Winter Skincare Tips
With the arrival of winter and the inevitable colder weather you will need to take extra care of your skin, particularly if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Switching from the cold air outdoors to the warmth of a heated home can wreak havoc on your skin and dry it out. This can result in irritated skin so it’s best to try and avoid this from happening in the first place.
Moisture Boost
Your usual moisturiser that works just fine for the summer months may not be adequate for harsh winter conditions. Add a facial oil to your normal routine such as argan oil (my favourite oil) which is rich in vitamin E and loaded with fatty acids to give your skin a boost and it helps to reduce inflammation.
Soft Hands
Take care of your delicate hands and wear gloves when you go outside to protect them from the elements. Invest in a natural hand cream that contains butters such as shea and cocoa to nourish and protect. Keep your hand cream with you at all times so you can apply frequently. For an intensive treatment I like to melt some coconut oil and rub it into my hands when they are particularly dry.
Luscious Lips
The skin on your lips is much thinner than anywhere else on your body. In cold weather conditions, they will be more prone to drying out and cracking. Not ideal when you are standing under the mistletoe! Choose a natural lip balm and apply frequently. I always have a few balms on the go and keep them in my bag, on my bedside cabinet and on my desk to ensure that I never go without.
Hot Soaks
There is nothing quite like a long hot soak on a cold day and sometimes it’s the only way you can really warm up. However, make sure that the water in your bath is not too hot as this can do more harm than good and lead to a loss of moisture.
Ingredients
Look out for ingredients such as colloidal oatmeal, glycerine and shea butter to naturally combat extreme dryness in the winter months.
With a little bit of extra planning and care you can combat the effects of the winter months on your skin and taking steps to prevent dry skin greatly reduces the chance of irritation and inflammation.
