With short days, dark nights and freezing conditions we are all looking to feel a little better. One way to overcome the winter blues is to seek out the best beauty mask recipes. In short, we want a bit of luxury and pampering – and our skin is crying out for it even more. Here we offer some of the best tips for protecting your skin in the harsh winter conditions when cold, dry air can leave your skin itchy, irritated and red.
Tip 1: Invest in a humidifier
The main issue with winter is dry air. Not only is it a bitter impact of the outside weather, it is then the extremes of the hot shower when you get in. How water dries out your skin, as it removes your natural oils.
By using a humidifier at home and work, you can add moisture to the air, which will help to keep your skin hydrated. It is best to choose the room you will spend the most consistent time in, which more often than not is your bedroom.
Tip 2: Lower the thermostat
When it gets cold outside, we tend to over compensate by putting the heating up high in the house. Central heating is the worst for drying out the air in our homes even more. If you want to maintain a healthy skin, you need to keep your thermostat between 68 and 72 degrees fahrenheit. Alternatively, you can get pots that hang from your radiator that you fill with water and will send moisture into the air.
Tip 3: Reduce your shower time
We all want long, steamy showers but really you should spend no more than 10 minutes in a lukewarm shower or bath. Excessive use of hot water when washing our hands is one of the major causes of cracked and dry skin. Therefore, we should also look to wash our hands in cooler water, which although less effective at removing germs can be countered with the use of a sanitiser gel. You should certainly use a sanitizer after using an air hand-dryer anyway, as they are a major cause of germs.
Tip 4: Use gentle cleansers
Opting for a gentle and fragrance-free cleanser is your best option for your skin. The wrong soap can have a significantly adverse impact on dry and itchy skin, especially if they are full of fragrance. Therefore, go for unscented brands and only use a small amount of lather each time.
Tip 5: Change up your facial care for the winter
During the winter, you should choose creams rather than serums when you cleanse. You shouldn’t use a toner either, as these tend to be quite harsh on the skin. They are an astringent, containing alcohol, which can draw the moisture out of your skin. You want to do all you can to retain your natural oils in your face and build its natural skin barrier. Therefore, at night especially, you should use a richer moisturiser on your face.
Tip 6: And don’t forget the lips
Another thing to be conscious of in a winter face care routine is your lips. When we are working on the rest of our face, we should include the use of a balm on our lips every time. We should also carry a product around with us when the wind is particularly cold and biting, to offer a natural barrier for the lips.
Moisturising is obviously going to be one of your major defenses for dry skin in the winter. Remember to moisturise your hands after washing. You should wash your hands more in winter to avoid the problems of cold and flu season, but this can lead to problems if you don’t also moisturise.
Tip 7: Sunscreen even on a grey day
Yes, this is still an article about skin care in winter. Sunscreen is a protection against UV, which can permeate through clouds even on grim days. UV is one of the factors that most likely leads to skin ageing. A good sunscreen will also moisturise the skin, so you will be ticking two boxes with one wise choice.
Tip 8: Wear natural fabrics
Natural fabrics allow for the circulation of air and therefore allow the skin to breathe. However, having wool and rough fibre clothing against your skin can also cause dry skin and so make it irritated and itchy.
Tip 9: Remember to eat right and stay hydrated
What you eat and drink directly impacts on your skin. Drinking plenty of water is a must if you want to keep dryness creeping in. However, you can also look to take supplements that contain omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids.
Tip 10: Change out of wet clothes
A final quick and easy tip is to get changed out of wet clothes as quickly as possible.
