Harsh winter weather can wreak havoc on your skin—from causing acne-causing breakouts to drying out your complexion and leaving you with unsightly flaky patches. Fortunately, there are a few skincare steps you can take to protect yourself from the elements and keep your complexion looking healthy, even in the dead of winter.
Moisturize
Moisturizing is important year-round, but even more so in the dry winter season. It helps lock in moisture and keeps your skin hydrated, preventing dryness that can lead to irritating flaking or cracking of the skin.
Scrubbing up
If you have dry skin or suffer from breakouts, exfoliating is a great way to get rid of dead skin cells and unclog pores. Exfoliation will help to remove any dirt and oil that has built up throughout the year so you can reveal smooth, healthy-looking skin. You can use face scrubs and body scrubs but avoid using too much pressure as this may cause irritation or damage the delicate skin on your face or body.
Drink plenty of water
Dehydration can cause your skin to look dull and flaky, especially in winter. To avoid this, drink at least 8 glasses of water every day. Don’t down that much liquid in one sitting, instead keep a bottle of water next to you throughout the day so you can sip on it when you need a refresh.
Use a humidifier
Dry heat is the enemy of healthy skin this time of year. To keep your skin moist, use a humidifier at night or when you’re spending a lot of time indoors. Humidifiers release moisture into the air by evaporating it from a warm surface. This moisture then settles on everything else in the room, including your skin!
Use cold water for washing
When washing your face with warm water will activate the blood vessels causing redness on the face. Coldwater will close these blood vessels, making your complexion more uniform. Also, remember to pat your face dry instead of rubbing it with a towel because rubbing can damage your skin cells and cause cellulite.
