7 Ways to Take Care of Your Skin This Winter
Posted on November 28, 2018
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Winter is just around the corner, and that means low-temp beauty woes are, too. When the mercury starts to drop, your skin can quickly feel the effects, so it’s only natural to want to hibernate where it’s warm. Unfortunately, staying inside brings its own skin challenges, as forced heat tends to be very dry, and dry air can worsen skin issues. The good news is, a few small changes to your beauty routine can help address these challenges. Here are seven to try:
- A long, hot shower sure is comforting after being out in the cold, but try to keep those soothing sessions short; staying in too long gives the water a chance to dry out your skin unnecessarily. Use moisturizing body wash or in-shower moisturizer when you do linger under the spray.
- Running your heater can wreak havoc on already parched skin, so consider running a humidifier when the atmosphere feels arid. A low-cost hygrometer can measure the humidity in your home; aim for 40 to 60 percent humidity for optimum comfort.
- Use a moisturizer after every bath or shower, ideally while your skin is still damp. The water droplets will help the moisturizer absorb into your skin much better than applying it to dry skin.
- Switch to gentler body wash and soap products. If your skin seems extra touchy, opt for those made specifically for sensitive skin. Look for ingredients like oatmeal, which is soothing and can lessen redness.
- Avoid using any bath or hand-wash products with antibacterial ingredients, as they can be extremely drying. Instead, opt for those with added natural moisturizers such as shea butter or coconut oil.
- If you use gel-based beauty products in the summer, switch to lotions, creams, and ointments in the winter, as these types of products are more hydrating than gel formulations. That goes for cleansing and skincare products, as well as makeup.
- Everyone worries about germs during flu season, but overdoing the alcohol-based hand sanitizer can dry out hands’ skin and make it crack. It’s actually more important to thoroughly rub the sanitizer into your hands for a full 20 to 30 seconds than to apply more product.