Winter Skin Care 101

Winter is just around the corner and the cold weather can play havoc on the skin. Every season we should evaluate our skin care routine. For instance, during the winter months the sebaceous (oil) glands produce less oil; thus for those with oily skin during the summer months they may find some relief from excess oil during the winter. However for those of us with combination skin or dry skin, the winter months dry out the skin even more.

Below are suggestions to help you combat dry skin in the winter time:

Hydrate the Face - both inside and outside. Winter is the perfect time for warm herbal teas loaded with antioxidants. Additionally, you should have a daytime moisturizer that still includes SPF and an emollient rich night time cream. Consider a lotion during the day and a cream at night time. Consider creams that contain shea butter, avocado oil, and olive oil for example. Avoid moisturizers that contain alcohol and synthetic preservatives, fragrances, and coloring, as these have a tendency to strip the skin of its natural oils and have a drying effect on the skin.

Cleansing - we all know that we should stay clear of harsh soaps on our face. We also know that we should avoid extremely hot showers, although they are so tempting when it's zero degrees! Hot water strips the skin of its natural oils thus drying out the skin.

Cleansing for the body, consider a body wash that is gentle and can enrich the skin such as aloe Vera. After your shower pat down with a lotion rich in moisture such as shea butter. If possible consider using fragrance- and dye-free laundry detergents and avoid fabric softeners. These chemicals embedded into our clothes can irritate dry skin.

Facial Cleansing - this is probably the most important part of your skin care routine. A good cleanser will thoroughly clean the skin and not strip away natural oils.

Facial Toning - this is a matter of preference. I have read and written several articles about the importance of toners, however there are some that say it is not needed. Personally, I love my homemade green tea and chamomile toner.

Body Exfoliate - A good exfoliate once a week will perk up skin and color by promoting circulation under the skin.

Facial Exfoliate - usually once a week. For an easy exfoliate, add a little cornmeal to your facial cleansing. You will notice a difference in the feel and look of your complexion.

Facial Masks - A facial mask can do so much to hydrate deep down into the lower layers of the skin. There are numerous types on the market. Oatmeal, clay, avocado masks are so beneficial to the skin.

Lips - thin skinned and no oil producing glands in the lips. They take a beating during the winter. If you suffer from chapped lips all winter long consider a waxy lip balm to lock in moisture and protect before you got outdoors. Consider a lip balm that contain avocado, olive, or soybean, they soften and soothe, while vitamin A-rich shea butter promotes healing.

Hands and Feet - just like the face, if you do not wear gloves, the hands are exposed to the winter elements. They need moisture and protection to. Consider a day lotion with SPF and at night give them a treatment with some shea butter for example. The feet which never see the light of day during the winter months are still vulnerable to cracks and dry skin and prone to developing fungus. Consider a balm with peppermint or tea tree oil at night to fight fungus, and cover your feet with cotton socks. Additionally a weekly soak in Epsom salts does wonders to relieve foot ache, fungus and cleanse.

Just as we adjust our clothing in the winter months, our skin care routine needs to be evalutated too. The same skin care products that you use in the summer may not work for you in the winter months.

For wonderful homemade skin care recipes, including body scrubs, toners, exfoliates, facial peels and masks visit Complete Skin Care Therapy
Carol Belanger, author of 300+ Skin Care Recipes

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