Winter ushers in all things warm, cosy and festive. As the temperature drops and the sun bids us adieu earlier than we’d like, it’s easy to hibernate the season away.
Ladies, we know this transition isn’t the smoothest nor as gentle. Though we can’t make the winters go, we can surely do something to beat the winter blues. Check out what happens to the skin during winters and then goes on to explain how to take optimum care of it:
1. What happens to the skin during winter?
During winter, with the lack of moisture in the air, the skin dries up and takes away the thin layer of oil that traps the moisture in the skin. With the moisturizer not being able to penetrate the skin, it results in forming a layer of dead cells that make your skin look dark and dull.
2. What do you do to take care of the skin?
• Keep yourself hydrated – The cold doesn’t only dry out your skin, it attacks from within. Drink LOTS of water to keep your skin hydrated and healthy as it wards off all the toxins out of the system
• Exfoliate your skin regularly – Use a scrub made of curd and sugar to gently exfoliate your body and remove the layer of dead cells formed on it. Curd is known as a wonderful soothing and hydrating exfoliator for the skin. Sugar, on the other hand, is a natural source of “glue” that bonds skin cells, encouraging cell turnover and generating fresher, younger-looking skin.
• Moisturize over damp skin – The key to glowing skin is moisturizing from head to toe. Extra care and conditioning can help your skin brave the chill. To lock in the moisture and the oil produced by the body, make sure you apply the moisturizer over damp skin. This will nourish the skin from within by preserving the moisture, keeping it supple and silky.
• Use a good sunscreen – During winters, most of us love basking in the mild heat of the sun to beat the chills. But, one common mistake that everyone makes is missing out on a sunscreen. The winters do not stop the UVA and UVB rays of the sun from harming your skin. So make sure you use a sunscreen with an SPF 30 every time you step out of the house. And since it is winters, use a sunblock lotion over a cream.
• Take quick hot water showers, not baths – While we all enjoy taking long hot water baths during winters, what most of us don’t realize is the effect of hot water on our skin. It weakens the skin’s natural defence against dryness and irritants, and can cause skin conditions like acne, eczema, dandruff, and psoriasis. It is, therefore, recommended that one should take quick hot water showers and not indulge in hot water baths, especially during winters.
3. What is the Ideal method for hair removal?
Waxing and use of creams are a complete no-no. Waxing is time-consuming as well as messy. On the contrary, shaving when done right is favoured and faster. Waxing is said to strip off essential oils and natural lipids that are crucial for keeping your skin smooth. It makes skin more susceptible to dryness and peeling. And creams are full of chemicals that may have ill-effects on the skin if it is already dry. Exfoliation that occurs during shaving helps the moisturizer to penetrate through the skin effectively while removing the top dead layer of the skin making it soft and smooth. Use new-age shaving tools such as Venus Breeze that comes with a moisturizing strip to help retain the moisture on the body and get a happy and close shave.
So, don’t wait for it to be too late. Include the above in your beauty regime and have a happy winter!
