High levels of pollution, lower levels of light, less exercise, festivals bringing in carb-rich comfort foods and bodies clad in thick layers - all multiply the winter skincare woes. It is time to play to the strengths of the season and make the most of “me time” during holidays to pamper yourself. Your skin can not only flourish in winters, but it will be easier to get into shape for spring and summers too.
As per the American Academy of Dermatology, creams, oils, and balms are a must to counter the dry weather. Try to follow these 12 tips for a healthy, glowing skin during this festive winter season –
1. The harsh winter winds rob the skin of moisture, give your skin extremely moisturizing skincare products for the day and body butter for the night-time to replenish and nourish the skin intensely. Hyaluronic acid, lactic acid and jojoba oil are important ingredients to look out for in your face moisturizer.
2. UV rays can damage your skin around the year. Since soaking in the sun is so tempting during winters, don’t forget to wear a good quality sun block with SPF 30 or more.
3. While you indulge in hot coffee or tea to stay warm, don't forget water in the process. Staying hydrated and flushing out toxins from your body will always help your skin.
4. Hot water is known to strip off the moisture from our skin and hence long hot water showers should be avoided or limited to a few minutes only.
5. Exfoliate your lips gently with an organic or homemade scrub to get rid of the dead skin cells. Exfoliation will help the lip balm penetrate through the lips and work effectively.
6. One of the best ways to cleanse and bring radiance to your face is by using a specially formulated nourishing mask. An anhydrous mask (oil, not water-based formula) to protect and add to your own skin lipids is a good choice.
7. Go gentle on cleansing in winter. Use gentler emulsion-based cleansers and toners. Micellar water is useful for winter as it has small oil content that cleanses, and larger water proportion can help hydrate.
8. Use a serum under your regular winter moisturiser to give your face a nourishing treat to beat the winter blues. Serums provide moisturising and barrier-strengthening properties to the skin, as well as offer antioxidant and reparative properties.
9. Overly hot and dry interiors in winter months are no friend to the skin. Combat dry interiors with humidifiers that provide a cool, fine, invisible mist to create optimal levels of humidity.
10. Don’t forget your feet. If not given regular maintenance through exfoliation and moisturising, they can develop callouses and hard, dry skin which can be painful. Make time for your feet too – exfoliate, nourish and moisturize.
11. Protect your hair. Use mild shampoos, extra conditioning, hair mask and use only warm water for washing and rinsing.
12. Get some outdoors every day. Exercise - even if it just a brisk walk. The capillaries will enlarge and work harder bringing oxygen with its nutrients to the outer layers of skin to bring a healthy-looking glow.