydrating creams are only for the summer. If your skin feels too dry and taut during the winter months it simply means that it needs more moisture. So buy hydrating sprays, moisturizing serums and hydrating masks. Avoid using face soaps or lotions containing alcohol as they can make your skin even drier. Even those women with oily skin should cleanse their skin with a cleansing mils or lotions that are alcohol-free during the winter. If your skin becomes hypersensitive during the colder months of the year choose cleansing products with neutral pH.
Change Your Face Cream or Moisturizer
It’s not true that during the winter your cream or moisturizer have to be heavy and thick. One interesting fact is that during the winter your skin type may change. For example, if your skin is oily it can become normal; the normal skin may become dry and the dry may become hypersensitive, but these changes will last only during the winter months. During the winter the air contains less moisture which can make your skin look dull and dehydrated.
Your best choice, no matter your skin type will be a hydrating cream containing vitamins, essential oils and nourishing ingredients Aloe Vera, Chamomile extract, honey, Olive Oil. If your skin is oily you can use your usual face cream buy you can add a moisturizing serum or fluid to your skin care routine. If your skin is dry look for a product containing lipids, fatty acids, essential oils, glycerin or wax. If your skin becomes reddish due to the cold you should use specially designed products for sensitive skin against redness and broken capillaries.
Moisturize Your Whole Body
You should exfoliate your body once a week to remove the dead skin cells and to improve your blood circulation. Moisturize your skin every time after taking a shower. Choose an oilier hydrating body milk or body lotion to hydrate, soften and nourish your skin. If your skin is very dry or sensitive you can use baby oil or a body oil formula to moisturize and nourish your skin deeply. Apply baby oil immediately after the shower, while your skin is still wet to trap the moisture in your skin and apply the oil generously. The winter’s wind is not good for your skin, so make sure your skin is covered always wear gloves, a hat and a scarf they will prevent the brutal winter weather from causing excessive dryness.
Take Care of Your Hands
It’s essential to moisturize your hands during the cold winter months, especially before you go out. Choose a hand cream that contains vitamins and other nourishing ingredients. Apply the cream at least twice a day to keep your hands soft and well-moisturized. Feel free to apply a little bit of your hydrating face mask to your hands to nourish and moisturize them in deep.
Protect Your Lips
Chapped lips are something very common during the winter months. The skin on your lips is very delicate and sensitive and becomes dehydrated very easily. An oilier lip balm is the best way to prevent chapped and sore lips. Use a lip balm with moisturizing ingredients, Vaseline or petroleum jelly to keep your lips moist and soft. Another way to prevent chapped lips is to exfoliate them with the aid of a mild exfoliator and a toothbrush in order to remove the dead cells. Nowadays there are lip balms that offer sun protection ( with SPF 15 or higher) which are a great choice both for the summer and the winter months. Wax balms are best for preventing dry, chapped lips.
Take Care Of Your Finger Nails
- Keep your finger nails moist and prevent them from turning brittle.
- One key winter skin care tip is to minimize exposure of your skin to water. The less contact the better.
- If you have to do housework, wear protective gloves.
- Applying a nail hardener will help to protect and toughen them up.
- Take calcium supplements but be sure to follow the dosage given in the package. Are your prone to kidney stones? Check with your doctor before starting them.