winter skin. Cold air with its low humidity and moisture makes the skin dry and flaky. Unfortunately,
only moisturizing the skin in such a case does not necessarily helps.
There are steps you can take to keep your skin looking healthy, even when temperatures dip and there’s
no escape from winter’s dry, cold air.
1. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize
The cold air depletes the skin of moisture. Therefore, moisturizing often is the key to keeping
the skin hydrated and soft. Choose a cream over a lotion when possible. The thicker consistency
of the cream will help seal the moisture in your skin. Use the moisturizer more than once per
day for maximum hydration. It’s best to apply moisturizer on slightly damp skin as it traps the
surface moisture.
2. Maintain a diet that promotes healthy, hydrated skin
Your skin health is directly connected with your gut health, so it’s important to maintain a diet
that supports good skin health. The following are some of the best foods for maintaining healthy
skin:
- Avocadoes- A good source of vitamins E and C and beneficial fats – all of which promote
- healthy skin. They also have compounds that help prevent sun damage.
- Almonds- Rich in protein, selenium, vitamin E, essential fats and zinc.
- Sunflower seeds- High in nutrients such as vitamin E, which has protective antioxidant
- effects on the skin.
- Sweet potatoes- Contains a lot of beta carotene, a natural sun block.
- Bell peppers- An excellent source of vitamin C and beta carotene – both of which have
protein that strengthens your skin.
3. Go easy on exfoliants and scrubs
Exfoliation, which helps remove dead skin cells from the surface of your skin, can help keep your
skin looking smooth and vibrant. But, it’s possible to overexfoliate your skin if you do it too
often or use the wrong products.
If your skin looks dry or flaky, you may want to opt for a gentle chemical exfoliant rather than a
physical scrub. Harsher scrubs with large particles may be more likely to break down your skin’s
moisture barrier and cause damage. If your skin is cracked, raw, or irritated, it may be best to
avoid exfoliation until your skin has healed.
4. Avoid taking piping hot showers
Hot showers may feel amazing in the biting cold, however, they really dry the epidermis out.
Instead, turn the dial to warm showers and remember to hydrate the body with lotion or an oil
immediately after to lock in moisture.
5. Wear appropriate, comfortable, nonirritating clothing
Many cold-weather fabrics can aggravate dry winter skin. Keep wool and rough clothing from
directly touching your skin. This can cause dry skin to get irritated and itchy.
Instead, wear light layers made from soft, breathable materials (like cotton or silk) directly
against your skin. After that, pull on your heavier, warmer sweaters and jackets.
