Winter can be dry and unkind to your skin, especially your body. Cold air, which is often filled with dry air, depletes moisture from your skin, leaving it feeling rough and tight. Thankfully, taking care of your dry skin during the cold season is achievable inside your comfort zone, which involves just a few easy-to-follow steps.
First, moisturize on a regular schedule. Immediately following a shower, your skin is still at a moist level; this is the best time to lock in moisture. Choose a thick, rich moisturizer that is for your skin type. Look for ingredients such as shea butter, glycerin, or ceramides in these products, which fill and repair the skin. Apply the moisturizer while your skin is still a bit wet to seal in the moisture.
Next, avoid hot showers. While the hot shower is comforting in the cold, it will further dry out your skin. Take only lukewarm showers and keep them brief. Hot water takes away the natural oils that make your skin less likely to get dry. Then, after your shower, do not rub with your towel but pat your skin lightly; rubbing will irritate your skin.
Another thing you gotta do is make sure you’re using a humidifier. During winter, indoor air is dry, which steals moisture from your skin. The humidifier puts moisture in the air, ensuring that your skin remains hydrated. Place one in your bedroom while you sleep so that it may soak into your skin overnight.
Exfoliation should also be done, but overdoing it must be avoided. Exfoliation helps remove dead cells so that moisturizers may work in a more effective manner. Use a light scrub or exfoliating body wash once or twice a week. Avoid heavy scrubbing. It might irritate it further and further increase the dryness.
Also, drink plenty of water. Your skin needs to stay hydrated-even in wintertime. Throughout each day, drink plenty of water to help keep your skin moisturized from the inside out.
Lastly, protect your skin from the outdoors. Cold winds can be brutal to the skin, so make sure you wear warm clothes, gloves, and scarves. You may want to use a thicker moisturizer or barrier cream on your face and hands.
A combination of good habits will help you take care of your dry skin in winter. Moisturizing often, avoiding hot showers, using a humidifier, exfoliating your skin very gently, staying hydrated, and taking extra precautions for your skin against cold-all these will keep your skin soft, smooth, and healthy in the harsh months of winter.