The harsh cold climate and dry indoor air during winter can wreak havoc on your skin. Cold conditions outside leave your skin red and chapped, while indoor heaters suck moisture from the air and therefore, your skin.
Caring for your skin during the colder months takes a little extra time because the conditions are rather extreme for our delicate protective barrier. Even the things that make winter wonderful, such as having a hot bath to warm you up, can dry out your skin.
Thankfully, there are numerous ways to combat the causes of dry, flaky skin and keep yourself hydrated all season long, including some effortless changes to your daily routine.
Here, we will break down 5 simple tips for keeping your skin healthy all winter long.
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Switch Your Cleanser
Trade in your current body wash for something more hydrating in winter particularly if your usual choice contains drying ingredients like glycolic or salicylic acid.
Opting for an oil cleanser allows you to gently wash away makeup and impurities without further drying your skin.
At night, use a richer moisturizer after toning to ensure you’re locking in all the hydration available.
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Don’t Forget To Exfoliate
Less moisture in the air can lead to chapped lips, cracked hands, and dry flaky skin all over. Of course, staying on your moisturizing game this time of year is essential, but it's also important to keep exfoliation in your winter routine.
Exfoliation helps replenish skin by buffing away dead skin cells so new cells can come in healthier and without obstruction.
Exfoliators also improve the effectiveness of moisturizers because the dead skin cells block moisture from the layers of live skin cells that actually need it.
We recommend using our Vanilla Latte Coffee Scrub twice a week to renew the skin and leave you smelling like a freshly poured vanilla latte. What’s even better? Our friends at Vale Coffee donate their used coffee grinds to us, where the grinds are then dehydrated and combined with other skin-loving plant-based ingredients to create this delicious scrub.
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Use A Richer Moisturizer
Using a good winter moisturizer is key to locking in your skin's natural hydration. A great winter body butter can enhance the moisture content of your skin while also improving its smoothness.
Keeping your skin hydrated is especially important because the dryness and stiffness of your skin during the cold months will make it susceptible to infections or outbreaks.
You want to keep your skin smooth and supple, even during the colder months, and moisturisers are the perfect solution. Just remember to use a moisturiser that is preferably made up of all-natural ingredients such as our Cocoa and Vanilla Body Butter Bar.
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Lower Water Temperatures For Bathing
Long, steamy showers or baths may sound like a great idea when it’s chilly, but hot water can dry out the skin. A warm shower or bath is less likely to exacerbate dry skin than a super hot one.
If the water is causing your skin to turn red, that is a good sign that it is too hot. Cooler water seems to be as effective as hot water at removing germs and is less irritating to the skin.
If you’re hoping to make bathtime a little more special, try popping in our Vanilla Spice Bath Truffles. These are a delight to the senses and will warm your soul - even if the water isn’t as hot as you’d like it to be.
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Stay Hydrated
This is the most simple but is often the most overlooked. Drinking more water throughout the day will hydrate you from the inside out.
Unfortunately, as the temps drop, the thought of a glass of water is less intriguing than on a hot summer’s day. However, it is equally as important.
Drinking lots of water will not only ensure the proper functioning of your body’s organs, but it will also provide your body (and skin) with constant hydration as well, making your skin look soft and glowing.
In closing…
Winter skin doesn’t have to be dry, chapped and flaky. You can still achieve comfortable, soft skin during the cold and blustering days of this season.
With these simple tips, you should be on your way to supple skin in no time!