Every year, it happens. I’m living my life just like normal when I go outside and, as a cold breeze rushes by me, I can hear my skin crying for help. It’s a fact of life now; I’ve accepted that winter is my enemy. The cold breezes and freezing temperatures do a number on everyone’s skin, but we don’t have to go through the next few months like this—we can fight back.
Chapstick, and lots of it
Get something that really works. Try a few different kinds if you need to, but once you find a good one, get a travel size, get a big tub, get every size if you need to. Personally, I go through chapstick like nobody’s business. Stick them in your backpack, your purse, and in your room so that you never find yourself without a way to treat your dry lips; going for hours on end with dry, cracked lips is a punishment no one deserves. My personal favorite is Aquaphor, a healing ointment; it works a lot better than normal chapstick for me, and comes in a variety of sizes. It’s similar to Vaseline, which also works well, but Aquaphor is less greasy. The ChapStick brand is a classic as well, and they have a special hydrating version as well as their regular kind. Find what works for you!
Gloves
I see you—it’s 30 degrees out, but you still have your phone out on your walk to class, exposing your hands to the cold. No shame; I do the same thing, and nothing dries out my hands like a winter breeze. But this is an easy fix: if you need to use your hands, you can wear texting gloves. When it really gets cold and you need some real winter gloves, you unfortunately might have to sacrifice those few minutes of screen time. In any case, always keep your hands protected, or at least keep them in your pockets. They’ll thank you for it.
Lotion, lotion, lotion
While we can put gloves on our hands, it isn’t always so easy to cover our face, or at least not all of it. So when, despite your best efforts, your hands or cheeks are dry, bring out your best lotion. The Bath and Body Works stuff is cute and fun, especially around the holidays; if you can use that, power to you. For those of us with more sensitive skin (hi, that’s me), I’d recommend Aveeno or CeraVe. Put it on as needed, whenever you notice your skin is a little dry. Also, pro tip: your skin might get dry in the winter weather, but your daily hot shower (even though it feels great after being out in the cold) is playing a part too. So, to combat this dual attack on your skin, turn the temperature down a notch and apply lotion after you take a shower to restore the moisture your skin lost.
With a little bit of effort, you can keep your skin hydrated and glowing this winter. So find some products that work for you and enjoy the winter season!