4 Ways to Get Glowing Skin

Ah, wintertime… Hot chocolate, snowfall, holidays, and dry skin. Dry skin? Yes, even for you oily girls out there, your skin can become drier. Due to the chilly, dry air outdoors, and the heated, dry air indoors, your skin is bound to feel a lot more dry and dull than normal. Stock up on the products below to achieve healthy, glowing skin so that you are ready to battle the dry skin by the time winter hits.

1. Exfoliate. When your skin becomes dry, your skin tends to get flaky, rough patches, especially around the sides of your nose, mouth and in between your eyebrows. To compensate for the dryness, most people tend to pile on thick, heavy creams to those problem areas, but all that does is re-hydrate the dead skin cells. Instead, exfoliate one to two times a week to remove the dead skin cells by rubbing the product onto damp skin in circular motions by applying gentle pressure. TIP: Avoid abrasive, grainy exfoliators on your face, such as the St. Ives Apricot Scrub. This exfoliator has jagged, sharp particles of walnuts that causes tiny cuts in the skin, leading to increased irritation and damaged skin. Switch to an exfoliator that is gentler with rounded, smooth beads, such as Vichy Pureté Thermale Purifying Exfoliating Cream ($18, vichyusa.com).
2. Cleanse. If you are not already using a gentle cleaner in the other seasons, then make sure you switch to one for the wintertime. Your skin is more sensitive during this time, so using a mild cleanser is perfect because it won’t strip your skin of its natural oils. Start by wetting your face with warm water, applying the product onto the tips of your fingers and massaging the cleanser in gentle, circular motions. Try using the gentle, Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser by La Roche-Posay ($22.50, laroche-posay.us) for a cleanser that is a smooth, milky consistency. Remember, to avoid cleansing with hot water, since this will over dry your skin even more.
3. Moisturize. Now, that your skin is free of the dead skin cells and cleansed, you can move onto moisturizing the new skin cells. The moisturizer you choose makes all the difference in the appearance and glow of your skin. Applying a thicker cream in the evening can help your skin replenish while you sleep; allowing you to wake up to brighter looking skin. Quench you skin with the Korres Wild Rose 24-hr Moisturizing and Brightening Cream ($35, sephora.com). If your skin feels extra dry, then apply your moisturizer when your skin is moist, such as after your shower to allow the product to really penetrate the skin. Don’t forget to moisture your eye area in the same way you need to moisturize your face. My favorite? Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado ($28.50, kiehls.com) is a thicker consistency of eye cream that moisturizes your delicate eye area like a dream.
4. Vitamins. This non-beauty product related tip is often the missing link if you want to go from dull to healthy looking skin. What you put into your body is a direct link to the appearance of your skin. Unfortunately, in the wintertime our level of healthy nutrition drops due to most fruits and vegetables being out of season. As a result, those same fruits and veggies become expensive to purchase. This causes us to miss out on the added health benefits we receive in the summer and spring when they are less expensive. Look for a local farmer’s market in your area where the prices of fruits and vegetables are generally cheaper than chain supermarkets. Focus on hunting down the dark green veggies, such as spinach, kale or broccoli. These are rich in vitamin A, which encourages cell turnover and keeps skin supple. Need brighter looking skin fast? Sip on some peppermint tea, which gives your skin a glow from the inside out by boosting circulation.

Photo Sources:
http://www.youbeauty.com/skin/10-easy-tricks-for-flawless-skin
http://www.positivelypositive.com/2012/05/09/chemicals-to-avoid-in-your-…