Little Tips You Need to Survive Fall and Winter in North Carolina
Fall is literally everywhere on campus now. Like many, fall is without any doubt my favorite season of the year, but besides the beautiful views and pumpkin spice latte, fall and the upcoming winter in North Carolina is still harsh in some ways. The weather hit me pretty hard last fall during my freshman year. I got sick frequently, coughed for almost a month, suffered from various skin problems, and–for the worst part–had a serious nose bleed because of the dryness. It is obviously not a very pleasant memory but at least I learned a lesson on how to take care of myself during this time of the year. So I want to share some of my small tricks and hope they can help you stay comfortable and healthy to enjoy this beautiful season instead of lying sick in bed.
1. Layer Your Clothes
Keeping yourself warm is always the number one tip for not getting a cold when the season changes. It’s been cold recently in Winston Salem, so wrap up and remain cozy. The temperature still varies quite a lot during the day, typical North Carolina weather. The early morning and nighttime are definitely really chilly, but it is warmer when the sun is out or whenever you’re inside. Adjust your clothes if necessary! I like wearing multiple layers of clothes, eg. a T-shirt, a thin cardigan and then a jacket, so that I can take off and put them back on easily.
2. Wear Slippers
Slippers are life-savers on cold days. They are warm, fury, comfy and super cute. The air conditioners in residence halls are one of the most confusing things at Wake: it’s 50 degrees outside but my AC is still blowing cool air and I have no idea when the heat is going to come on #ugh. If you don’t like wearing shoes and socks in your room like me, slippers are your best friends.Scientifically speaking the reduction of blood flowing to your feet in low temperatures can cause our feet to feel colder than our other body parts, so treat them with some extra warmth.
But remember to take them off when you are going into the shower…
3. Moisturizer
The fall and winter seasons in North Carolina are dry and VERY dry. I can feel my face get flaky and tight as the weather gets colder. Cold air is not good at holding moisture, the harsh winds can blow away your skin’s natural lipids and the heating systems inside buildings only make things worse. To avoid dry and itchy skin in fall, keep it moisturized at all times. Moisturizers are must-haves for me in the dry seasons. They can keep my skin soft and hydrated. And putting on some moisturizer in the morning makes applying makeups easier and helps them last longer.
I also love toners. They help complete the cleansing and re-balance the skin after using a facial cleanser. I’d like to spray on some toner during daytime as well and since liquids are easy for skin to absorb, they are able to fix the dryness without messing up my makeup.
4. Body Lotion
Besides your face, other parts of your body need to be moisturized too. Feet and calves are my dry areas during dry seasons that crack occasionally so I need to take extra good care of them. I’ve recently been obsessed with the Japanese Cherry Blossom body lotion from Bath & Body Work. It smells soooo good and the smell is so long-lasting that I can wake up in the morning and stilled covered in the sweet cherry blossom scent. This is a product that improves both my skin and my mood : )
5. Lip Balms
The most annoying and painful thing during the dry season are dry and cracked lips, and it hurts even more if you happen to have bad habit of biting your lips and peeling off the dead skin like me. The Vaseline lip care line is ideal for fall. As an active lipstick user, they are thick and efficient enough to correct any lip problems really fast. I used to like the “Lip Therapy” Coconut Butter that is shaped like a mini Vaseline jar but then I switched to their Advanced Healing product because I don’t like dipping my finger into the can, but both products work well and are pretty cheap anyway. They are too thick and oily for me to use during daytime so I usually apply a layer of them before going to bed and when I wake up the next morning almost all kinds of problems would be gone.
My daytime to go lip balm is Burt’s Bees Pomegranate and I’ve been using it for nearly 3 years now. I tried other flavors but this one is definitely my fav. It’s light and yet very moisturizing. The smell might be a little strange to many but I find it ok.
6. Drink Water!!
Last and yet the most important, like moms have told us a million times, drink more water! You may be less likely to feel thirsty in cold seasons than in summer but this doesn’t mean your body does not require water intake. Since it’s so dry during this time of the year, not enough hydration may have major consequences. I grew up in a dry area so I didn’t pay much attention to keeping myself hydrated during my freshman year because I thought I was already very used to the environment until I had a major nosebleed. I haven’t had a nose bleed like that in years, so I realized that I need to drink more water. Water can also help improve skin conditions and it’s cheaper than any skin care products.
Btw, a number of my friends and hall mates had similar problems last year, so it’s somewhat a common problem during fall/winter especially if you are from a warmer or more humid area. Don’t panic if you do cause it’s very likely just due to the dryness and nothing too serious, but definitely seek professional help if you think it’s necessary!