Wintertime is notoriously hard on skin. The harsh wind and bitter cold often leave skin dry and brittle, and lotion alone may not be enough — during these frigid months, extra moisturizing is necessary. Here are five precautions for surviving the tough winter season.
Hands:
Try adding a hand cream to your moisturizing regimen. It’s especially important now to keep hands soft, as the harsh temperatures cause them to dry out even faster. Great news for penny pinchers: drugstore brands often work just as well as department store varieties. Try Aveeno’s Positively Ageless Skin Strengthening Hand Cream. Its conveniently small size makes it great to keep in your backpack or purse, and can be used whenever your skin is feeling dried out.
Face:
Another great place to promote healthy skin is in the shower. After a day out in the cold, it’s best to wash away flaky skin with a face scrub. Most scrubs aren’t recommended for daily use, especially during the dry winter, so try a gentler version this season. Clinique 7 Day Scrub has long been hailed in the beauty community as one of the best facial scrubs. The main thing to look for in a scrub is something that can leave skin polished, but isn’t strong enough to remove the essential nutrients from the skin.
Lips:
No winter beauty regimen would be complete without the all-important lip balm. Lips are often the first to flake when temperature drops. It’s important to note that all lip balms are not created equal, so for best results, stick with the classics. Try Blistex’s medicated lip balm, which immediately soothes chapped lips. Another lip balm heavy hitter is Burt’s Bees, which nourishes lips and seals in moisture. If your lips are too cracked to function, it’s possible to start from scratch. Use LUSH lip scrub to bring back soft, supple lips. Their treatment comes in three delicious and edible flavors, so don’t be afraid to lick your lips afterwards.
Diet:
Antioxidants help fight free radicals that enter your body, and these free radicals can prevent the production of collagen. The easiest way to combat those harmful side effects is by eating food that contains antioxidants, such as nuts, berries and spinach. A healthy diet promotes healthy skin, so chow down on fruits and veggies this winter.
Body:
Body butters are also great portable lotions. The thick formula adds extra moisture to fragile skin. Make sure to focus on the knees, elbows and heels. Try a formula that is enriched with shea or cocoa butter for an extra dose of moisturizing power. Both cocoa and shea butter contain natural antioxidants that protect the skin at the cellular level and help heal cracks or cuts in the skin.
Keerthi Harishankar is a staff writer. Email her at [email protected].