Edited by Sophia Savva
Taking care of our skin in the winter can be a challenge. The air gets cold and dry, and our skin becomes dull and lifeless. Caring for our skin is definitely not as easy in the colder months as it is in the warmer ones, but that is when our skin needs the extra attention the most.
Here are a few tips and tricks to keep your skin healthy and hydrated all winter long!
Lower the thermostat
While your thermostat heats up your house, it also dries out the air. The dryness of the air ultimately affects the hydration of your skin! To maintain healthy skin, try setting your thermostat to between 68 – 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
Use a humidifier
Humidifiers pump moisture into the air, causing it to be less drying on the skin. Run a humidifier in the rooms in your house that you frequent most, especially your bedroom while you sleep!
Ditch long, hot showers
While we know that moisture comes from water, it is often overlooked how dehydrating a long, hot shower can be! If the water causes your skin to turn pink, then it is too hot. Try taking a shower in slightly cooler water to preserve your skin’s moisture!
Choose gentler soaps
Sometimes your favourite bar soap is too harsh for your skin, especially in the winter. The stripping of your skin’s natural oils contributes to overall dryness. Opt for a cleanser that is meant for sensitive skin, and will be less abrasive!
Lay on the cream
After showers, it is important to encourage moisture retention in your skin by applying cream on your body. When you exit the shower, gently towel dry your skin – do not rub violently! Once you are dry, apply lotion. Try to use a lotion that is fragrance free, as fragrances can be irritating to the skin.
Your lips can get dry too! During the day, apply lip balms that contain simple ingredients, such as petroleum jelly. A lot of the additives in the common lip balm can actually makes chapped lips worse, rather than better. Moisturize your lips before bed too!
Go for something comfortable
Do not wear things that will aggravate your skin! Textiles such as wool can be rough against the skin, and be uncomfortable. Try wearing softer fabrics that will be less irritating!
Eat healthy
Remember to stay hydrated, internally! Make sure you are drinking healthy amounts of water and eating right throughout the winter! So often we just want to curl up in warm clothes by the fire and eat tons of comfort food while watching our favourite Netflix show, but nothing could be worse for our skin! Make sure that you are getting the proper nutrients, and correct amount of water required for you, and your skin will thank you!
Do not forget your face!
Our face can be the quickest part of our body to dry out because it is usually exposed to the elements most frequently. Use cream based cleansers, and toners that have little, or no astringents, which contain alcohol and dry out the skin. At night, make sure you apply an extra thick moisturizer on your face!
It is also good if your face moisturizer contains SPF! The sun is still strong in the winter, and can take a toll on your skin even if it is grey out. The snow often reflects the suns says, magnifying them, and making them extra dangerous. Combat the UV rays by applying some SPF 15 sunscreen under your moisturizer, or buying a moisturizer that has SPF included!