While the winter months are usually the time to get nice & cozy, there is one thing Your skin! The winter weather can cause havoc on your skin if you don’t tweak your skin care routine to the likes of the colder months. So, after you’re done shopping for presents for your loved ones and trying on outfits for that new year’s eve party in the city, take a moment and learn how you can have envious skin even with bitter weather.
Pay attention to how your skin reacts to the products you use
Despite the directions on the back label, if the bottle says to wash twice daily but you notice you're skin gets irritated, dry, or produces excess oil after washing, limit the amount of times you use certain products on your face. Overuse of products can do the same damage as harsh weather. Everyone’s skin is different so get to know what works for you, and use products as often or minimal as you need.
Sleep
It’s not just bags under your eyes or irritability that you have to worry about when you are not getting enough sleep. Not getting enough sleep worsens your existing skin conditions and speeds up aging. When it's cold outside, all I want to do is curl up in my warm cozy bed and hibernate so this tip is pretty easy. Want to look 25 at age 40? Put your phone on the charger, turn the TV off and go to sleep on time! This gives your skin cells a chance to fully turnover, making you look more youthful.
Drink Water
We all know that water is the plug. Drinking the right amount of water, roughly 6-8 glasses a day, not only keeps you healthy internally but also externally. Water gives your skin constant hydration and allows it to appear soft and glowing. Instead of cold water in the winter, try snuggling up under a blanket with a hot cup of water infused with lemon as lemon helps draw out all toxins of the body and skin. It will also keep you warmer! Glow, girl glow!
Moisturize
Moisturizing in the winter is a must for soft and healthy skin. What happens to our skin during winter is that because of the cold weather, your skin has a higher tendency of becoming dry and dull-looking. Without the proper measures, it can lead to skin problems such as redness, rashes, and even acne. Moisturizing helps fight the dehydrating effects of winter.
Change is Good
This is the first and most vital step to take for glowing skin in the crusty wind. One the major mistakes I see ladies make is sticking to the same regimen year-round. Different weather conditions and climate calls for different skin care routines to maintain healthy skin. You can’t use the same level of moisturizer in the summer that you would in the winter because the weather alters the results of the products. You may have to use a cream based moisturizer as opposed to a lotion based one because the ingredients that make them creamy also form a physical barrier that traps in moisture in the skin, which is important for colder months. Whereas in the summer, you may use minimal moisturizer to minimize the effects of the heat on your skin or used a lotion or oily based product.
Summer Out, Sunscreen In
The sun still shines in the winter, no matter how cold it may feel. The sun compounds dryness, so use a moisturizer that contains sunscreen to avoid using more products than you have to. Use a sunscreen with a minimum SPF 30. If you are outdoors a lot, it may need to be applied more than once to fully absorb into your skin.
Dress For The Season
I honestly feel like this should be common sense, but it’s often ignored. Nothing irritates me more than a girl trying to be cute in 7-degree weather with a leather jacket, a silk scarf around their neck with an exposed face, neck and no hat on. Girl, it’s cold! Cover up! Why suffer the abuse of winds traveling at 120 miles per hour and a potential frostbitten face? While you are busy looking runway ready, the bitterness of the cold is drying out and damaging that pretty face of yours that may be hard to correct with a skin care routine. Or, if you have a routine, not protecting your face from the cold if counterproductive.
