The Importance Of Having a Good Winter Skin Care Regime

Everyone knows that proper skin care is imperative for neat and well-groomed appearance. It is important to remember that our skin needs different maintenance during hot and cold seasons. As weather conditions changes, so do the care requirements for the skin all over our body.

Winter skin care differs from summer or spring skin care since cold air tends to be dry. In the winter our whole bodies, especially the face and hands require extra moisturizing. This means that we can’t use the same skin care products we did in the warm months of the year.

Besides changing the skin care products, we have to think about our skin care routine. There are some things we could have easily overlooked in the summer, that we can’t forget in the winter. Every person must have his or her own winter and summer skin care arsenal, so when winter comes, we can meet it fully armed.

If you aren’t sure how to keep your skin looking and feeling good all winter long, keep on reading. You will appreciate these tips when the snow starts to fall and the frost forms on your windows.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT SKIN CLEANSING

In the winter skin cleansing must be much softer than in the summer. In the cold season our skin suffers from the cool and dry air and becomes much more sensitive. That’s why it’s not a good idea to torture it with harsh cleansing agents.

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Once the cold temperatures strike, forget about using soap. It dries out the skin on your face and hands which is already suffering from extensive drying that is caused by cold air and heaters.

If your skin is dry, use beauty milk or special natural oils, such as Pura D’Or with argan oil.  Put away lotions and toners. Oily skin suffers less from the cold, however, your skin care should still be different than in the summer. For example, you shouldn’t use lotions that contain spirits. When you wash your face in the winter, do it with lukewarm water. Hot water can cause extra dryness, and even inflammation.

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OFFER YOUR SKIN MAXIMUM PROTECTION

When you are thinking about the best winter skin care, one of your main goals is not to overdo it. Some people believe that covering the face up with a scarf can save it from the cold. In fact, that scarf will only make matters worse. When you breathe, moisture is collected under the scarf and aggravates sensitive skin. That’s why it would be a better idea to use special protective cosmetics.

If you want the skin to suffer less, go for the products that have the word, “protective,” written on the label. Also in the winter try to use products for sensitive skin. However, don’t forget about your own skin type. If your skin is usually dry, choose products for dry and sensitive skin. If your skin is naturally oily, get cosmetics for oily and sensitive skin.

Don’t forget about protecting your skin from the sun. In the winter it’s harder to get sunburned. Even so, when it is sunny outside, UV-rays are as active as ever, especially when there is white snow and ice to reflect them. That’s why it is imperative to check if the cosmetics you have chosen have a certain sun protection factor.

GIVE YOUR SKIN SOME NOURISHMENT

If you want your skin to stay healthy during the cold season, winter skincare must include vitamins. Pay special attention to the complexes that contain vitamins A and E. Vitamin A is responsible for the health of your skin and mucous membranes. Vitamin E can prevent premature aging and adds your skin elasticity.

Don’t forget that vitamins are not just found in the pill boxes, they are also contained in products we can eat on a daily basis. Vitamin A is present in eggs and fish oil, as well as red, yellow and dark green vegetables. You can nourish your body with vitamin E by eating more nuts and using more vegetable oil. You can also make some nourishing face masks at home.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT SOOTHING FACE MASKS

There are many different winter skin care home remedies you can easily make on your own. Face masks are a perfect place to start. Usually, they require a minimal amount of products you can buy at the nearest supermarket. At the same time, they are just as effective as the expensive masks found at special beauty stores. Here are some you can make with simple ingredients from your kitchen:

Oatmeal Mask: Take two tablespoon of oatmeal. Soak it in one-third cup of hot milk. Wait for the mask to cool down and apply the warm mass to your face. Leave it on for about 20 minutes and wash it off with lukewarm water. You can use this mask once a week. It is a great way to tone your skin during autumn and winter.

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Honey Mask: Mix two tablespoons of honey with two tablespoons of flour and one egg white, if your skin is oily or one egg yolk if your skin is dry. Apply the mixture to your face and wait until it dries. Then wash it off with hot water first and then continue washing with cold water. This mask nourishes your skin and improves blood circulation.

Be sure not to apply your honey mask more often than once a month. It also shouldn’t be used by people who suffer from vasodilation.

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• Banana Mask: Take one quarter of a large banana and mash it well. Add half a teaspoon of your face cream, three drops of lemon and three drops of olive oil. Mix everything together and apply to your face. Leave the mask on for 15 minutes. Banana is a natural moisturizer. It contains plenty of Vitamin A which is important for dry and inflamed skin.
• Apple and Carrot Mask: Grate half a carrot with half an apple. Add one tablespoon of cream or plain yogurt. Mix everything together and apply to the face. Leave the mask there for 15 minutes and then wash it off with lukewarm water. This mask will make your skin look healthier and will improve its elasticity.
• Chocolate Mask: Take one-third cup of cocoa powder, quarter cup of honey, two tablespoons of cream and three teaspoons of oats. Blend everything together and apply the mixture to your face. Leave the mask on for about 20 minutes and then wash it off with warm water. You can use this mask once a week.

