How to keep your skin hydrated this winter

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Wintertime is such a harsh time for your skin. Just as you have your summer skincare routine down, mother nature changes the weather. It becomes so cold that you would rather spend time under the covers than taking care of your skin. If you want beautifully hydrated skin, then you have to put in a little effort.

Having dry skin really isn’t something you can hide. If you wear makeup it makes it more apparent since the product can cling to your dry spots. It’s not only your face but your hands too! This is how to take care of your hands and keep them plump, soft, and hydrated.

 Your hands will have that scaly look that is hard to ignore. Your lips will be so dry that people will only look at the skin peeling off. Okay okay I know I am being a little dramatic but its all true. Don’t worry though, I have some tips down below to help your skin look and feel more hydrated during these cold, drying winter months.

Reducing your hot showers to keep your skin hydrated

Aaagh winter showers. The time of year where you dread taking a shower, but once you are showering you don’t want to leave. The hot water feels like a warm blanket and the thought of leaving makes your skin shiver. Well for your skin’s sake you may want to.

Although the hot shower may feel like a warm hug, it is drying your skin. Yikes! Talk about betrayal. Try showering in warm water instead and try to shower as quickly as possible to protect your skin.

Exfoliating your body helps keep your skin hydrated

Exfoliating is a year-round thing, people. Just because you aren’t wearing dresses, shorts, or skirts it doesn’t mean you stop treating your legs or body. When removing that layer of dead cells, you allow your skin to have easier access to moisture.

Exfoliating also helps with ingrown hairs. When it comes to your face, don’t overdo it. Exfoliate a couple of times a week and don’t rub too hard. There are 2 types of exfoliators, chemical and physical. Cosmopolitan explains the difference very well.

Perhaps you look forward to winter, a time where you can have a break from having to shave constantly. You can put your razor away, take out your pants and allow your leg hair to provide some warmth. Just kidding, you may not want to put the razor away. This is because shaving your legs gives a slight exfoliation to your legs.

I personally really enjoy using Schick Intuition F.A.B. this razor has top and bottom razors so you can shave up and down your leg without removing the razor from your skin. This allows me to have a perfect shave every time! It comes with a total of 3 razors so you don’t have to buy refills any time soon.

I like to shave both directions in every section to get every hair. It is a little tricky to shave behind my upper leg. I find that I must go over it a few times to get every hair, but I have that problem with any razor.

Moisturize while your skin is moist

As soon as you get out of the shower dab your skin dry. When there is still some moisture on your skin add your cream. When your skin is still a little wet, it absorbs the moisture of a cream or lotion much quicker. You can feel your skin hydrated right away!

Invest in a cream moisturizer since it is much thicker than a lotion, or apply a thicker lotion to add extra moisture to your skin. Eucerin offers lotion with different levels of thickness, depending on your skin’s needs. If your skin is really dry I recommend for you to try this one, it also doesn’t contain any fragrance

If you have oily skin, then avoid using oil-based moisturizers since this can cause breakouts, for us oily face people who are already prone to breakout, we don’t need anymore.

Change your face wash

Take a look at your face wash and see if any of them are soap-based cleansers, contain perfume, or any alcohol since this can be drying to your face. Not all alcohol is bad though, ‘fatty alcohols’ like steryl and cetearyl can be beneficial‘. I personally really enjoy using Murad Essential-C Cleanser since it leaves my skin feeling clean and bright. Here are some face washes to consider depending on your skin type.

Keep your face hydrated

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What I mean by keeping your face hydrated is not only applying moisturizer but also applying a sleeping mask. It is really important to apply moisturizer to your face to keep it from drying, but applying a sleeping mask to keep your skin hydrated is essential. Apply your sleeping mask after you wash your face, moisturize and apply your serums.

Applying a sleeping mask locks in all of the products you just applied. The sleeping face mask not only adds moisture, but it helps keep the previous products from evaporating. A sleeping mask also acts as a barrier against dust and dirt getting into your pores. Wait about 30 minutes before going to bed so you don’t smear the product all over your pillow.

If you are new to the sleeping mask game then allow me to make some suggestions. I really enjoy using the Etude House Moistfull Collagen sleep pack. It is a really light gel product that feels super refreshing when you apply it on your face. You will wake up with a hydrated and super soft face. The best part is that it does a whole lot for the price since its super inexpression.

Another really good on is Laneige water sleeping masks. You will wake up with a very hydrated and plumped looking face.  This product helps brighten your face and helps even your skin tone! This also is also very light and gel-like.  With both products, a little really does go a long way.

Apply a face mists to keep your face hydrated

Throughout the day when you feel your face a little on the dry side, apply a face mist to add some moisture, and keep your skin hydrated. If you’re like me and enjoy standing next to those misters then you’ll enjoy this.  

I really enjoy using Rosense face mist. It doesn’t contain any additives, chemicals or preservatives and no added fragrance. It is rose water and it smells so good. If you are sensitive to fragrances, then this probably isn’t the one for you.

Face mists are also really good in the summer since it helps refresh your face. During the winter face mist can help your skin absorb serums and moisturizing ingredients better. It is such an easy way to keep your skin hydrated.

Applying makeup

Makeup is supposed to enhance your beauty, but it can also betray you at times, dun dun duuun. You have to really careful when it comes to makeup because it can really emphasize and dry spots. If you really like using powders on your face, this can really cling on to your dry spots.

Switch over to cream foundations, cream bronzers, cream blushes, at least for the winter okay? Lip balm will also be your BFF, well all the time, but especially during the colder months. Dry lips are not cute and can be really painful.

Try The Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip balm it even has SPF! Talk about an overachiever. This lip balm is a great one to have since it absorbs into your lips quickly leaving them super soft. It also forms a protective barrier that prevents water loss and helps repair chapped and damaged skin. Need I say more?

Drink water to keep your skin hydrated

Drinking water really is what its hyped up to be. We are literally made of about 60% water. We need water to keep different organs running, but in a more superficial sense it keeps our skin hydrated, plump and refreshed.

You should always be drinking water, EVEN IN THE WINTER. I know it’s not the most appetizing thing to drink when you’re cold, but it has tons of benefits for your health. It is so important for us, yet many of us don’t drink nearly enough of it. If you don’t like the taste of water, then I suggest you add some lemon or some flavored packets, these Crystal Light packets are really yummy.

Winter can be a hard time for our skin, but we must actively work on it to keep us from looking like raisins. We long for the summer, but we can’t wait for that time of year to finally do what we were supposed to be doing all winter. Let this winter be full of hydrated, moisturized, plumped skin! Don’t forget to sing up to my newsletter for more tips like these!

If your face is extremely dry, have dry spots, skin peeling just follow the skin care tips above and your skin WILL get better. No matter what, remember that you are beautiful and your worth is not dependent on the state of your skin. Having well taken cared skin does help up feel more confident so just take care of your skin at your own pace, you will get there!

Takeaways

1. Stop taking hot showers

2. Exfoliate your skin

3. Moisturize your face and body

4. Stop using face wash that are soap-based, contain perfume and alcohol

5. Apply an overnight face mask.

6. Use face mist throughout the day.

7. Stop using powdered makeup and use creams instead

8. Use The Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip balm

9. Drink water!