winter skin care

Winter often spells disaster for your skin. The chilling cold in the air from the sudden change of seasons can leave your skin chapped and devastatingly dry. Our winter atmosphere is notorious for scarcity of humidity, compounded by indoor heating which is winter's most vicious skin-drying scoundrel. It looks rough and chapped, feels tight and drawn. You have to take extra care for your skin during this season and with our tips you will find that having a beautiful skin is not that difficult after all.
1. The most important part of winter skin care is keeping the whole body hydrated. Drink approximately 64 ounces or more of water daily. Not only does this help hydrate your skin to prevent dryness and itching, but there are other well-known health benefits too numerous to mention here. (You’ve probably heard them dozens of times anyway…)
2. Limit the amount of caffeine and alcohol you intake; these act as diuretics releasing fluid from the body.
3. With the heat on and the windows closed, the air inside can become very dry in the winter, making the dryness and itching of eczema even worse. Use a humidifier to place moisture in the air. If you don’t want to invest in an expensive humidifying system, smaller, relatively inexpensive humidifiers can be obtained at a local drug store. Placing two or three of these around your home will help to humidify the dry air. This can keep skin from drying and becoming cracked and itchy.
4. Avoid using very hot water for bathing as it washes away natural skin oil.
5. As much as possible avoid exposing skin to harsh winter elements such as freezing temperatures and drying cold winds. Dress warmly, in layers, and wear a hat, scarf and gloves when you go out in cold weather. Wear a natural lip balm to protect your lips and a protective moisturizer with sunscreen on your face and neck.
6. Follow a weekly facial regimen that includes these steps:
a. Cleansing. A spa quality cleanser will dissolve and lift impurities without drying the skin. Cleansers clean skin deep into pores to help prevent signs of premature aging and remove dirt and make-up from skin.
b. Exfoliate with a gentle facial scrub. Exfoliating sloughs away dead skin cells to reveal fresher, healthier looking skin, reduces surface oils while improving skin tone and texture.
c. Apply a mask. A mask is a great remedy for restoring your skin’s natural beauty and suppleness by drawing debris and impurities from pores while leaving your skin looking and feeling soft and smooth.
d. Toner. A gentle alcohol free toner absorbs excess oil leaving your skin refreshed and stress free.
e. Moisturize. Moisturize. Moisturize. A moisturizer will hydrate while helping protect from the damaging winter atmosphere.