Winter skin can be questionable. The wind and cold leads to dry chafed skin and if you don’t know how to care for it properly it can lead to a slew of other problems. But there are definite ways to care for your winter skin and look fresh, glowing and polished at all times. The extreme and severe weather that we experience shouldn’t be a tell tale on our skin. After all, being a woman is truly about not just looking good, but feeling good from the inside out.
The first and most important thing that has to be considered when dealing with cold weather is that skin, no matter how oily in nature, will be prone to drying out. And the drier your skin is naturally, the more likely it is to flake, feel scaly and dry and therefore get cut and bruised very easily. Start your moisturizing regimen from the moment you’re in the shower and you’ll find that your skin will be softer, smoother and hold moisture for much longer.
Some great ways to moisturize in the shower are to use moisturizing body washes, exfoliate regularly to shed that extra layer of flaky, dry skin, (which will leave your skin renewed and allow that fresh skin to glow) and to moisturize your body while still wet. Do not towel off when you get out of the shower- instead lightly pat dry and be sure that your skin is still slightly damp while you apply the moisturizing cream of choice. Doing so will seal in the layer of moisture that you’ve added and using a light layer of extra virgin olive oil will do amazing things to your skin. At that point you’ve sealed in the water (hydration), moisturized and then sealed it further with the oil. Bye bye winter itch!
Facial moisturizer is a must and believe it or not you want to still use sunscreen in the winter to shield your skin from potential sun damage. The exposure to the elements starts with your face. Gloves, hats; etc won’t protect the most essential part of your body, so make sure to protect it the best way that you can.
Of course the knees, feet, elbows and hands are some of the parts of the body that are the most intensely affected by dry skin, especially in the winter. These parts usually require a little extra care in order to ensure that softness will reign supreme.
For the knees and elbows alike, a little bit of extra exfoliation may be needed, sometimes even on a daily basis in order to keep them smooth and even toned. This can become a bit pricey, so try mixing some brown sugar and extra virgin olive oil (soft gentle scrub) or fine or coarse sea salt mixed with extra virgin olive oil (more intense scrub) to get the same results from a home-made remedy. Rinse well, pat dry and moisturize as usual.
For the feet, try slathering on a thick and rich moisturizing crème or body butter, mix with some olive oil, wrap your feet in saran wrap and cover with a pair of clean white socks. You can do the same with your hands; just simply cover with some white gloves. This may seem a bit extreme, but if you’ve ever experienced severely dry and cracked heels, knuckles etc, you’ll find that this remedy will offer you results that you’ll be very, very happy with.
Don’t forget to drink lots and lots of water to assure that you’re not only hydrating your skin from the outside, but from the inside as well. Drinking tons of water (at least 8 8oz glasses a day) will help to constantly flush the toxins out of your system, which is inclusive of your skin. This is also a great way to combat acne. By the way, if your skin is extremely dry to begin with, make sure to moisturize overall at least twice a day for the best results. If you take care of your skin, it will take care of you in return. Remember, the healthier your skin the healthier you will look overall, no matter what weather conditions may be on the horizon. Dry skin will show your age easily including wrinkles, so keep it hydrated. Keep it soft and supple. You’ll be happy that you took the time to do so.
Qiana
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