Winter Skincare Tips

 

Biting winds, dipping temperature and dry indoor heat can damage your skin during the winter, so changing your skincare regime during this season is essential. You really can’t control the weather, so the best way to stop it from causing damage to your skin is by planning and sticking to the best skin care tips available.
Everyone has different skin types, thus consulting with a skin expert is necessary because they are more knowledgeable when it comes to proper skin care techniques. They can help you to analyze and assess your skin condition, as well as providing you professional advice on how to keep it healthy, especially during this season. Your best line of defense against this harsh weather includes the following:
Wear weather-appropriate clothing
Wearing the right clothes for the weather can help in protecting your skin against severe cold. Dressing in layers helps in trapping your body heat, reducing the risk of dry skin and eczema. Wear waterproof or water-resistant jackets, gloves and scarves. If in case your clothes get wet, make sure to remove them immediately to avoid your skin from getting wrinkled, chapped, damaged, or worse, infected from hypothermia.
Slather on sunscreen
Sunscreen is still essential, even if it’s winter. Sun glare from snow can still cause sunburn, so make sure you slather on sunscreen before heading outdoors. You can choose those with lower SPF’s, as long as the formula can help in shielding the sun’s harmful rays. Apply it to your face and hands 30 minutes before going out. Reapply it periodically since the winter weather can dry it out and strip it from your skin quickly.
Moisturize more
Moisturizers are vital in keeping your skin healthy, especially during the cold season. These come in different types such as oils, creams and lotions. Choose one that is appropriate depending on the dryness of your skin. Oils are more greasy and slippery, but they are known to seal in moisture well. Creams aren’t that greasy and easily absorbed by the skin, which can trap moisture pretty effectively as well. Lotions tend to moisturize less than oils and creams, but they’re less greasy and they can absorb quickly in the skin. If you opt for oil-based moisturizers, look out for those that don’t clog your pores, such as almond oil, avocado oil, mineral oil and primrose oil.
Give your lips extra attention
Applying a moisturizing lip balm should always be a part of your winter skin care regimen. These balms will prevent your lips from chapping, cracking and splitting. Petroleum jelly also helps by creating a protective barrier between your lips and the cold air. You can exfoliate your lips with a lip scrub by applying a generous amount of Vaseline and then rubbing it with a soft bristle toothbrush. This will help in smoothing away dead, flaky skin. Choose lip balms with SPF 15 or higher, since the lips can also be damaged by the sun’s harmful rays.
Eat a balanced diet
Eating healthy will not only benefit your skin, but also your overall health. Incorporate foods that are high in vitamin A, C, E and antioxidants in your diet. These vitamins, particularly vitamin C, are known to have anti-aging benefits, which help helps the body in fighting free radicals that damage the skin by breaking down collagen, leading to fine lines and wrinkles. Vitamin E is a fast acting antioxidant that aids the body in fighting off harmful UV rays, as well as keeping the skin youthful and glowing.
Keep hydrated
Keeping yourself hydrated makes your skin healthy and glowing. It is not only beneficial for the skin, but also for your overall health. Bring a water bottle when you’re going outdoors, especially if you’re not sure you can get fresh drinking water wherever you will be traveling. Make it a point to drink at least 9-13 glasses of water daily.
Hook up the humidifier
Indoor heating can make the air extremely dry, which can make your skin suffer even further. Using a humidifier can help to add moisture back into the dry air, and this can help in preventing your skin from drying and flaking. Use at least 3-4 humidifiers at home to benefit its moisturizing effect. Make sure to clean it as well to avoid mold and bacteria buildup, which can cause more harm than good. Change the water daily and clean it at least every three days.
David Novak’s is a nationally syndicated columnist. His byline has appeared in newspapers and magazines around the country. He’s an avid health enthusiast, and frequently is featured in regional and national health publications, writing about health, wellness, diet and exercise. He is also a weekly writer for Healthline. To view his other stories on Healthline, visit http://www.healthline.com/.