Lifestyle Tips — moisturizer
10 Winter Skin Relief Tricks 0
The harsh winter weather can wreak havoc on your skin. It brings uncomfortable dryness to your skin on the face, hands, and feet. For some people, the problem is worse than just dry skin. The skin becomes so dry that it results in flaking, cracking, and eczema. Winter causes the skin to itch, feel tight, and flaky, but it can worsen conditions like eczema or psoriasis. Some strategies you employ to keep the cold away like taking hot showers, turning up the indoor heat, eating more or drinking less water, make it worse.
Sounds familiar? There are various strategies to help you get through the winter with skin that’s not itchy, flaky, or dry. Read on for these simple winter skin relief tricks.
Avoid super-hot, long baths/showers
You may think that a long hot shower will warm you up in the winter. Yes, it does feel great after being out in the cold, but it is not suitable for your skin. A long shower with hot water dries out the skin by removing the natural oil barrier. It breaks the lipid barrier in the skin, which leads to loss of moisture. Use warm water and keep your showers under five minutes.
Avoid overheating indoors
During winter, there is a drop in humidity outside, which makes your skin dry because it loses the water that it needs to protect itself. Your skin tends to be dry and cracks easier, which makes it itchy and painful. It is tempting to heat the home to make it home. Nevertheless, heating removes moisture from the house and deprives your skin of the moisture it requires to perform correctly. To minimize the chances of your skin getting dry, heat the temperature to a comfortable range then not for long. Also, use a humidifier to replace the moisture that has been lost.
Moisturize regularly
A moisturizer works perfectly in winter just as in spring and summer, but as the weather changes, you need to change your skincare routine. Use a moisturizer regularly to keep the winter dryness at bay.
Choose oil-based moisturizers rather than water-based. The oil-based moisturizer creates a protective layer on the skin that helps to retain moisture than a cream or lotion. Be careful when choosing the oils since not all oils are appropriate for the face. Look for “nonclogging” oils such as avocado oil, primrose, or almond oil. Choose lotions that contain humectants which include glycerin that attracts moisture to your skin.
But you also need to use a moisturizer properly. After taking a bath, pat dry your skin rather than rub it with a towel, then apply a moisturizer when the skin is slightly damp. Damp skin absorbs the moisturizer better and locks in moisture.
Use Shea butter
Shea butter is a magical winter skin relief trick. It is an oil extracted from the African Shea tree and is known for its moisturizing abilities. It helps to eliminate dry skin caused by extreme temperatures during winter all while shielding from harmful UV rays and locking in moisture. Carry it in your bag or keep it on your desk. Use it regularly to help replenish the moisture that winter steals from your skin.
Use a sunscreen
Sunscreen is not just for summertime. It can protect your skin from damage all year long. Winter sun, coupled with the snow glare, can still cause damage to your skin. The snow reflects the sun rays, and it can intensify the ultraviolet light and cause a sunburn. Skin damaging UV radiation can even be more concentrated in high altitudes when skiing and hiking. Shocked that you can get sunburns when you’re freezing? Apply a sunscreen to your face and hands if exposed 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply if you stay out for a long time.
Protect your lips
Lips are always exposed and can be dehydrated in winter. Protect your lips with lip balm, preferably made with Shea butter. Avoid matte lipstick during winter and go for tinted lip balms, which have ingredients the same as the regular balms but also have color pigment.
Protect your hands
The skin on the hands is thinner than any other skin elsewhere on the body. Since the hands are always exposed, and the dry winter air pulls away moisture on the skin, hands are always the first to show skin damage. Protect your hands by wearing warm gloves when outside. Wet gloves can cause skin irritations, rashes, and even flare up eczema. Keep lotion with almond or argan oil, Shea butter, and cocoa butter with you to help moisturize your hands.
Use a humidifier
Heaters blast hot, dry air in the home. Humidifier brings more moisture in the air which helps to prevent your skin from drying out. Use several humidifiers in the house to spread the moisture evenly.
Avoid drying skin products
If your skin gets dry and uncomfortable, avoid alcohol-based products that strip away vital natural oil from your skin. Instead, choose products with no alcohol and those that are deeply hydrating. Also, avoid soaps that have an alkaline PH, which disrupts the skin's natural acidic environment that makes it continue to dry it out. Use cleansing products with a balanced PH that will remove dirt and cleanse the skin without disrupting the skin.
See a specialist
If your skin does not get better with these winter skin relief strategies, see a dermatologist. You may need a prescription for lotions that combat dry skin, or you may have a serious condition that is not just dry skin that needs to be checked out and treated. A specialist will analyze your skin type and advise on the appropriate skincare products you should use.
Winter weather may be unsightly, but your skin doesn’t have to be. However, the right skincare routine and these winter skin relief techniques can keep your skin moisturized and free from drying, cracks, and itchiness. Use these strategies to prevent dry skin and boost your winter skin relief regimen. Try out our Shea butter to keep the winter dryness at bay. It is organic and unrefined and perfect for healing the dry winter skin. Get it today.
