Winter skincare tips to keep your skin glowing through the cooler months

Winter is almost upon us, though in some parts of the country we’re already experiencing the winter breeze. If you have very dry skin like me, then you know very well what winter means — dry, cracked, ashy and sometimes painful skin. It is therefore paramount to have a winter skin care routine, so that that your skin remains beautiful and supple throughout winter.

1. Stay hydrated by drinking water

We all know what water does to our skin. Water makes us glow by flushing away all the toxins in our skin. If you struggle to drink water, especially in winter, warm up your water before drinking it. Proper hydration is directly related to skin cell regeneration.

2. Moisturise your skin

There are so many body lotions on the market. It’s important to find a lotion suitable for your skin. Whichever lotion you opt for, make sure it is a thick hydrating moisturiser. The thicker texture seals moisturising ingredients into dry, cracked, flaking skin. Apply the moisturiser all over your body after a shower.

3. Avoid long, hot showers

If there’s anything I look forward to after a long day, is a long hot bath or shower. Unfortunately, hot water strips off moisture from our skin because too much hot water causes increased evaporation of your skin’s natural hydration. Make your shower as short as 10 minutes and replace your soaps and shower gels with cleansing oil or bath oil.

4. Moisturise your hands frequently

Hands tend to get dry often during winter because they are exposed to the cold most of the time. Maintain healthy skin by moisturising after washing your hands. It’s best to use a hand cream or ointment in the winter.

5. Apply sunscreen

Don’t be fooled by darker, dreary days in winter. The sun’s harmful UV rays can permeate clouds and still cause damage. Before going outside, apply a moisturising, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher to all exposed areas of your body.

6. Don’t forget your lip balm

Chapped lips are a fact of life in winter. It is therefore important to regularly apply a hydrating lip balm to avoid dry lips.

7. Home remedies

Don’t forget to make use of what you already have in your house. Yoghurt can also calm skin that’s irritated from the weather because it contains inflammation-fighting vitamin E.

Honey is a natural moisturiser and is full of antioxidants. It also has antibacterial properties and helps with irritation and acne. You can also use coconut oil for its moisturising and antibacterial qualities.

8. Diet changes

It’s definitely true that we are what we eat. It’s a norm to overindulge on heavy, fatty foods in winter. But it’s important to eat foods which have a high water content. Things like bright, crisp salads, citrus fruits (with crucial vitamin C for this time of year), hearty veggie stews and spicy curries will fuel your body with the nutrients necessary to make your skin glow from the inside out. And we are so lucky that citrus fruit is currently in season.

In conclusion, it’s also important to exfoliate to remove dead skin cells. Once your skin is exfoliated, your best defense against dry, depleted winter skin is a few drops of hydrating oil.

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