USEFUL TIPS FOR WINTER SKIN CARE

There are several useful tips you can use for winter dry skin care. Following them will help you get rid of the dryness and keep the skin all over your body as healthy as possible. Remember that taking good care of your skin in the winter means having beautiful skin in the summer time.

• Apply Day Cream One Hour Before You Go Outside: In the summer it is recommended to apply the day cream not later than 20 minutes before going outside. In the winter it must be done about 30 to 40 minutes before you leave your home. Otherwise the cream will not soak in properly and you’ll be facing the cold with wet skin. This can lead to skin’s dehydration.
• Be Smart About the Sun: Everyone knows that being exposed to too much sun leads to premature skin aging, but a lack of UV-rays is also a bad thing. If you don’t get enough vitamin D, your skin will suffer from the lack of collagen and elastin, which will lead to dry and flabby skin.
• That’s why while sun protection creams are imperative during the wintertime, some early morning or late afternoon sun exposure will give you the vitamin D you need. If you follow all the winter skin care rules and still see that your skin is becoming dry and dull, ask your doctor about taking vitamin D supplements.
• Get a Humidifier: One of the main reasons the skin loses its much-needed moisture is the heating systems in homes and offices. The desirable indoor air humidity level should be between 40 and 60 percent. But usually in the winter it doesn’t exceed 20 to 30 percent. A humidifier can raise the humidity to the required levels which will assist in keeping the skin moisturized.
• Drink More Water: Moisturizing in the winter is absolutely imperative for both your skin and the rest of your organism. That’s why it is important not to forget about water. We have a tendency to drink more hot tea and coffee in the winter. However, such drinks don’t do as good of a job as water does. That’s why you shouldn’t forget to drink three to four glasses of pure water a day besides the other drinks you like.
• Use Layered Makeup: If you use makeup, it offers another layer of protection for the skin on your face. In the summer you can just apply moisturizing or BB cream on your face and go. In the winter the makeup should be layered. First of all, you have to apply day cream on your face and allow it to soak in. Then apply the foundation and then you can seal it with a small amount of powder.
• Go from Rubbing to Dabbing: If you like rubbing your skin with a towel after a good and long shower, forget about doing it in the winter. When your skin is dry and sensitive, rubbing it with a harsh towel will give it the peeling it doesn’t need. Get a soft towel and dab your skin after washing. This rule applies to your whole body, not just the face.
• Add Eye Cream: If you haven’t done this already, add eye cream to your winter skin care routine. The skin around your eyes is sensitive. It doesn’t get as much nourishment as the rest of your skin. That’s why cold weather affects it more seriously. Besides offering additional protection, the eye cream will help fight wrinkles, panda eyes and puffiness.
• Check the Ingredients: When the cold weather comes and you go to look winter care products, you need to pay special attention to the ingredients on the label. Butters and oils are well-known to be great moisturizers for dehydrated skin. However, oils or products that contain them are not recommended to be used on the face. Look for the following oils on the label: buckthorn oil, sunflower oil, almond oil.
• Products that contain oils create a protective layer on the skin. This helps reduce the effect of cold air on your body. In order to sooth the dry skin, the products should contain Aloe Vera and/or chamomile extract. Such products are great for the skin which was already exposed to extreme cold and needs some healing.
• Products you choose for your winter skin care should be non-comedogenic. This means they shouldn’t be clogging your pores. Also try to avoid products with fragrances. Usually, such ingredients irritate the skin, which is not recommended in the winter time.

WINTER SKIN CARE FOR YOUR HANDS

When it comes to winter skin care, most people usually think about their faces but, special attention should be paid to the skin on your hands as well. While the rest of the body is usually covered up in clothes, hands and face are exposed. That’s why many people usually have dry and cracked skin on their hands in the winter.

Forgetting about hand skin care can lead to premature aging and other unfortunate consequences, including infections. So if you have missed a few hand skin care sessions and your hands are looking unfortunate, let’s take a look at what you can be do.

