6 tips to winter-proof your skin

Make sure it’s pampered and nourished during these cold and dry months
  • 12 Jan - 18 Jan, 2019
  • Mag The Weekly
  • Beauty

Let’s face it – the cold weather doesn’t do your skin any favourrs. All of a sudden, your hands feel like sandpaper and you may find yourself wondering, ‘Is eyebrow dandruff even a thing?” The cold air robs your skin of its natural oils, leaving it dry and itchy. It can even cause severe dry skin, eczema, and psoriasis. That’s why you need to take care of it. So, here are some basic tips for the cold season.

1. Use lukewarm water: It is very tempting to go for those long hot showers when the temperature is dipping. Butt if you love your skin, avoid them. Instead, use luckwarm water to shower and wash your face. Hot showers dry your skin quickly, and if you do not moisturize immediately, your skin can develop cracks and winter eczema. Once you have taken a lukewarm shower, apply a moisturizer that contains hyaluronic aicd and ceramides. This will keep the moisture barrier intact and prevent dryness.

2. Stay hydrated: Be it inside your home or outside, the air is drier in winter. And as a result, water evaporates from your body easily. Hence, you need to keep drinking lots of water. Though you might not feel as thirsty during winters as during other seasons, you need to maintain your water intake. You can also install a humidifier to manage the moisture level in your home. This will keep your skin happy.

3. Choose skincare products wisely: What kept your skin happy during summer may make it sad during winter – and that’s why you need to change your skincare products accordingly. The key to healthy and glowing winter skin is using mild products. Choose cleansers that contain moisturizers to avoid stripping your skin of its natural moisture barrier. If you have acne or breakouts, use products containing ceramides, hyaluronic repair the moisture barrier of your skin.

Avoid masks, peels, astringent lotions, and any product that contains alcohol as they make your skin dry during winters.

4. Protect your skin: Be it summer or winter, always use SPF based products. The warm sun rays feel pleasant, but the UV rays can damage your dioxide or zinc oxide. Also, avoid going outside immediately after you wash your hands or after a shower. Wait for the skin to dry because damp skin tends to crack easily in the cold.

5. Do not exfoliate much: Exfoliating helps in getting rid of dead skin cells. But you have to be careful during winters because your skin barrier is already compromised due to the weather and you don’t want to lose it with excess exfoliations. Exfoliating your skin once a week is fine – this boosts skin regeneration and product absorption. Moreover, exfoliate depending on your skin type. If you have very dry skin, avoid exfoliating altogether.

6. Try natural ingredients: Masks and face packs using natural ingredients protect your skin from chemical exposure. Ingredients like honey, jojoba oil, avocado, aloe vera, and banana help in maintaining the moisture level of your skin to keep you glowing.

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