BABY, it’s cold outside!! Tis the season for boots, scarves, gorgeous coats and warm beverages by the heater! COZY! But that’s not all…it is also the season for cracked lips, dry skin, stuffy noses and watery eyes. But why oh why! No need to stress, there are some small ways to combat the negative effects cold weather may have on your skin, your beauty and overall health. Let’s take a look at a few hacks to keep those winter blues at bay.
MOISTURISE
The cold temperatures that come with winter months can cause some unwelcome changes to your skin due to the changes in humidity bringing about drier air which may lead to flaky dry skin, Furthermore, indoor heating like heaters and warm air conditioning can make this loss of moisture even worse. It’s time to change your moisturising routine. One hack is to switch from thinner moisturisers such as lotions to thicker formulas like cream butter and oils. My personal favourite is shea butter followed by cocoa butter. Moisture immediately after a bath or shower on damp skin to lock in the moisture and avoid your skin drying up quickly. It’s also beneficial to lock in that moisture by adding body and face oils & using serums such as hyaluronic serum on your face. The hyaluronic acid serum is truly your best friend for plump moisturised skin, more so in winter. Hyaluronic acid holds more than 1000x its weight in moisture, which means by adding this to your winter skincare routine you will be way on your way to keeping that moisture locked up and getting results from your moisturising efforts.
EXFOLIATE
Exfoliate your entire body – Exfoliate at least twice or 3 times a week to prevent the build-up of dead skin which may make it harder for your moisturizer to easily be absorbed into the skin during the winter months when our skin is already prone to dryness.
Exfoliate your lips to avoid dry chapped lips – I’m sure we have all had that problem where you wake up one day and your lips feel dry and chapped and you just look parched from it all. This issue is even more common in winter! Avoid looking thirsty while hydrated and exfoliate your lips, it’s simple with many DIY affordable lips scrubs you can whip up in a minute.
For example – mix 2 spoons of sugar with a spoon of honey and massage the mixture onto your lips for about 30 seconds and rinse off. Apply the lip balm of your choice. You can incorporate this into your teeth brushing regime…nice and quick, chap-free lips.
FEET
Don’t you just hate it when your feet are not only freezing but get the added winter dryness even though you are always wearing socks? Get on top of this problem with a nightly routine of soaking your feet in warm water and applying a creamy butter moisturise or even good old petroleum jelly, just before you put on those woollen bedtime socks. This will not only keep your feet warm but also lock in moisture keeping your feet summer ready in these cold weeks.
BLUSH
For most people, the cold weather can leave our complexions looking a bit pale & cold. Keep that summery glow and warm cheeks by applying a cream blush instead of a powder blush – the more moisturising the makeup, the better during these cold winter months. Powder blush May leave your skin looking dry and cracked under the elements.
EYE HEALTH
Winter air will dry out your eyes, it will. This can be easily avoided by using over-the-counter eye drops/solutions such as “Optive” or other brands recommended by your pharmacist. Apart from that, there is nothing wrong with protecting your eyes from the harsh cold dry air by wearing shades/sunglasses even in winter.
SUNBLOCK
Believe it or not, protecting your skin from the UV rays of the sun is still necessary in winter. The sun hasn’t disappeared just because you don’t feel it. Continue to use sunblock or UV protection during winter to stay ahead of premature ageing, skin cancer & sunspots.
HYDRATE
Fluids are your friend even in winter. Drink warm fluids such as herbal teas, warm water and the occasional indulgence of hot chocolate and lots and lots of water. Yes rushing to the bathroom to sit on a cold toilet seat from all that hydration is not fun but your skin will thank you and glow by spring!
Busisiwe Nxele is a seasoned journalist with over 15 years of experience working in radio broadcasting. Apart from her love for radio production, Busi’s passions include beauty, health, style & skincare which she has turned into a business by launching her own skincare range. Her other hustles include working for one of the biggest event companies in the Eastern Cape, in the arts & culture sector. A proud Pisces mom of three humans & a couple of plant children, she enjoys good red wine, horror movies & reading the subtitles on her favourite K drama series. - As a contributor on 041online, I would like to have simple informative & interesting conversations on all things beauty & lifestyle, while showcasing what’s on offer within GQ & the EC as a whole. Follow Busi on Instagram or through her Brand
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