Beauty tips for winter
Cold, dry air will leave itchy, red, and irritated skin. Tackle dry winter skin with these tips to preserve natural moisture in your beauty skin.
Winter will wreak havoc on your skin , leaving it dry, irritated, and itchy. And it can feel like there’s no escape: you can protect your skin feeling raw in damp, blustery weather outdoors, while indoor heat zaps moisture out of the air and from your skin.
As the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) states, even the stuff that makes winter fantastic, such as sitting by a roaring fire, will dry your skin. (1) And while taking a hot shower might seem like a good way to warm up, by stripping it of its natural oils, hot water dries your skin out.
But there are many quick ways to tackle the causes of dry winter skin, including some easy adjustments to your daily routine, and to help keep your skin feeling moist and supple all season long. For example, after taking a not-so-hot shower, “blot the skin dry and apply a thick moisturizer to seal the water into the skin within a few minutes after bathing,” says Linda Stein Gold, MD, a dermatologist at Henry Ford Hospital in West Bloomfield, Michigan.
When it comes to good winter skincare, here are some other ideas to bear in mind so that you can feel your best all winter long.
Top 10 Natural Winter Skin Tips
1. Shower time and temperature limits
Taking a long, steamy shower might be tempting, but as the AAD implies, your skin would be much better-served with a 5- to 10-minute lukewarm shower (or bath). When washing your hands, you should also stop using too warm water. If the water causes the skin to turn red, it is too hot. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC), washing your hands in cooler water tends to be as effective at eliminating germs as warm water and is less irritating to the skin and if you’re using a hand-dryer with bathroom air, use it until your hands are moist rather than fully dry.
Also read : Why hair is more dry in the cold, use these remedies to strengthen the hair
2. To optimize moisture Invest in a humidifier
In your home or workplace, using a humidifier will add moisture to the dry winter air and help to keep your skin hydrated. In the rooms where you spend the most time in, like your bedroom, run a humidifier.
3. Adjust your Seasonal Facial Skin-Care Regimen
Choose cream-based cleansers during the winter months, and apply toners and astringents sparingly, if at all. Many astringents contain alcohol, which can dry the skin further. The AAD advises that when your skin is dry and itchy, you avoid using alcohol-containing products and fragrances to help the skin maintain its natural oils. Using a richer moisturiser on your face at night.
4. Even on grey winter days, apply sunscreen
It’s just as necessary to apply sunscreen in the harsh winter weather as it is in the summer, whether you’re out on the slopes, playing in the snow or just walking through a parking lot on an errand run. And don’t be fooled, either, by darker, dreary winter days. The harmful UV rays from the sun will permeate clouds and still cause damage. Apply a moisturizing, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher to all exposed areas of your body before you go outside.
5. Care to eat properly and remain hydrated
“Foods or supplements containing omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids, such as fish oil and flaxseed oil, can also aid when the skin is very dry,” says Barbara R. Reed, MD, a dermatologist in private practise at the Denver Skin Clinic. “However, for the most part, helping the skin to moisturise from the outside is necessary.”
6. Quickly change out of wet clothes to remove itchy skin
You will further irritate your skin and cause itchiness by wearing wet clothes and shoes. Be sure to remove them as soon as possible if gloves, socks, and trousers get wet.
7. Wear appropriate, convenient, non-irritating apparel
Dry winter skin can be exacerbated by many cold-weather fabrics. Stop wool and rough clothes from touching your skin directly, says Stein Gold. It can cause discomfort and scratching on dry skin.
8. Gentle, Fragrance-Free Cleansers Opt for
Itchy, dry skin can be made worse by the wrong soap. Standard bar soaps, for example, can contain unpleasant ingredients and fragrances. Instead, wash with a moisturizing cleanser or cream that is fragrance-free. And search for products that are clearly labelled fragrance-free, since there might still be fragrances in unscented products. Through using less soap overall, you can also avoid winter skin problems, so restrict your lathering to required areas, such as your hands, armpits, genitals, and feet.
9. Lower the Dryness Avoidance Thermostat
What is the first thing you want to do when it’s cold outside? Crank the heat up! However, central heat will make your house’s air even drier. To preserve healthy skin, try setting the thermostat at a cool but comfortable setting of 68 ° F to 72 ° F.
10. Frequently moisturize particularly your hands
Maintain good skin after washing up by moisturising. A cream or an ointment is good to use in the winter. In hot , humid climates, lotions are safer. And don’t forget about your hands, Dr. Stein Gold says. Hand-washing is important , particularly during the cold and flu season, as the CDC states. But constant washing, as Stein Gold points out, can cause the hands to take a beating.