• Forget About Hot Water: When you come home from the cold and your only thought is to get warm, you run to the bathroom and turn on the hot water. Bad idea. Hot water dries out your hands and takes a lot of the much-needed moisture from your skin. That’s why no matter how cold you are, never go for a hot water hand wash or a shower. Make sure not to take long showers. The longer they are, the drier your skin will be.
• Take Vitamins: Vitamins are great for skin all over your body, including your hands. Consult your physician about which vitamin complexes will be right for you. Pay special attention to Vitamins A and E, as well as fish oil.
• Use Hand Cream After Water Contact: If the skin on your hands is dry, then you will need to go for some serious extra care. Otherwise the next step will be skin cracks that are hard to heal. Find the right hand cream and apply it after every contact with water. This might seem like a real hassle but will save you much more trouble in the future.
• Find the Right Hand Cream: Finding the right cream can be a problem for many people. Some of us go for the most popular and expensive ones. However, the high price doesn’t mean good quality. Take a good look at the ingredients. If two creams have the same ingredients but differ in price, you are paying for the brand. Try several inexpensive hand creams to see which one will fit you best.
• Use Hand Masks: In addition to the above advices, you can make simple hand masks to help your skin feel healthy and nourished.
  • Vegetable oil bath or mask – Pour some vegetable oil into a bowl, heat it up in the microwave and soak your hands in it. Leave them there for about 15 to 20 minutes. Another way is to soak some paper napkins in the oil and wrap them around your hands for 30 to 40 minutes. After you take the napkins off, don’t wash your hands, just dab them with a dry tissue.
  • Olive oil bath – Pour two cups of warm water into a bowl and add one tablespoon of olive oil. Soak your hands in this bath for 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Potato bath – Cook some potatoes for your dinner and leave the water for your hands. Soak your hands in it for 15 to 20 minutes. You can also use mashed potatoes as a mask. Apply them to your hands for about 20 minutes and you will be amazed at the result.
  • Oatmeal mask – Make oatmeal for breakfast and leave some for your hands. Add a teaspoon of vegetable oil and apply the oatmeal to your hands for 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Banana mask – Mash a ripe banana, add a whipped egg yolk and one teaspoon of olive oil. Mix everything together and apply to your hands for about 15 minutes.

If you want a more profound effect, keep the masks on your hands longer. You can leave them there for about an hour and put on some cotton gloves. After you remove the mask, use your nourishing hand cream.

• Be Cautious: If you have dry skin on your hands, it can also be a sign of several diseases. So if the problem persists, consider going for a check-up. Here are some signs that your skin dryness is more than just cold air effect:
  • If your dry skin is accompanied by itching, redness of palms, rashes and sores, you should consult a dermatologist.
  • If your dry skin doesn’t just flake a little but seriously peels, you should check if you have a fungus disease.
  • If your skin is not just dry but has an unhealthy pigmentation, then you might have a problem with some internal organs. For example, yellowish skin on your fingers and palms can be a sign of liver and gall bladder problems.

So if the above-mentioned advice doesn’t help you deal with skin dryness, contact your doctor.

WINTER SKIN CARE FOR YOUR LEGS

The skin on your body is naturally less moisturized than on your face. That’s why it needs additional care during winter. The skin on your legs and feet constantly comes into contact with warm fabrics such as wool and synthetics in socks and tights. This skin doesn’t get enough air since most of the time it’s stuck in boots and snickers.

In the winter many people who have naturally dry skin suffer from a condition called hyperkeratosis. In order to avoid the unpleasant consequences of this condition, you will need to use creams with keratolitics. Look for such ingredients as salycylic acid up to six percent, lactic acid from five to 12 percent and uric acid from 10 to 30 percent.

Even if your skin is naturally oily, you will still need to offer your legs some help in the winter. Choose creams and shower gels that contain the following ingredients:

• Hyaluronic Acid – Moisturizes the skin and stimulates its protective functions. This acid can also be a part of winter skin care for the face.
• Silicic Acid – Regenerates skin cells.
• Panthenol – Softens the skin, regenerates cells.
• Aloe Extract – Softens the skin, fights inflammation and heals cracks.
• Beeswax – Forms a protective layer to seal the moisture in your skin.

Creams containing these ingredients should be used not later than three minutes after you take a shower while the moisture hasn’t evaporated. Consider using a scrub on the driest skin areas in order to get rid of the dead cells. Try to use natural scrubs.

You can also use the following oils to nourish the dry skin on your legs: sesame seed oil, almond oil, buckthorn seed oil, apricot oil, jojoba oil, cocoa oil and olive oil. Heat the oil up in a microwave and apply to the driest areas of your legs. Do it twice a day until you see skin condition improve.

The importance of good winter skin care regime can’t be stressed enough. If you want to avoid premature aging, painful skin cracks and unpleasant appearance, take additional care of the skin all over your body during the winter time. This way you’ll be sure to flaunt a beautiful face, hands and legs in the summer.