Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Avoid Winter Harm to Your Skin - Naturally

By Marilyn Etzel

Winter is a beautiful season full of ice and snow. Along with the beauty, drying air and winds can harm our skin. Learn to protect your skin this winter with a few natural skincare tips.

Even the most moisturized skin can tend towards dryness in the winter. We believe that if we wear layers of clothing to keep the wind out that our skin will automatically be protected. That is far from the truth. If we fail to moisturize our skin in the winter, it will become dry, itchy, and red.

1. Get your eight glasses of water"When we lose moisture through our pores, it has to be put back. Our bodies are composed of mostly water and we risk dehydration if we dont replenish. Drinking lots of water is healthy for our bodies inside and out.

2. Moisturize at night"Even if we put on lotions or creams during the day, we might forget to do so at night. We cover up to stay warm, but that is not enough. Activities throughout the day deplete the moisture in the skin and not moisturizing at night continues the process. Cover your skin with a layer of moisturizing lotion before bed. To keep feet from getting dry and cracked, massage them with a natural salve or balm and cover them with socks.

3. Dont neglect sunscreen"The sun still shines just as bright in the winter. We may not feel it because of the bitter cold temperatures, but the radiation is damaging to skin nonetheless. Before applying any makeup, add sunscreen to the face.

4. Use a humidifier"The air in winter can be very dry. Even in the house, the heat can have a drying effect on the skin and the nasal passages. To add bits of moisture to the air invest in a humidifier. There are two types: warm and cool mist. A cool mist humidifier adds moisture to the air but lowers the temperature a few degrees for comfort.

5. Exfoliate your skin"This can be accomplished with skin creams that contain microbeads, a sugar scrub, or by using a loofah sponge. Using gently circular motions, the exfoliant removes dead skin from our body. A weekly scrub allows healthy skin cells to absorb the moisturizers better and the skin can maintain a healthy level of moisture.

6. Lukewarm showers"Taking a shower at cooler temperatures keeps pores closed so they dont lose moisture. Shorter showers prevent skin dryness. Rinse off quickly after lathering up to keep skin soft. Apply a moisturizing lotion after toweling off.

Winter is a beautiful time of year, but it can be murder on your skin. Add a few of these tips to your routine and see how much better your winter skin feels. - 16459

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