Skin Care Tips For Winter

As the temperature drops and we begin to move into winter, treating your skin well during this time is very important. The most common skin related problems during the winter season are dryness, rough hands, cracking, peeling, and chapped lips. Below are some tips to help maintain and take care of your skin so you can look beautiful during the holidays.

Prep your skin

Prepping your skin to accept the products you apply is the key in receiving the maximum amount of benefits of that product you put on. To prep your skin you will need to exfoliate. An exfoliator with gentle granules, not made from any kind of nut, is the best. Retin A is also an excellent exfoliator and winter is the perfect time of the year to begin using it. See your dermatologist before using Retin A as it can have unwanted side effects.

Apply Sunscreen

Yes it is winter, but regardless the sun’s rays are still there and can continue to damage skin and sun burn even when it is not sunny outside. Sunscreen should be worn year round. SPF 15-30 is ideal for everyday use.  A tip to help reduce the amount of products you apply; buy your makeup or moisturizer with SPF already in it.

Get a humidifier

Many people do not use humidifiers; however they are very beneficial for the cold months ahead. Adding moisture to the air will help reduce dryness and keep the skin looking healthy. It will also help your hair from becoming too dry, as well as help you breathe better. The only downside is you do have to clean them consistently to prevent mold from growing.

Use a hydrating mask

Hydrating masks are excellent for the winter season. If your regular products are not doing the trick, try using a hydrating mask once a week. Look for a mask with ingredients like: hyaluronic acid, sunflower oil, Cucurbita pepo (pumpkin seed oil), tocopherol (vitamin E), or glycerin. Switching your moisturizer to something a little thicker or with some of these ingredients can also help increase the moisture of your skin.

Chapstick

Our lips tend to suffer the most during the winter. Get a good chapstick with lots of emollients. Many of the ingredients that are too heavy for the face work perfectly for the lips. Petrolatum based products will work the best for the lips and help prevent water evaporation. If they get really bad you can make a do it yourself lip treatment! Take a little extra-virgin olive oil and apply it to your lips, then place Vaseline on top of that.

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