Totally touchable legs, kissable lips, and hold-able hands — life could be so nice if it weren’t for ice (and the generally cold weather that causes dry skin and hair). Let’s face it: winter creates some serious beauty problems, and while expensive moisturizers, exfoliants, and hair products can help, such a mixture of chemicals can potentially aggravate sensitive skin and can definitely aggravate the person paying your credit card bill. So how can we help?
If we stick to basics, the easiest way to keep your skin hydrated is – ta da! – to drink water. Make sure to hydrate yourself from the inside out, because while it’s nice to take a steamy shower on a cold day, hot water actually dehydrates the skin. But when drinking lots of water (or rubbing it on your electronically-charged hair) just isn’t enough, here are some easy, cheap, and accessible home remedies to solve your winter woes and to get yourself ready for Spring.
Flaky Face and Alligator Legs: Not Too ApPEELing
Exfoliate and moisturize… with ingredients from your kitchen. Mix sugar (yes, the stuff that goes in cookies) with a little bit of water, and use it as you would any store-bought face/body scrub. Rinse your face, and apply a little bit of olive oil to the driest parts. Granted, olive oil is, in fact, OIL, so use it sparingly and only on really dry problem patches. And when you’re in the shower, exfoliate your legs in the same way to rub off those unsightly dry scales and to prepare your legs for shorts weather!
Cracked Knuckles: Glove Actually
You’re always using your hands, so while the typical exfoliating/moisturizing routine can help, work to protect your hands from damage in the first place. Washing dishes? Wear rubber gloves. Going outside? Wear mittens. Washing your hands after going to the bathroom? Forget it – soap is drying. Just kidding! But try to find soaps with aloe or other moisturizing ingredients. And if you’re really struggling with cracked knuckles, get yourself some cheap white cotton gloves; put lotion on your hands; and sleep with gloves on to hold in the moisture all night long.
Chapped Lips: Pamper Your Pucker
While lip balms can temporarily relieve irritation, many contain ingredients that make your lips drier than they were before (Medicated lip balms like Carmex, for example, are meant to dry out cold sores – not to moisturize lips). Stick to natural products, or make your own lip balm. And to make sure you’re moisturizing the lip instead of the cracked top layer, try this: right after you brush your teeth, rinse off your toothbrush… then brush your lips! This removes that extra layer of dead skin and allows any natural lip balms to get to the good part!
Dandruff: Your Epidermis Is Snowing
You’re sitting in the library, and your head starts to itch. You scratch and watch in horror as a mini snow shower of dandruff floats down to your laptop. Too graphic? Think of the person sitting next to you who is actually watching this happen. Let’s make sure no one has to see this: shower immediately after working out or sweating (sweat irritates skin and speeds up flaking); alternate shampoos to avoid developing a resistance to one; brush your hair and massage your head to stimulate circulation and cell growth; get some sunshine when possible (UV Rays have an anti-inflammatory effect on skin); and if nothing else helps, get yourself a bottle of Head & Shoulders. That stuff has been around this long for a reason!
Static Hair: Locks That Shock
The skin on your face, lips, and scalp may be dead, but your hair seems to come alive– in the most irritating and distracting way possible. Rub some water on it, and two minutes later the water has dried, and your hair is creeping into the air, making you look like Albert Einstein-meets-mad-scientist. Luckily for us, there are some simple ways to reduce the likelihood of experiencing static cling: use moisturizing shampoo and conditioner; allow your hair to air-dry when possible; rub an unscented dryer sheet over your clothes and/or hair; or if you’re a real risk-taker, wear your hair wet. If it’s cold enough, your hair will freeze solid, and you’ll never have to worry about any kind of movement, much less static!