Winter weather can wreak havoc on your skin, causing it to be dry, itchy, red and/or irritated. Even if you live in a warm or temperate climate like in California, you should still take precautions to protect your body’s largest organ: your skin.
Here are a few easy tips for having healthy, radiant skin in winter:
- Use a humidifier. Even the inside air can dry your skin and make it uncomfortably itchy and patchy. A humidifier will infuse the air in your home with moisture and help hydrate your skin.
- Hydrate from within, too. Drinking lots of water is good for your overall health because it aids digestion and circulation, but it also helps pump moisture back into your skin and lips. Because the skin is an organ, it’s made up of cells, which are made up of water. It only makes sense that you need water for skin to serve you well.
- Moisturize well – but differently. If your regular skin care routine involves moisturizing regularly, then good for you. Do you normally use a lotion? Rethink that for winter and switch to a cream-based moisturizer. You need thick protection in winter, and a lotion is not enough. In addition, make sure that you moisturize as soon as you get out of the shower before your skin dries. Look for a moisturizer that contains niacinamide, a vitamin B derivative, or hyaluronic acid for optimum effectiveness, and avoid petroleum-based products. Before you go to bed, be sure to put a thick layer of moisturizer on your hands, feet, elbows and knees – all areas that tend to be drier.
- Change your facial regimen for the season. Winter is the time to use cream-based cleansers on your face, as well as the rest of your body. Do you regularly use an astringent or toner after cleansing? Cut back on these because most contain alcohol, which dries out your skin. Don’t forget to moisturize your lips and hands!
- Apply a homemade hydrating mask. On a night or day when you’re giving yourself a pedicure or manicure, consider adding a DIY mask to your routine. Honey, avocado, yogurt, and olive or jojoba oils all offer good options for pampering your skin. Try combining a couple of ingredients to make a paste. Leave it on for 10-30 minutes and then wash it off – and moisturize.
- Exfoliate less. This may seem counterintuitive – lots of dry skin cells: exfoliate – but exfoliating dry skin can really irritate it and make it look even drier.
- Take lukewarm showers. What do you often want to do before bed on a cold night or when coming in from outside? Take a hot shower. That’s not a good idea in winter, no matter how tempting it may be. Hot water can worsen the effects of dry skin, so it’s best to shower in warm water. Limit your time in the shower to 10 minutes and use a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser. Blot yourself dry and moisturize right away.
- Dress in layers. Why does this matter to your skin? Breathable fabrics worn in light layers help keep you comfortable and don’t irritate or chafe your skin the way wool and rougher fabrics might. Remember to wear your gloves when it’s cold because hands are usually the first place you’ll notice rough, red skin.
- Stay inside if your skin is wet. That goes for your hands, too, because skin chaps more often when it’s cold and wet. It’s similar to what happens when your lips are dry and you lick them frequently.
- Use a sunscreen daily. This is vitally important, regardless of the outside temperature. Even in cloudy weather, pesky UV rays can get through and damage your skin. If you live in a hot, dry climate, make sure to also drink extra water, eat foods with essential fatty acids and take fish oil to reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Learn more about skincare at Campus
If skincare and cosmetology products have always interested you, becoming a make-up artist may be a good career move. Consider studying cosmetology at Paul Mitchell Beauty, Cosmetology and Barbering School at Campus, in Sacramento. You will learn professional skills in hair, skin and nail care by working hands-on in the school’s guest services clinic. Class sizes are limited, so you will receive one-on-one attention from your instructors. All of them are professional hairstylists who bring their real-world expertise into the classroom.
Call today and secure your place in the next class at Paul Mitchell the School at Campus.