Your skin is prone to dryness and chafing during the winter months, and adjusting your skin care regimen could be necessary in winter in order to keep it healthy. Here are some winter skin care tips anyone can use to help theirs remain softer and more beautiful.
Moisturize Often
Indoor heating systems all tend to dry out the skin, which is why moisturizing is especially important during the winter months. You may find that the same moisturizing you use during the summer is no longer effective once cold weather hits. For best results, choose a moisturizer with an oil base – many on the market have a water base and won’t be very effective in colder temperatures. Many so-called “night creams” are actually oil based, and will work well as daytime moisturizers as well.
Stay Hydrated
You may be tempted to drink less water during the winter, but staying well hydrated can actually be an important part of a cold weather skin care regimen. Drinking lots of water helps flush toxins from the body that might cause acne or other skin problems to become visible. If you become dehydrated, your skin may also lose volume, making neck and facial wrinkles far more visible. For best results, drink at least eight glasses of water per day, or even more if you are especially active.
Don’t Skip the Sunscreen
Another tendency many people have is to forego sunscreen during the winter months. The truth is you may still need sunscreen, especially when spending an extended period of time outdoors. The need for sunscreen increases whenever there is snow on the ground, as snow can actually reflect sunlight back onto your face and result in damage. Be sure to apply sunscreen before heading outdoors – one that is around 15 SPF should be fine in most cases.
Use a Humidifier
If indoor heating has you extremely dried out, using a humidifier to moisturize the air can be helpful. Don’t have a humidifier? No problem – instead you can simply place an empty coffee can full of water on a radiator or register vent to produce the same effect. As the water warms up, steam is released into the room, thereby raising the humidity level and helping to moisturize your skin. Humidifiers also help relieve dried out nasal passages, so you can obtain more than one benefit from using them.
Use Gentle Products
Dry or chafed skin will only be irritated further by the use of harsh cleansers, alcohol-based toners or chemical peels. These products may not only sting, but strip away more oil from your skin, thereby making the problem even worse. Consider adding natural skin care products containing ingredients such as oatmeal or honey to your lineup, and save the stronger products until the weather warms back up again.
These winter skin care tips are ones that anyone can use to help their skin look and feel more beautiful during the winter months. Not only that, but they are easy and inexpensive to implement as well.
