You know what time of year it is!!! The time when you get to snuggle up in your blankets with a warm drink in your hand, and the time your face begins to get a little dryer right? I know for me that’s the case! The colder it gets the dryer my face gets. Why does that happen? Why does winter weather dry our skin out?
Winter weather brings lower humidity not only outside but also inside your home as well. This enhances the dryness of your skin. Being exposed to dry wind, and cold water will further dry the skin during the winter. Not only does the cold weather affect you on the outside, but on the inside as well. When you become cold your blood vessels become constricted and reduces the blood flow to your skin. It also reduces the sweat and oil producing glands. When you have low water content in your body during the winter the skin cells shrink and dry. I know during the winter I drink more apple cider or hot chocolate to keep myself nice and warm, but this means that I’m not drinking enough water which causes dehydration to the skin, increasing the dryness of the skin.
Don’t think that only being outside in the cold affects your skin. Being inside can cause some drying as well. As soon as your heater goes on, no matter what type of heating it is, the skin gets dry. Like outside in the winter time, there is low humidity. The best way to fix this is to use a humidifier, especially at night. A humidifier will replace the moisture in the air that has been sucked up from the dry heat. This will save your lips from becoming chapped and your throat from becoming hoarse.
Another thing I love doing during the winter is taking hot baths and showers. Sadly, showers that are too long and too hot can break down your lipid barriers which can cause a loss of moisture. We can never win! It’s better to stick with warm water and shorter showers. Remember to pat dry and not rub.
We use sunscreen to protect ourselves from the sun, but did you know that you should also wear sunscreen in the winter? The winter sun combined with snow glare (if you live where it snows) can damage your skin. Try using a lotion that has at least SPF 15 in it. I find that applying moisturizer while my skin is still a little damp helps the effectiveness.
In the summer time our skin looks a little more radiant and pink. In the winter we tend to look a little more dull. I don’t know about you but I enjoy long sits on the couch and NOT exercising. I think a good amount of people skimp on exercise in the winter because we get to hide under large coats and sweaters. Exercise is key in everything. Even though I hate it, I have to do it. Exercising in the winter will help bring that glow back to our skin because it will help produce sweat and increase our blood circulation and hydration of the skin. Which also means we have to drink a lot more water than coffee and other warm sugary drinks. It doesn’t have to be outside and you don’t even have to go to a gym. There are plenty of at home work outs you can do. So keep it moving!
I hope you all found some helpful information in this post! What do you do to keep your skin happy and healthy in the winter?
Beauty Can Be A Beast 