If someone ever tells you that beauty comes from within, you can reply that it comes in bottles, lotions, ointments and regular doctor visits. Don’t get us wrong, feeling beautiful regardless of how you look is important but let’s face it, good-looking skin just doesn’t happen by itself.
Keeping your skin healthy and looking great during the dark, cold winter months can be challenging. But it’s not impossible. While there is no one “magic” cure to achieve this, there are some very simple things you can do.
Use Moisturizer
It’s no secret that cold weather means dry air, which in turn dries out your skin. This means that moisturizing should be at the core of your skin care regimen. However, keep in mind that there are two main different types of moisturizers: one is oil based and one is water based. In the winter you should be using an oil-based moisturizer because it creates a thin protective layer on your skin that locks the moisture in.
Further, you shouldn’t overuse your moisturizer. While it’s easy to do when the air is dry, too much can cause your skin to breakout in a rash or acne, then you got more problems to deal with.
Stay Hydrated
While moisturizer hydrates your skin from the outside, you also need to hydrate from the inside. You might think that drinking plenty of water is only important when working outside in the hot sun. But staying hydrated is a year-round effort. Drinking enough water during the winter months will also help prevent dry skin.
Exfoliate
You’re constantly shedding dead skin cells. These dead skin cells can build up on top of your healthy skin and cause problems, like breakouts. When you exfoliate, you’re pealing off the dead skin cells. Exfoliating regularly will get rid of dead skin cells, reduce sun damage, brighten your complexion and even helps your moisturizer work better by breaking down the barrier of dead skin cells so it can penetrate deep into your skin. Needless to say, exfoliating should be an important part of your skin care routine all year.
Use Chemical Peels
A chemical peel does several things. It unclogs pores, exfoliates, stimulates new collagen production and is basically like having several skin treatments all in one. There are several kind of peels, with varying strengths, so it’s important to talk to your aesthetician about what is right for you.
Avoid Hot Showers
A long hot shower on a cold winter day might seem like the perfect way to relax, you’re actually hurting your skin. Hot water can strip healthy oils from your skin and dry it out. If you must take a hot shower, or better yet, turn the temperature down so it’s comfortably warm.
Don’t Forget Sunscreen
Yes, the sun can damage your skin during the winter. If you’re going to be outside for an extended period of time, make sure your cover any exposed skin, like on your face, with a good sunblock. This will prevent harmful UV rays from penetrating into your skin, which is a major cause of wrinkles and even skin cancer.
Just because it’s winter and most of your body is covered up with warm clothes, doesn’t mean your skin has to suffer. Take a few simple steps to take care of your skin will keep you looking good all year. If you follow these guidelines, your skin will be glowing when it’s time to hit the beach in the summer.
Before starting any skin care routine, it’s always best to talk to a professional. Contact us today so we can help you maintain healthy, glowing skin!
