LIVE CHAT
Yes, winter wonderlands are beautiful to look at, but they can wreak havoc on your beauty routine. Skin becomes dry and scaly, hair is a static mess and you're more apt to look run-down and ragged. Here are some helpful healing hints for avoiding a dry spell when Jack Frost comes calling.
Stay hydrated. Thanks to the drop in temp and relative humidity, our skin evaporates more moisture than normal, and it needs to be replenished. The best way to do this is to drink plenty of water (eight glasses a day) to keep skin moist and supple.
Adjust your indoor heating. Inside heaters can also zap skin of moisture, so turn that thermostat to the lowest setting you can and invest in a humidifier to replenish the air with water.
SPF should also mean "Snow Protection Factor." Just because the swimsuits are put away doesn't mean you can get away with skipping this crucial step. In fact, snow reflects up to 80 percent of damaging UV rays from the sun, so if its outdoor play for you, make sure you stay protected.
Clean, not dry. Soap can be drying, especially in winter. If your cleanser is drying you out, switch to a soap-free cream cleanser that helps moisturize while it removes dirt.
Be smart about serums. ODing on Lipids (a common ingredient in moisturizing cream) can actually trap dead cells underneath, leaving skin looking duller than before. Try layering a nutrient-packed serum under your regular cream to boost moisture, rather than adding on tons and tons of cream.
Polish to perfection. Exfoliation is especially important in winter, since as skin loses moisture it tends to chap and flake. By sloughing off dead skin, you can stimulate cell renewal, revealing more radiant skin. However, since exfoliation leaves your skin barrier a little weakened make sure to follow it with a good moisturizer or occasional hydrating mask. For more gentle skin polishing, trade the grainy exfoliants for an enzyme-based one made with Fruit Acid or Lactic Acid.
Stick to the right sticks. Some common lip balms actually contain ingredients like Mineral Oil (Petroleum Jelly) that have a drying effect. It creates an artificial layer on your lips that signals your skin to stop producing moisture, and fragrance, flavors or colors can also dry out skin. Natural Oil-infused or Shea Butter-based balms are best in cold weather. Also, stash the lip plumpers and extra long-lasting lipsticks till spring, as these also tend to dry lips.
Skip the steamy showers. While long, hot showers feel great when it's frosty outside, they actually zap the moisture from your skin. As for baths, try adding a few drops of natural body oil to the water to help counteract the drying affects.
Moisturize while moist. For dry skin, apply an oil-based moisturizer within three minutes of exiting the shower, while skin is still damp. This helps trap water in the skin and can decrease the dry, itchy feeling.
Static solution. Frizzies love to come out to play when the temperature drops. Apply a smoothing cream or anti-frizz serum to damp hair to tame flyaways. For an on-the-go trick, swipe an unscented dryer sheet over hair for an instant fix - you can also spray Static Guard on a brush or comb and run it through your hair, but be forewarned it has a somewhat glue-ish smell to it.
With a little prevention and protection, you can enjoy the cold in comfort.
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